In an all-to-short life of 23 years, Booker Little established himself as one of the greatest jazz trumpet players of the 2nd half of the 20th century. He possessed blazing technique, unsurpassed melodic gifts, deep harmonic understanding, and a fearless approach to improvisation.
Booker Little - Episode 1
In an all-to-short life of 23 years, Booker was able to play and record with some of the most important musicians of the late 1950’s and early 1960’s including Eric Dolphy, Max Roach and John Coltrane. On this podcast I will examine his influences and his first recordings from 1958.
| Composition | Artist | Album | Year |
| Minor Sweet | Booker Little | Booker Little Quartet | 1960 |
| Blues Walk | Clifford Brown | Study in Brown | 1955 |
| Shirley | Booker Little/Max Roach | Max Roach on the Chicago Scene | 1958 |
| Memo to Maurice | Booker Little/Max Roach | Max Roach on the Chicago Scene | 1958 |
| My Old Flame | Booker Little/Max Roach | Max Roach on the Chicago Scene | 1958 |
| Larry Larue | Booker Little/Max Roach | Deeds, Not Words | 1958 |
Booker Little - Episode 2
By 1958 Booker Little was recording under his own name. Although only 20 years old, the recordings show a musician of great poise and maturity. He begins to emerge as serious composer and arranger. His playing continues to improve and his technical prowess allows him utilize acrobatic leaps in his improvisations. In 1960 he began his musical association with Eric Dolphy. The two musicians’ playing complemented each other and helped to bring Booker greater exposure.
| Composition | Aritst | Album | Year |
| Milestones | Booker Little | Booker Little 4 and Max Roach | 1958 |
| Dungeon Waltz | Booker Little | Booker Little 4 and Max Roach | 1958 |
| A Starling's Theme | Booker Little/Frank Strozier | Fantastic Frank Strozier | 1959 |
| There's No You | Booker Little/Max Roach | The Many Sides of Max | 1959 |
| Minor Sweet | Booker Little | Booker Little | 1960 |
| Far Cry | Booker Little/Eric Dolphy | Far Cry | 1960 |
Booker Little - Episode 3
On this podcast we will listen to selections from his two last albums recorded under his name before he passed in the fall of 1961. His compositions and arrangements continued to mature and increasingly began to show the influence of modern 20th orchestral composers. I can’t predict what he might have accomplished had he lived longer, but he made a great impact in a short period of time.
| Compostion | Artist | Album | Year |
| We Speak | Booker Little | Out Front | 1961 |
| Strength and Sanity | Booker Little | Out Front | 1961 |
| Victory and Sorrow | Booker Little | Victory and Sorrow | 1961 |
| Looking Ahead | Booker Little | Victory and Sorrow | 1961 |