Sol Yaged - Biography

Sol Yaged (born December 8, 1922) is an American jazz clarinetist, strongly influenced by Benny Goodman's style.

Yaged was born in Brooklyn, New York and began playing clarinet at the age of 12 after hearing Goodman's broadcasts for Nabisco in 1935. He studied under a clarinetist for the New York Philharmonic, but turned down a classical career to play jazz in New York nightclubs such as Jimmy Ryan's and the Swing Club.

Since serving in the Army for three years during World War II, Yaged has played clarinet continuously, with such musicians as Phil Napoleon, Coleman Hawkins, Red Allen, and Jack Teagarden. Beginning in the 1960s, he began working primarily as an ensemble leader, working in New York City jazz. In the 1990s he worked in Felix Endico's swing band. Yaged served as a consultant on Benny Goodman's musical style for the 1956 film, The Benny Goodman Story.

From 1996-97, he worked under the musical direction of bandleader Jack Vartan at the Stony Hill Inn, Bergen County, New Jersey with the Jack Vartan 14pc. Swing Big Band.

Family

Yaged's wife, Zelda (April 8, 1925 - January 31, 1994), died from cancer at age 68. They had two children.

Discography

• It Might as Well Be Swing (Herald Records, 1956)
• Jazz at the Metropole (Philips Records, 1961)
• Jack Bari presents Sol Yaged and his trio live at the Gaslight Club (Lane Records, 1966)
• One More Time (Lane Records, 1967)

• [ Sol Yaged at Allmusic (cache)]
• All About Jazz website
• Big Apple Jazz website
• New York Timeout excerpt re Sol Yaged