Remembering Isaac “Redd” Holt and jazz greats we lost in 2023… with Dan Bindert

As we prepare for the excitement of each new year, it feels appropriate to acknowledge some of the jazz greats who died during the past 12 months. Artistic giants like pianist Ahmad Jamal (1930-1923), vocalist Tony Bennett (1926-2023) and saxophonist Wayne Shorter (1933-2023) each gave many memorable performances in Chicago over the course of their lengthy careers. All three of these giants recorded prolifically, so we’ll be enjoying their classic recordings on WDCB not only during the last week of this year but for many years to come. The list of those we said goodbye to in 2023 also includes vocalist Astrud Gilberto, bassists Harrison Bankhead and Richard Davis, composer Carla Bley, saxophonists Mars Williams and Kidd Jordan, and organist Reuben Wilson.

One musician I wanted to make extra sure we didn’t forget is Isaac “Redd” Holt (1932-2023) who passed away in May at the age of 91. Holt was the last surviving member of the original Ramsey Lewis Trio that made jazz history with their hit live version of “The In Crowd” as well as so many other popular jazz recordings made here in Chicago in the ‘50s and ‘60s. Holt went on to further success late ‘60s and early ‘70s with bassist Eldee Young in the Young-Holt Trio and Young-Holt Unlimited as they scored hit crossover records with songs like “Soulful Strut” and “Wack Wack.” In more recent years, Holt had a long-standing weekly gig at Chicago’s East Bank Club. In the photo below, Redd is pictured with Al Carter-Bey in 2019 when visiting WDCB.

In July of 2019, Holt gave one of our most memorable “WDCB Night at The Jazz Showcase” performances with his trio. He was 87 years old at the time, but Holt’s skills as a drummer were undiminished. He worked with a rather small and very old-school drum kit that he creatively utilized to produce all sorts of interesting sounds and accents that made the performance special. It was like a window into a vanishing art of jazz as entertainment, as Holt brought a special brand of style and panache to his work that looked and sounded very different from that of a typical jazz drummer these days. Everyone in attendance knew it was an experience to savor. And it was one of those nights that made all of us at WDCB proud to be able to present it for an appreciative crowd. We’ll never forget it.

Thanks for the memory...and for your lifetime of music Redd!