Jimmy Knepper
James M. (Jimmy) Knepper (1927-2003) was an American jazz trombonist.He began performing professionally at 15. After playing in several major bands, including those of Charlie Barnet, Woody Herman, and Claude Thornhill, he became famous for his work with Charles Mingus. He performed in Mingus's Jazz Workshop and on most of Mingus's recordings between 1957 and 1962. He stopped working with Mingus when Mingus punched him in the mouth while on stage at a memorial concert.
From 1959 on he also worked with several other major jazz figures and groups, including Gil Evans, Benny Goodman, Stan Kenton, the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis orchestra, Lee Konitz, Herbie Mann, and Mingus Dynasty, and performed again with Mingus in the mid-1970s. Most of his recordings were as a sideman. He continued working into the 2000s.
