Bernie Glow (February 6, 1926 – May 8, 1982) was an American trumpet player who specialized in jazz and commercial lead trumpet from the 1940s to 1970s. Glow's early career was on the road with Artie Shaw, Woody Herman and others during the last years of the big-band era. The majority of his years were spent as a first-rate New York City studio musician, where he worked with Miles Davis and Frank Sinatra, and did thousands of radio and television recording sessions.

Training

At The High School of Music & Art, during the Second World War, Bernie played in bands with future notables Stan Getz, Tiny Khan, Shorty Rogers and George Wallington. Other than the influence of symphonic trumpet masters and his peers, Glow was influenced early on by performances of Snooky Young with the Jimmie Lunceford band, and Billy Butterfield with Benny Goodman.

Early career 1942–1949

Just sixteen and out of high school, Glow spent a year on the road with the Richard Himber Orchestra. Two years later he was with Xavier Cugat and then Raymond Scott on CBS radio. In 1945 he was playing lead trumpet with the Artie Shaw band. Following that stint, he was with Boyd Raeburn. In 1949, at 23, he retired from the road after more than a year with Woody Herman and his famous "Second Herd".

NYC freelance years 1949–1952

In this middle period Glow worked as a trumpet player in a wide variety of situations. He played in big bands, Latin bands and dance orchestras. He performed around Manhattan in theaters, dance halls, night clubs and on the radio. This was the final preparation that launched him into the burgeoning commercial and studio scene.

Studio years 1950s–1970s

Beginning in 1953 Bernie Glow was a first-call trumpet player and played on thousands of recording sessions. There was great variety in the kinds of music being recorded; One day he would play a radio commercial for Pepsi, and the next he would record an album with Frank Sinatra or Ella Fitzgerald. Many of these studio big-band sessions were led by leading composer/arrangers Nelson Riddle, Quincy Jones and Oliver Nelson. He played on the seminal Miles Davis and Gil Evans collaborations that produced the masterpiece albums Miles Ahead (1957), Porgy and Bess (1958), Sketches of Spain (1959), and Quiet Nights (1962). Glow also spent time as a member of the NBC and CBS staff orchestras. He played a Bach Stradivarius Bb 72* (lightweight) trumpet.

Death

He died of a blood disorder in Manhasset at the age of 56.

Discography

As sideman

With Manny Albam With Tony Bennett With George Benson With Bob Brookmeyer With Ruth Brown With Kenny Burrell With Candido Camero With Betty Carter With Al Cohn With Hank Crawford With Miles Davis and Gil Evans With Bill Evans With Gil Evans With Art Farmer With Maynard Ferguson With Aretha Franklin With Curtis Fuller With Dizzy Gillespie With Jimmy Giuffre With Benny Golson With Urbie Green With Eddie Harris With Billie Holiday With Freddie Hubbard With Milt Jackson With Al Kooper With John Lewis With Mundell Lowe With Herbie Mann With Gary McFarland With Blue Mitchell With the Modern Jazz Quartet With Wes Montgomery With Mark Murphy With Oliver Nelson With Joe Newman With Laura Nyro With Anita O'Day With Chico O'Farrill With Tito Puente With Nelson Riddle With Jimmy Smith With Rex Stewart and Cootie Williams With Sarah Vaughan With Walter Wanderley With Dinah Washington With Doc Severinsen- "The Big Band's Back in Town" -Command records- 1962 With Van McCoy & the Soul City Symphony backing The Stylistics- Trumpet solos on "Do the Hustle" & "I Can't Give You Anything (But My Love)"- 1975