Ted Butterman, jazz trumpet player, age 87, of Arlington Heights, Illinois, passed away August 31, 2022. He was best known for leading his Chicago Cubs Quintet at Wrigley Field for over 36 years and leading several other fine groups in his 70 year career.
Ted was self-taught. Listening to records on an old phonograph that played at the wrong speed, he developed his own fingering system and eventually had his instruments custom-made to play in B natural. In the ’50s, Ted was well known in Bay Area trad jazz circles, playing trumpet with bands that included Dick Oxtot, Bob Mielke, and Bunky Coleman. He toured and recorded a couple of albums with Ed Reed’s Riverboat Five, which had an extended stay in Las Vegas. In Chicago, he formed his Gold Coast Jazz Band with name musicians such as Frank Chace, Little Brother Montgomery, Art Grunwald, et al. This band was very active in the Rush Street entertainment district.
In the ’60s, he put together a traveling version to back up comedienne Phyllis Diller on tour. His touring band consisted of John Cooper, piano; Wayne Jones, drums; Kim Cusack, clarinet; Mike Walbridge, tuba; Bob Sundstrom, banjo; and Peter Nyegaard, trombone. Later he formed his Neo Passe Jazz Band which recorded the Jump for Joy LP with si
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