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"Mad" Harold Cardwell--Straight Ahead


"Mad" Harold Cardwell at Stasia's Supper Club in Indianapolis, IN, December 2008
Photo: Teri L. Cardwell for Blue Wolf Photography, copyright 2008

Biography:

Indianapolis, IN is a city with a rich and diverse jazz history.  Many legendary jazz performers from the area include Wes Montgomery, David Young, Slide Hamptom, JJ Johnson, Freddie Hubbard, Steve Allee and Oliver Nelson, Jr. Indianapolis jazz musicians "cut their chops" at famous, now long-gone clubs on Indiana Avenue, the bustling Black neighborhood of the 1920's through the mid-1960's that gave rise to the city's music legacy. "Mad" Harold Cardwell has called Indianapolis home since 1974.

 "Mad" Harold Cardwell was born in Cincinnati, OH in 1940, and grew up in Buffalo, NY.  He began playing drums professionally at age 15 with Hank Ballard and the Midniters.  Originally self-taught on drums, Harold attended Dana School of Music at Youngstown University.  He has since taught other drummers to play including his cousin Jozell Carter, Virgil Day, Eli Konikoff and students at Broad Ripple High School in Indianapolis under Rudy Finnell. Harold's playing style is distinctive, particularly his use of brushes and the ride cymbal, and his impeccable and melodic timing.  He has been described as a cross between Elvin Jones and Max Roach, both whom he considered friends and musical influences along with Art Blakey and Roy Haynes.  Jazz artist and Indiana University music educator David Baker in 2000 said "Harold is the closest Indiana has to Elvin Jones".  

His music career took Harold all over the United States during the 1960's and 70's, playing with Eddie Harris, David Young, Grant Green, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Melvin Sparks, and James Spaulding to name a few.  He also toured with various soul  musicians and bands.  Wooden Glass was a jazz-funk band that consisted of Billy Wooten (vibes), Emanuel Riggins (organ), William Roach (guitar), and Harold on drums. The group had quite a following at the 19th Hole, a local club in Indianapolis, and Wooden Glass recorded a live album in 1972 originally issued on the Interim label. The same group also recorded a studio album entitled "Smilin'" under the name the 19th Whole. During the 1970's, Harold was also involved with pre-production drum tracks for the O'Jays hit, Backstabber.

Jazz guitarist Grant Green heard Wooden Glass and hired the group as his rhythm section. While under contract to United Artists with Grant, Harold recorded 2 albums ("Visions" and the soundtrack for "The Final Comedown").  It was during his time with Grant that he was given the nickname "Mad" Harold, an abbreviation for "Master at Drumming".  The moniker has stayed with him.

Since 1974 Harold has resided in Indianapolis where he has played at historic venues such as the Hubbub, 19th Hole, Surfside, Ebony & Ivory, Madame Walker Theater, Crazy Al's, The Place to Start, City Tap Room, and the Chatterbox where he headlined his own band for a number of years in the 1980s.  During the 1990s to the present, Harold has been featured at The Jazz Kitchen, Rick's Boatyard Cafe', and Stasia's Supper Club (where his band currently plays one weekend each month).

"Mad" Harold's many Indianapolis collaborations have included: Dave Hepler, Matt Thompson, David Baker, Phil Ranelin, Nathaniel Hankerson, Freddie Hubbard, Bill Barnwell, Claude Sifferlen, David Young, John Strickland, Frank Smith, Clifford Ratliff, Frank Stean, Winston Walls, Dave Atkins, Steve Weakley, Bob Wilson, Tim Brickley, Erroll Grandy, Jimmy Guilford, Everett Green,  Frank Glover, Pharez Whitted, Lori Meacham, Steve Woerner, Russell Webster, Jimmy Coe, Pookie Johnson, Fred Withrow, Jeff DeHerdt, Mary Moss, Kevin Anker, Rob Dixon, Melvin Rhyne, Larry King, the Hamptom Sisters, Slide Hampton, Hazel Johnson-Strong, Jennifer Kirk, Mike Strickland, Steve Jones, Carl Hines, David Blickenstaff, and Eric Battle.

He was featured in a photo accompanying an article about "A Great Day in Indy" photo session  on the front page of the Indianapolis Star Metro section on June 2, 2008.  He continues to play one weekend a month at Stasia's Supper Club in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Discography: