Jimmy Garrison | |
|---|---|
 Garrison playing,c. 1960s | |
| Background information | |
| Born | James Emory Garrison (1934-03-03)March 3, 1934 |
| Died | April 7, 1976(1976-04-07) (aged 42) |
| Genres | Jazz,modal jazz,free jazz,hard bop,post-bop |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Double bass |
| Years active | 1957-1976 |
| Labels | Impulse! Records |
James Emory Garrison (March 3, 1934 – April 7, 1976)[2] was an Americanjazzdouble bassist. He is best remembered for his association withJohn Coltrane from 1961 to 1967.[3]
Garrison was born inMiami,Florida, and moved when he was 10 toPhiladelphia, where he learned to play bass during his senior year of high school.[4] Garrison came of age in the 1950sPhiladelphia jazz scene, which included fellow bassistsReggie Workman andHenry Grimes, pianistMcCoy Tyner and trumpeterLee Morgan. Garrison was in a short-lived trio started byBill Evans, withKenny Dennis on drums, in the 1950s.[5] Between 1957 and 1962, Garrison played and recorded with trumpeterKenny Dorham; clarinetistTony Scott; drummerPhilly Joe Jones; and saxophonistsBill Barron,Lee Konitz, andJackie McLean, as well asCurtis Fuller,Benny Golson,Lennie Tristano, andPharoah Sanders, among others.[1] In 1961, Garrison recorded withOrnette Coleman, appearing on Coleman's albumsOrnette on Tenor andThe Art of the Improvisers. He also worked withWalter Bishop, Jr. andCal Massey during the early years of his career.
He formally joinedColtrane's quartet in 1962, replacing Workman.[4] The long trio blues "Chasin' the Trane" is one of his first recorded performances with Coltrane andElvin Jones. Garrison performed on many Coltrane recordings, includingA Love Supreme.[4] After John Coltrane's death, Garrison worked and recorded withAlice Coltrane,Hampton Hawes,Archie Shepp,Clifford Thornton and groups led byElvin Jones.[3]
Garrison also worked withOrnette Coleman during the 1960s, first recording with him in 1961 onOrnette on Tenor.[4] He and Elvin Jones recorded with Coleman in 1968, and have been credited with eliciting more forceful playing than usual from Coleman on the albumsNew York Is Now! andLove Call.
In 1971 and 1972, Garrison taught as a Visiting Artist atWesleyan University[6] andBennington College.[7]
Garrison had four daughters and a son. With his first wife Robbie he had three daughters, Robin, Lori and Italy based jazz vocalist Joy Garrison. With his second wife, dancer and choreographer Roberta Escamilla Garrison, he had Maia Claire,[8] and jazz bassistMatt Garrison.
Jimmy Garrison died oflung cancer on April 7, 1976.[4]
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Garrison was known for his inventive and melodic basslines, often using broken time and avoiding straight quarter notes as in a traditionalwalking bassline, to suggest the time and pulse rather than to outright play it. He was also known for his frequent use ofdouble stops, and for strumming the strings of the bass with his thumb. Garrison would often play unaccompaniedimprovisedsolos, sometimes as song introductions prior to the other musicians joining in, and occasionally used abow. Garrison had a uniquely heavy and powerfulgut string tone.
WithLorez Alexandria
WithBill Barron
WithBenny Carter
WithOrnette Coleman
WithAlice Coltrane
WithJohn Coltrane
WithTed Curson
WithNathan Davis
WithBill Dixon
WithKenny Dorham
WithCurtis Fuller
WithBeaver Harris
WithElvin Jones
WithPhilly Joe Jones
WithLee Konitz
WithRolf Kühn andJoachim Kühn
WithCal Massey
WithJackie McLean
WithJ. R. Monterose
With Robert Pozar
WithSonny Rollins
WithTony Scott
WithArchie Shepp
WithMcCoy Tyner
