Jimmy Garrison

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Jimmy Garrison
Garrison playing, c. 1960s
Garrison playing, c. 1960s
Background information
Birth nameJames Emory Garrison
Born(1934-03-03)March 3, 1934
Miami, Florida, U.S.
DiedApril 7, 1976(1976-04-07) (aged 42)
New York City[1]
GenresJazz, modal jazz, free jazz, hard bop, post-bop
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Double bass
Years active1957-1976
LabelsImpulse! Records

James Emory Garrison (March 3, 1934 – April 7, 1976)

double bassist. He is best remembered for his association with John Coltrane from 1961 to 1967.[3]

Career

Garrison was born in Miami, Florida and moved to

Walter Bishop, Jr. and Cal Massey
during the early years of his career.

He formally joined Coltrane's quartet in 1962, replacing Workman.[4] The long trio blues "Chasin' the Trane" is one of his first recorded performances with Coltrane and Elvin Jones. Garrison performed on many Coltrane recordings, including A Love Supreme.[4] After John Coltrane's death, Garrison worked and recorded with Alice Coltrane, Hampton Hawes, Archie Shepp, Clifford Thornton and groups led by Elvin Jones.[3]

Garrison also worked with Ornette Coleman during the 1960s, first recording with him in 1961 on Ornette 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 albums New York Is Now! and Love Call.

In 1971 and 1972, Garrison taught as a Visiting Artist at Wesleyan University[5] and Bennington College.[6]

Personal life

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,[7] and jazz bassist Matt Garrison.

Jimmy Garrison died of lung cancer on April 7, 1976.[4]

Music and playing style

Garrison was known for his inventive and melodic basslines, often using broken time and avoiding straight quarter notes as in a traditional

gut string
tone.

Discography

As leader

As sideman

With Lorez Alexandria

  • For Swingers Only
     (Argo, 1963)

With Bill Barron

With Walter Bishop Jr.

With Benny Carter

  • Impulse!
    , 1961)

With Ornette Coleman

With Alice Coltrane

With John Coltrane

With Ted Curson

With Nathan Davis

  • Rules of Freedom (Polydor, 1969)

With Bill Dixon

With Kenny Dorham

With Curtis Fuller

With Beaver Harris

  • From Ragtime to No Time (360 Records, 1975)

With Elvin Jones

With Philly Joe Jones

With Lee Konitz

With Rolf Kühn and Joachim Kühn

With Cal Massey

  • Blues to Coltrane (Candid, 1961 [1987])

With Jackie McLean

With J. R. Monterose

  • Straight Ahead (Jaro, 1959, also issued as The Message)

With Robert Pozar

  • Good Golly Miss Nancy (Savoy, 1967)

With Sonny Rollins

With Tony Scott

  • Golden Moments (Muse, 1959 [1982])
  • I'll Remember (Muse, 1959 [1984])

With Archie Shepp

With Clifford Thornton

With McCoy Tyner

References

  1. ^ a b "Jimmy Garrison Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
  2. ISBN 1561592846
    .
  3. ^ a b Kelsey, Chris. "Allmusic Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-06-25.
  4. ^
    ISBN 0-85112-939-0
    .
  5. ^ "Garrison, Jimmy (James Emory) – Jazz.com | Jazz Music – Jazz Artists – Jazz News". Archived from the original on 2015-08-22. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  6. ^ The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz, Feather & Gitlin, 2007, Oxford, p. 92
  7. ^ "About: Maia Claire Garrison". Reel.Dance.Music. Archived from the original on January 13, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
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