Lorraine Geller

Lorraine Winifred Geller (née Walsh; September 11, 1928 – October 13, 1958) was an American jazz pianist.

Geller was born in Portland, Oregon on September 11, 1928.^[1] She started out with the all-female big band Sweethearts of Rhythm, based in New York.^[2] She met saxophonist Herb Geller, and married him in 1951.^[1] Together they moved to Los Angeles, where they played with many musicians on the West Coast jazz scene, such as Shorty Rogers, Zoot Sims, Stan Getz, and Red Mitchell; she also did sessions with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.^[1] In 1957, she accompanied Kay Starr.^[1] The following year, she concentrated on bringing up her daughter, so did not often perform,^[2] but she did play at the first Monterey Jazz Festival.^[1] On October 13, 1958, Lorraine Geller died in Los Angeles; this has been attributed to heart failure^[1] or pulmonary infection.^[2]

Discography

As leader/co-leader

• The Gellers (EmArcy, 1955)^[2]
• Lorraine Geller at the Piano (Dot, 1959, recorded 1954)

As sidewoman

With Maynard Ferguson

• Around the Horn with Maynard Ferguson (EmArcy, 1956)

With Herb Geller

• Herb Geller Plays (Emarcy, 1954) – with Leroy Vinnegar bass, Larance Marable percussion)
• The Herb Geller Sextette, Mercury (with e.g. Conte Candoli, Red Mitchell, 1955)

With Red Mitchell

• Presenting Red Mitchell (Contemporary, 1957)^[2]

With others

• Miles Davis At Last : Miles Davis And The Lighthouse All Stars (Contemporary, 1953 [1985])
• Chet Baker, Miles Davis Complete performances with Lighthouse All Stars (Jazz Factory, 2004) – Lorraine Geller only present on the Miles Davis tracks

References