Curtis Counce


Curtis Counce was an American hard bop and West Coast jazz double bassist.

Biography

Counce was born in Kansas City, Missouri and moved to California in 1945. He began recording in 1946 with Lester Young, and in the 1950s in Los Angeles with musicians such as Shorty Rogers, Stan Kenton, Shelly Manne, Lyle Murphy, Teddy Charles, and Clifford Brown. Counce formed his quintet in 1956 featuring tenor saxophonist Harold Land, trumpeter Jack Sheldon, pianist Carl Perkins and drummer Frank Butler. Elmo Hope replaced Perkins after his death at age 29 in 1958. Gerald Wilson replaced Sheldon on some recordings. The four albums originally released on Contemporary Records were reissued in 2006 on a double CD by Gambit Spain. Counce died in Los Angeles, California, of a heart attack. He was survived by his wife, Mildred Counce, his daughter, Celeste Counce, and a son. Counce's son, born April 10, 1961, was placed for adoption by his biological mother. Curtis knew of his son, but due to his life circumstances, Counce could not be a part of his life. Curtis's son died on January 23, 2022.

Discography

As leader

The Curtis Counce Group You Get More Bounce with Curtis Counce! Exploring the Future Carl's Blues

As sideman

With Teddy CharlesCollaboration West Evolution
With Maynard FergusonDimensions Maynard Ferguson's Hollywood Party Stratospheric
With Herb GellerHerb Geller Plays Jazz Studio 2 from Hollywood Jazz Studio 2 from Hollywood Part II
With Pete JollyI Get a Kick Out of You Jolly Jumps In
With Lyle Murphy12-Tone Compositions & Arrangements New Orbits in Sound
With Shorty RogersCool and Crazy Shorty Rogers Courts the Count The Swinging Mr. Rogers Collaboration Shorty Rogers and His Giants The Big Shorty Rogers Express Way Up There Martians Stay Home
With Frank RosolinoThat Old Black Magic Frank Rosolino
With others