Jack Nimitz


Jack Nimitz was an American jazz baritone saxophonist, nicknamed "The Admiral" - a reference to Chester Nimitz.

Career

A native of Washington, D.C., Nimitz started on clarinet in his early teens before playing alto saxophone. During the 1950s he played baritone saxophone with Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, and Herbie Mann. He continued to play in big bands in the 1960s with Terry Gibbs and Gerald Wilson in addition to working in film and leading a quintet.
Nimitz was a founding member of Supersax in the early 1970s and remained with the band into the 1990s. During the 1980s and 1990s he was a member of big bands led by Oliver Nelson and Bill Berry. He performed in the sextet of Frank Strazzeri and the sextet of Bud Shank in the 1990s. In 1997 he worked with Buddy Childers at the PizzaExpress Jazz Club in London.
A studio musician for much of his life, Nimitz recorded his first album as leader in the 1990s.

Death

The Jack Nimitz Quintet played its final performance on May 10, 2009, in Northridge, California. Nimitz died in Los Angeles at the age of 79 from complications due to emphysema.

Discography

As leader

Live at the Royal Palms Inn Volume 8 with Buddy Childers Confirmation
  • ''Live at Capozzoli's''

As sideman

With Terry GibbsThe Exciting Terry Gibbs Big Band Explosion! Flying Home The Big Cat
With Woody HermanThe Woody Herman Band! Part 1 The Woody Herman Band! Part 3 Road Band! The Woody Herman Band! Woody Herman
With Stan KentonKenton in Hi-Fi Songs for Hip Lovers Road Show with June Christy and The Four Freshmen Standards in Silhouette Artistry in Bossa Nova Kenton / Wagner Hair
With Steuart LiebigNo Train Antipodes
With Shelly ManneMy Fair Lady with the Un-original Cast Manne–That's Gershwin!
With Mark MurphyPlaying the Field
With Oliver NelsonSound Pieces Live from Los Angeles Stolen Moments
With Lalo SchifrinMusic from Mission: Impossible Mannix Bullitt
With Diane SchuurTimeless Pure Schuur In Tribute
With Bud ShankBud Shank & the Sax Section New Gold! Plays Harold Arlen
With SupersaxSupersax Plays Bird Salt Peanuts Supersax Plays Bird, Volume 2 Supersax Plays Bird with Strings Chasin' the Bird Dynamite !! Supersax & L.A. Voices Volume 2 Stone Bird
With Gerald WilsonYou Better Believe It! Moment of Truth Portraits On Stage Feelin' Kinda Blues The Golden Sword Lomelin Jessica State Street Sweet Theme for Monterey
With others