Jimmy Cobb


Wilbur James "Jimmy" Cobb was an American jazz drummer. He was part of Miles Davis's First Great Sextet. He was awarded an NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship in 2009.
WWW Official Site

Early life

Cobb was born in Washington, D.C., on January 20, 1929. Before he began his music career, he listened to jazz albums and stayed awake into the late hours of the night to listen to Symphony Sid broadcasting from New York City. Raised Catholic, he was also exposed to Church music.
Cobb started his touring career in 1950 with the saxophonist Earl Bostic. He subsequently performed with vocalist Dinah Washington, pianist Wynton Kelly, saxophonist Cannonball Adderley, bassist Keter Betts, Frank Wess, Leo Parker, and Charlie Rouse. His website also recounts his gigs with Billie Holiday, Pearl Bailey, and Dizzy Gillespie that took place before 1957.

Career

Cobb joined Miles Davis in 1958 as part of the latter's First Great Sextet, after Adderley recommended him to Davis. Cobb's best-known recorded work is on Davis' Kind of Blue. Cobb was the last surviving player from the sessions, a distinction that, after Davis's death in 1991, he held for almost three decades. He also played on other Davis albums, including Sketches of Spain, Someday My Prince Will Come, Miles Davis at Carnegie Hall, In Person Friday and Saturday Nights at the Blackhawk, Complete, and briefly on Porgy and Bess and Sorcerer. His subtle and understated demeanor drew the admiration of many including Davis. However, this also meant that he did not get the same level of recognition that his fellow drummers would. Cobb had the propensity to eschew publicity and did not record his first set as bandleader until 1983, with the release of So Nobody Else Can Hear.
Cobb left the band in 1963, when Tony Williams was brought in by Davis. He formed a trio with pianist Wynton Kelly and bassist Paul Chambers, both of whom were part of Davis' rhythm section. The group toured and recorded as a trio, and also worked with Kenny Burrell, Wes Montgomery, Joe Henderson, J. J. Johnson and others. Chambers died in 1969, though Kelly and Cobb had occasionally used other bassists in the late 1960s as Chambers' health declined. Kelly died in 1971. Cobb went on to join the Great Jazz Trio, together with Hank Jones on piano and Eddie Gómez on bass. He also toured with Sarah Vaughan during the 1970s, and taught at Stanford University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and Berklee College of Music. He played in a tribute band called "4 Generations of Miles", together with Ron Carter, Mike Stern, and George Coleman.
During his career, Cobb worked with Bill Evans, Clark Terry, Stan Getz, John Coltrane, Wes Montgomery, Art Pepper, Wayne Shorter, Benny Golson, Gil Evans, Kenny Dorham, Frank Strozier, Bobby Timmons, Booker Little, Johnny Griffin, Akiko Tsuruga, Bertha Hope, Hamiet Bluiett, Nat Adderley, Mark Murphy, Jon Hendricks, Joe Henderson, Fathead Newman, Geri Allen, Larry Willis, Walter Booker, Red Garland, Richie Cole, Ernie Royal, Jerome Richardson, Jimmy Cleveland, Philly Joe Jones, Sonny Stitt, Nancy Wilson, Ricky Ford, Richard Wyands, John Webber, and Peter Bernstein, among many others.

Awards

In June 2008, Jimmy Cobb was the recipient of the Don Redman Heritage Award. On October 17, 2008, Cobb was one of six artists to receive the 2009 National Endowment for the Arts NEA Jazz Masters award.

Personal life and death

Cobb was married to Eleana Steinberg Cobb until his death. Together, they had two daughters, Serena and Jaime, both of whom survived him.
Cobb died on May 24, 2020, at his home in Manhattan. He was 91 and had been suffering from lung cancer.

Discography

Source:

As leader/co-leader

So Nobody Else Can Hear – recorded in 1981Encounter with Ada Montellanico Only for the Pure of Heart – liveFour Generations of Miles: A Live Tribute to Miles with George Coleman, Mike Stern, Ron Carter Jimmy Cobb Trio Cobb's Groove Yesterdays Taking a Chance on Love featuring Marco Tamburini Tribute to Wynton Kelly & Paul Chambers Cobb Is Back in Italy! Marsalis Music Honors Series: Jimmy Cobb – recorded in 2005New York Time Cobb's Corner Jazz in the Key of Blue Live at Smalls Remembering Miles 'Tribute to Miles Davis The Original Mob
  • The Super Trio, Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise with Massimo Farao, Ron Carter This I Dig of You – liveRemembering U featuring Roy Hargrove – recorded in 2016

As sideman

With Cannonball AdderleySophisticated Swing Cannonball Enroute Cannonball's Sharpshooters Jump for Joy Cannonball Adderley Quintet in Chicago Cannonball Takes Charge
With Nat AdderleyThat's Right! On the Move Blue Autumn We Remember Cannon Autumn Leaves Talkin' About You – recorded in 1990Work Song: Live at Sweet Basil – recorded in 1990
With Lorez AlexandriaAlexandria the Great More of the Great Lorez Alexandria
With John ColtraneStandard Coltrane – recorded in 1958Stardust – recorded in 1958Kenny Burrell and John Coltrane – recorded in 1958Bahia – recorded in 1958Giant Steps – recorded in 1959Coltrane Jazz – recorded in 1959–60
With Miles DavisPorgy and Bess – recorded in 19581958 Miles – recorded in 1958Jazz at the Plaza – recorded in 1958Kind of Blue Sketches of Spain – recorded in 1959–60Someday My Prince Will Come In Person Friday and Saturday Nights at the Blackhawk, Complete – recorded in 1961Miles & Monk at Newport – recorded in 1958–63Miles Davis at Newport 1955–1975: The Bootleg Series Vol. 4 – recorded in 1955–75
With Ricky FordFlying Colors Tenor for the Times Interpretations Future's Gold Shorter Ideas Saxotic Stomp
With Benny GolsonPop + Jazz = Swing – also released as Just Jazz!Turning Point
With Joe HendersonFour – recorded in 1968Straight, No Chaser – recorded in 1968
With Hank Jones
With Wynton KellyKelly Blue Wynton Kelly! Someday My Prince Will Come Comin' in the Back Door It's All Right! Undiluted Blues on Purpose Full View Last Trio Session
With Wes MontgomeryFull House Boss Guitar Guitar on the Go – recorded in 1959–1963Smokin' at the Half Note Willow Weep for Me – recorded in 1965The Alternative Wes Montgomery – recorded in 1960–1963Smokin' Guitar – recorded in 1965
With David "Fathead" NewmanStill Hard Times Song for the New Man – recorded in 2003
With Sonny RedOut of the Blue The Mode – recorded in 1961Images – recorded in 1961
With Shirley ScottFor Members Only On a Clear Day
With Bobby TimmonsThis Here Is Bobby Timmons Easy Does It From the Bottom – recorded in 1964The Soul Man! Got to Get It!
With Sarah VaughanLive in Japan Ronnie Scott's Presents Sarah Vaughan Live
With others