Jimmy Garrison


James Emory Garrison was an American jazz double bassist. He is best remembered for his association with John Coltrane from 1961 to 1967.
WWW garrisonjazz.com/Jimmy_Ga...

Career

Garrison was born in Miami, Florida, and moved when he was 10 to Philadelphia, where he learned to play bass during his senior year of high school. Garrison came of age in the 1950s Philadelphia jazz scene, which included fellow bassists Reggie Workman and Henry Grimes, pianist McCoy Tyner and trumpeter Lee Morgan. Garrison was in a short-lived trio started by Bill Evans, with Kenny Dennis on drums, in the 1950s. Between 1957 and 1962, Garrison played and recorded with trumpeter Kenny Dorham; clarinetist Tony Scott; drummer Philly Joe Jones; and saxophonists Bill Barron, Lee Konitz, and Jackie McLean, as well as Curtis Fuller, Benny Golson, Lennie Tristano, and Pharoah Sanders, among others. In 1961, Garrison recorded with Ornette Coleman, appearing on Coleman's albums Ornette on Tenor and The Art of the Improvisers. He also worked with Walter Bishop, Jr. and Cal Massey during the early years of his career.
He formally joined Coltrane's quartet in 1962, replacing Workman. 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. After John Coltrane's death, Garrison worked and recorded with Alice Coltrane, Hampton Hawes, Archie Shepp, Clifford Thornton and groups led by Elvin Jones.
Garrison also worked with Ornette Coleman during the 1960s, first recording with him in 1961 on Ornette on Tenor. 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 and Bennington College.

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, and jazz bassist Matt Garrison.
Jimmy Garrison died of lung cancer on April 7, 1976.

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 walking bassline, to suggest the time and pulse rather than to outright play it. He was also known for his frequent use of double stops, and for strumming the strings of the bass with his thumb. Garrison would often play unaccompanied improvised solos, sometimes as song introductions prior to the other musicians joining in, and occasionally used a bow. Garrison had a uniquely heavy and powerful gut string tone.

Discography

As leader

As sideman

With Lorez AlexandriaFor Swingers Only
With Bill BarronThe Tenor Stylings of Bill Barron
With Walter Bishop Jr. Speak Low
With Benny CarterFurther Definitions
With Ornette ColemanOrnette on Tenor New York Is Now! Love Call The Art of the Improvisers
With Alice ColtraneA Monastic Trio Cosmic Music Universal Consciousness Carnegie Hall '71 The Carnegie Hall Concert
With John ColtraneLive at the Village Vanguard Ballads Coltrane Duke Ellington & John Coltrane John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman Impressions Live at Birdland Crescent A Love Supreme Ascension First Meditations The John Coltrane Quartet Plays Kulu Sé Mama The New Wave in Jazz Live at the Half Note: One Down, One Up Live in Seattle The Major Works of John Coltrane Meditations Transition Sun Ship Live in Antibes Live in Japan Live at the Village Vanguard Again! Expression The Olatunji Concert: The Last Live Recording Stellar Regions Both Directions at Once: The Lost Album Blue World (album)
With Ted CursonPlenty of Horn
With Nathan DavisRules of Freedom
With Bill DixonIntents and Purposes
With Kenny DorhamJazz Contemporary Show Boat
With Curtis FullerBlues-ette Imagination Images of Curtis Fuller The Magnificent Trombone of Curtis Fuller
With Beaver HarrisFrom Ragtime to No Time
With Elvin JonesPuttin' It Together The Ultimate
With Philly Joe JonesBlues for Dracula Drums Around the World Showcase
With Lee KonitzLive at the Half Note
With Rolf Kühn and Joachim KühnImpressions of New York
With Cal MasseyBlues to Coltrane
With Jackie McLeanSwing, Swang, Swingin'
With J. R. MonteroseStraight Ahead
With Robert PozarGood Golly Miss Nancy
With Sonny RollinsEast Broadway Run Down
With Tony ScottGolden Moments I'll Remember
With Archie SheppLife at the Donaueschingen Music Festival Attica Blues The Cry of My People There's a Trumpet in My Soul
With Clifford ThorntonFreedom & Unity
With McCoy TynerToday and Tomorrow