Lisle Atkinson


Lisle Arthur Atkinson was an American jazz double-bassist.

Life and career

Lisle Atkinson was born in New York City on September 16, 1940. He played violin from the age of four and switched to stand-up bass at 12 years of age. He attended the Manhattan School of Music, and after graduating worked as Nina Simone's bassist from 1962 to 1966. He also worked with the New York Bass Choir and Les Spann during this time. Atkinson played with Betty Carter from 1969 to 1971, and in the 1970s worked with Kenny Burrell, George Coleman, Andrew Cyrille, Maynard Ferguson, Dizzy Gillespie, John Gordon, Jon Hendricks, Helen Humes, Hank Jones, Wynton Kelly, Howard McGhee, Horace Parlan, Hazel Scott, Norman Simmons, Frank Strozier, Billy Taylor, Clark Terry, Stanley Turrentine, and Richard Wyands.
In 1983, Atkinson formed his own group, the Neo-Bass Ensemble, which included five bassists, together with Paul H. Brown, a pianist, and Al Harewood on drums. In the 1980s Atkinson also played with Benny Carter, Lee Konitz, Grover Mitchell, Joe Newman, Dakota Staton, and Ernie Wilkins. Among his associations in the 1990s and 2000s were Barry Harris, Leroy Williams, Jeanne Lee, and Sir Charles Thompson. During the 90s, Atkinson was one of the faculty teaching at Jazzmobile on Saturdays in Harlem.
Atkinson died in New York City on March 25, 2019, at the age of 78.

Discography

As leader

Bass Contra Bass with Karen Atkinson, Richard Wyands, Paul West, Al Harewood

As sideman

With Roni Ben-Hur Backyard Sofia's Butterfly
With Joshua BreakstoneNo One New With the Wind and the Rain 2nd Avenue: The Return of the Cello Quartet 88
With Kenny BurrellPrime: Live at the Downtown Room
With Benny CarterMore Cookin Cookin' at Carlos I Harlem Renaissance
With Betty CarterFinally, Betty Carter Round Midnight Betty Carter at the Village Vanguard The Music Never Stops
With George ColemanRevival also released as Big George
With Andrew CyrilleJunction Wildflowers: The New York Loft Jazz Sessions one trackGood to Go, with a Tribute to Bu Route de Frères
With Albert DaileyThe Day After the Dawn
With Walt DickersonPeace
With Keno DukeSense of Values Crest of the Wave
With Ryo FukuiRyo Fukui in New York
With John GordonStep by Step Erotica Suite
With Helen HumesHelen Humes and the Muse All Stars
With Jeanne LeeNatural Affinities
With Shigeo MaruyamaSweet Lorraine
With Howard McGheeHere Comes Freddy Jazz Brothers
With Danny MixonMixin' With Mixon
With The National Jazz EnsembleNational Jazz Ensemble Vol. 1
With The New York Bass Violin ChoirThe New York Bass Violin Choir
With Horace ParlanFrank-ly Speaking
With Norman SimmonsMidnight Creeper I'm...The Blues Synthesis In Private
With Nina SimoneNina Simone at Carnegie Hall Nina Simone in Concert Broadway-Blues-Ballads Pastel Blues Let It All Out Wild Is the Wind Four Women: The Nina Simone Philips Recordings Nina Simone's Finest Hour
With Frank StrozierRemember Me Dance Dance
With Richard Wyands
  • ''Then, Here and Now''