Jimmy Garrison

James Emory Garrison (March 3, 1934 – April 7, 1976) was an American jazz double bassist. He is best remembered for his association with John Coltrane from 1961 to 1967.

Career Garrison was born in Miami, Florida, and moved to Philadelphia at age ten, where he learned to play bass during his senior year of high school. 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. 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.

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 1963: Illumination! (Impulse!) with Elvin Jones

As sideman