Jimmy Garrison

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Jimmy Garrison was an American jazz double bassist, best known for his work with John Coltrane from 1961 to 1967. He was born in Miami in 1934 and moved to Philadelphia at the age of ten, where he learned to play bass in his final year of school. He grew up in that city's jazz scene of the 1950s, among bassists such as Reggie Workman and Henry Grimes, pianist McCoy Tyner and trumpeter Lee Morgan. For a short time he played in a trio that Bill Evans had started.

Music and breakthrough

In 1962 he formally became a member of Coltrane's quartet, succeeding Workman. One of his first recordings with Coltrane and drummer Elvin Jones was the long blues trio Chasin' the Trane. He played on many Coltrane records, including A Love Supreme. In the 1960s he also worked with Ornette Coleman, beginning in 1961 on Ornette on Tenor. After Coltrane's death he played with Alice Coltrane, Hampton Hawes, Archie Shepp and groups led by Elvin Jones. In 1971 and 1972 he taught at Wesleyan University and Bennington College.

Influence

His playing was innovative and melodic. He often played with broken time and avoided the steady quarter notes of a walking bass, so that he suggested the pulse rather than played it. He used double stops, sometimes struck the strings with his thumb, and often played unaccompanied solos. He died of lung cancer in 1976.

Listening

Discography

Studio albums

• 1964Illumination!

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

• After Hours: Session 3^NL Reader