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Jimmy Giuffre

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

Jimmy Giuffre was an American clarinettist, saxophonist, composer and arranger, born in Dallas in 1921. He studied in Texas and became known as an arranger for Woody Herman's big band, for which he wrote Four Brothers in 1947. Later he developed forms of jazz in which the players could interact freely, anticipating free improvisation.

Music and breakthrough

His first trio consisted of Giuffre, guitarist Jim Hall and bassist Ralph Peña, later Jim Atlas. He called their style blues-based folk jazz. In 1957 he had a small hit when The Train and the River was featured on the television programme The Sound of Jazz. He then replaced the bassist with valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer. That trio can be seen in the film Jazz on a Summer's Day, shot at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival.

Influence

In 1961 he formed a new trio with pianist Paul Bley and bassist Steve Swallow. Giuffre now concentrated on the clarinet. The trio received little attention at the time, but critics later called it one of the most important groups in jazz. It played free jazz in a quiet, concentrated way, not aggressively like Albert Ayler or Archie Shepp. On their last record, Free Fall from 1963, the music consisted entirely of improvisation, years before the wave of free improvisation in Europe. Giuffre later taught in New York and Boston, among other places, and died in 2008.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to The Train and the River and notice how chamber music and folk gently come together: clarinet, guitar and bass keep each other in balance without drums.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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Mentioned in other articles

See also

Categories: ArtistsThird stream