By Thomas Semioli

A master supportive and countermelodic player with an earthy tone, Jimmy Garrison is most noted for his 1961-66 association with John Coltrane – especially A Love Supreme (1965) wherein his repetitive opening motif is among the most recognized bass passages in recorded music.

Garrison came to prominence on the Philadelphia jazz scene in the 1960s, where such bassists as Reggie Workman and Henry Grimes were his peers.  Garrison would eventually go on to replace Workman in Coltrane’s ensembles.  Jimmy also waxed sides with Ornette Coleman: Ornette on Tenor (1962), New York Is Now (1968), Love Call (1968) and The Art of Improvisors (recorded 1959 and released in 1970).

A composer and collaborative recording artist with Elvin Jones, Garrison provided the solid anchor for his soloist’s harmonic and rhythmic explorations. Aside from Trane and Ornette, Jimmy waxed exceptional sides with Archie Shepp, Sonny Rollins, Bill Evans, Larry Coryell, and Alice Coltrane, to cite a few.      

Jimmy Garrison Sound & Vision…

John Coltrane “A Love Supreme” Pt. 1 “Acknowledgement” https://youtu.be/TMvbUKqWYEs

Ornette Coleman “Cross Breeding” https://youtu.be/7Z70ajQNMJg

Alice Coltrane “Lovely Sky Boat” https://youtu.be/rhmwChxResw

Sonny Rollins “East Broadway Rundown” https://youtu.be/-hHXhnKEmpM

The Elvin Jones Trio live with Jimmy Garrison and Joe Farrell https://youtu.be/p1FlNbFc3EM

Elvin Jones and Jimmy Garrison “Half and Half” https://youtu.be/5iT53h0iHww

“I have to be on the stage. That’s when it comes to me… period.”

He started out on clarinet, then took up the doghouse at age seventeen, honed his craft in military bands in the 1950s, paid his dues as Dinah Washington’s musical director for a few years, migrated to Detroit’s burgeoning jazz scene in the early 60s, then relocated to New York City a few years later to emerge as one of the most versatile and prolific bassists in modern jazz.

An educator, composer, and recording artist, Cecil McBee’s canon spans seminal works by Charles Lloyd, Wayne Shorter, Yusef Lateef, Pharoah Sanders, Alice Coltrane, Joe Farrell, Leon Thomas, Lonnie Liston Smith, and Norman Connors to cite an extremely select few.

McBee’s work in the late 1960s “soul jazz” movement was watershed, as he rendered melodic passages and deep grooves that inspired both upright and electric players.

Dig Cecil with…

Leon Thomas “The Creator Has a Master Plan” https://youtu.be/uoYnvw-97II

Alice Coltrane “Journey to Satchidananda” https://youtu.be/TQtEFdyhgdE

Pharoah Sanders “Summun Bukmun Umyun” https://youtu.be/0qHLbGALJZg

Yusef Lateef “Juba Juba” https://youtu.be/LNXq4OE0Vw0

Norman Connors “Dance of Magic” https://youtu.be/NYCb8J6h-0s