Al McKibbon (January 1, 1919 – July 29, 2005) was an American
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
double bassist, known for his work in
bop,
hard bop
Hard bop is a subgenre of jazz that is an extension of bebop (or "bop") music. Journalists and record companies began using the term in the mid-1950s to describe a new current within jazz that incorporated influences from rhythm and blues, gospe ...
, and
Latin jazz
Latin jazz is a genre of jazz with Latin American rhythms. The two main categories are Afro-Cuban jazz, rhythmically based on Cuban popular dance music, with a rhythm section employing ostinato patterns or a clave (rhythm), clave, and Afro-Brazil ...
.
In 1947, after working with
Lucky Millinder
Lucius Venable "Lucky" Millinder (August 8, 1910 – September 28, 1966) was an American swing music, swing and rhythm and blues, rhythm-and-blues bandleader. Although he could not read or write music, did not play an instrument and rarely sang ...
,
Tab Smith,
J. C. Heard, and
Coleman Hawkins
Coleman Randolph Hawkins (November 21, 1904 – May 19, 1969), nicknamed "Hawk" and sometimes "Bean", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.Yanow, Scot"Coleman Hawkins: Artist Biography" AllMusic. Retrieved December 27, 2013. One of the first ...
, he replaced
Ray Brown in
Dizzy Gillespie
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie ( ; October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator and singer. He was a trumpet virtuoso and improvisation, improviser, building on the virtuosic style of Roy El ...
's band, in which he played until 1950. In the 1950s he recorded with the
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th century music, 20th-century music. Davis ado ...
nonet,
Earl Hines
Earl Kenneth Hines, also known as Earl "Fatha" Hines (December 28, 1903 – April 22, 1983), was an American jazz pianist and bandleader. He was one of the most influential figures in the development of jazz piano and, according to one source, " ...
,
Count Basie
William James "Count" Basie (; August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and the ...
,
Johnny Hodges
Johnny Hodges (July 25, 1907 – May 11, 1970) was an American alto saxophone, alto saxophonist, best known for solo work with Duke Ellington's big band. He played lead alto in the saxophone section for many years. Hodges was also featured on sop ...
,
Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Sphere Monk ( October 10, 1917 – February 17, 1982) was an American Jazz piano, jazz pianist and composer. He had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the Jazz standard, standard jazz repertoire, includ ...
,
Mongo Santamaria,
George Shearing
Sir George Albert Shearing (13 August 191914 February 2011) was a British jazz pianist who for many years led a popular jazz group that recorded for Discovery Records, MGM Records and Capitol Records. Shearing was the composer of over 300 so ...
,
Cal Tjader
Callen Radcliffe Tjader Jr. ( ; July 16, 1925 – May 5, 1982) was an American Latin Jazz musician, often described as the most successful non-Latino Latin music (genre), Latin musician. He explored other jazz idioms, especially small group mod ...
,
Herbie Nichols and Hawkins. McKibbon was credited with interesting Tjader in Latin music while he played in Shearing's group.
In 1999, the first album in his own name, ''Tumbao Para Los Congueros De Mi Vida'', was released.
McKibbon's second album, ''Black Orchid'', was released in 2004.
Discography
As leader
*''Tumbao Para Los Congueros De Mi Vida'' (Blue Lady, 1999)
*''Black Orchid'' (Departure Records, 2004)
As sideman
With
Nat Adderley
Nathaniel Carlyle Adderley (November 25, 1931 – January 2, 2000) was an American jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It ...
*''
To the Ivy League from Nat'' (EmArcy, 1956)
With
Lorez Alexandria
*''
Alexandria the Great'' (Impulse!, 1964)
*''
More of the Great Lorez Alexandria'' (Impulse!, 1964)
With
The Byrds
The Byrds () were an American Rock music, rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1964. The band underwent multiple lineup changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn (known as Jim McGuinn until mid-1967) being the so ...
* ''
The Notorious Byrd Brothers
''The Notorious Byrd Brothers'' is the fifth studio album by the American rock band the Byrds, released on January 15, 1968, by Columbia Records. The album represents the pinnacle of the Byrds' late-'60s musical experimentation, with the band b ...
'' (Columbia Records, 1968)
With
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965), known professionally as Nat King Cole, alternatively billed as Nat "King" Cole, was an American singer, jazz pianist, and actor. Cole's career as a jazz and Traditional pop, pop ...
* ''
Nat King Cole Sings/George Shearing Plays'' (Capitol, 1962)
With
Sonny Criss
William "Sonny" Criss (23 October 1927 – 19 November 1977) was an American jazz musician.
An Alto saxophone, alto saxophonist of prominence during the bebop era of jazz, he was one of many players influenced by Charlie Parker.
Biography
...
*''
Sonny's Dream (Birth of the New Cool)'' (Prestige, 1968)
With
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th century music, 20th-century music. Davis ado ...
*''
Birth of the Cool'' (Capitol, 1957)
With
Victor Feldman
*''
Latinsville!'' (Contemporary, 1960)
With
Dizzy Gillespie
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie ( ; October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator and singer. He was a trumpet virtuoso and improvisation, improviser, building on the virtuosic style of Roy El ...
*''
Carter, Gillespie Inc.'' (Pablo, 1976) with
Benny Carter
Bennett Lester Carter (August 8, 1907 – July 12, 2003) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. With Johnny Hodges, he was a pioneer on the alto saxophone. From the beginning of his career ...
*''
The Complete RCA Victor Recordings'' (Bluebird, 1995)
With
Coleman Hawkins
Coleman Randolph Hawkins (November 21, 1904 – May 19, 1969), nicknamed "Hawk" and sometimes "Bean", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.Yanow, Scot"Coleman Hawkins: Artist Biography" AllMusic. Retrieved December 27, 2013. One of the first ...
*''
The Coleman Hawkins, Roy Eldridge, Pete Brown, Jo Jones All Stars at Newport'' (Verve, 1957)
With
Johnny Hodges
Johnny Hodges (July 25, 1907 – May 11, 1970) was an American alto saxophone, alto saxophonist, best known for solo work with Duke Ellington's big band. He played lead alto in the saxophone section for many years. Hodges was also featured on sop ...
*''
Castle Rock'' (Norgran, 1955)
With
The Jazz Crusaders
*''
Chile Con Soul'' (Pacific Jazz, 1965)
With
Charles Kynard
Charles Kynard (20 February 1933 – 8 July 1979) was an American soul jazz/acid jazz organist born in St. Louis, Missouri.
Kynard first played piano then switched to organ and led a trio in Kansas City, Missouri, Kansas City including Tex J ...
and
Buddy Collette
*''
Warm Winds'' (World Pacific, 1964)
With
Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Sphere Monk ( October 10, 1917 – February 17, 1982) was an American Jazz piano, jazz pianist and composer. He had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the Jazz standard, standard jazz repertoire, includ ...
*''
Genius of Modern Music: Volume 2'' (Blue Note, 1955)
*''
The Giants of Jazz'' (Atlantic) with
Art Blakey
Arthur Blakey (October 11, 1919 – October 16, 1990) was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. He was also known as Abdullah Ibn Buhaina after he converted to Islam for a short time in the late 1940s.
Blakey made a name for himself in the 1 ...
,
Dizzy Gillespie
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie ( ; October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator and singer. He was a trumpet virtuoso and improvisation, improviser, building on the virtuosic style of Roy El ...
,
Sonny Stitt
Sonny Stitt (born Edward Hammond Boatner Jr.; February 2, 1924 – July 22, 1982) was an American jazz saxophonist of the bebop/hard bop idiom. Known for his warm tone, he was one of the best-documented saxophonists of his era, recording over ...
and
Kai Winding
Kai Chresten Winding ( ; May 18, 1922 – May 6, 1983) was a Danish-born American trombonist and jazz composer. He is known for his collaborations with fellow trombonist J. J. Johnson. His version of " More", the theme from the movie ''Mondo Ca ...
(Atlantic, 1971)
*''
The London Sessions'' (Black Lion) with
Art Blakey
Arthur Blakey (October 11, 1919 – October 16, 1990) was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. He was also known as Abdullah Ibn Buhaina after he converted to Islam for a short time in the late 1940s.
Blakey made a name for himself in the 1 ...
(1971)
With
Randy Newman
Randall Stuart Newman (born November 28, 1943) is an American singer, songwriter, arranger, pianist, composer, conductor and orchestrator. He is known for his non-rhotic Southern American English, Southern-accented singing style, early America ...
*''
12 Songs'' (Reprise, 1970)
With
The Night Blooming Jazzmen
*''The Night Blooming Jazzmen'' (1971)
With
Herbie Nichols
*''
The Prophetic Herbie Nichols Vol. 1'' (Blue Note, 1955)
*''
The Prophetic Herbie Nichols Vol. 2'' (Blue Note, 1955)
*''
Herbie Nichols Trio'' (Blue Note, 1956)
With
Shuggie Otis
Johnny Shuggie Otis (born Johnny Alexander Veliotes Jr.; November 30, 1953) is an American singer-songwriter, recording artist, and multi-instrumentalist.
Otis's composition " Strawberry Letter 23" as recorded by The Brothers Johnson topped ...
*''
Here Comes Shuggie Otis'' (Epic, 1969)
With
Van Dyke Parks
Van Dyke Parks (born January 3, 1943) is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, arranger, record producer, singer, and former Warner Bros. Records executive whose work encompasses orchestral pop, elaborate recording experiments, Ame ...
* ''
Discover America'' (Warner Bros., 1972)
With
Freddie Redd
*''
Live at the Studio Grill'' (Triloka, 1990)
With
Martha Reeves
*''We Meet Again'' (Fantasy, 1978)
With
George Shearing
Sir George Albert Shearing (13 August 191914 February 2011) was a British jazz pianist who for many years led a popular jazz group that recorded for Discovery Records, MGM Records and Capitol Records. Shearing was the composer of over 300 so ...
*''
Latin Escapade'' (1956)
*''
On the Sunny Side of the Strip'' (Capitol, 1960)
With George Shearing and
Dakota Staton
*''
In the Night'' (Capitol, 1958)
With
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Honorific nicknames in popular music, Nicknamed the "Chairman of the Board" and "Ol' Blue Eyes", he is regarded as one of the Time 100: The Most I ...
* ''
Sinatra and Swingin' Brass'' (Reprise, 1962)
With
Robert Stewart
*''
The Movement'' (Exodus, 2002)
With
Billy Taylor
Billy Taylor (July 24, 1921 – December 28, 2010) was an American jazz pianist, composer, broadcaster and educator. He was the Robert L. Jones Distinguished Professor of Music at East Carolina University in Greenville, and from 1994 was the a ...
*''
Piano Panorama'' (Atlantic, 1952)
With
Cal Tjader
Callen Radcliffe Tjader Jr. ( ; July 16, 1925 – May 5, 1982) was an American Latin Jazz musician, often described as the most successful non-Latino Latin music (genre), Latin musician. He explored other jazz idioms, especially small group mod ...
*''
Cal Tjader, Vibist'' (Savoy, 1954)
*''
Cal Tjader Plays Afro-Cuban'' (Fantasy, 1955)
*''
Ritmo Caliente!'' (Fantasy, 1956)
*''
Tjader Plays Tjazz'' (Fantasy, 1956)
*''
Mas Ritmo Caliente'' (Fantasy, 1957)
*''Latin for Lovers'' (Fantasy, 1958)
*''
Cal Tjader's Latin Concert'' (Fantasy, 1958)
*''
A Night at the Blackhawk'' (Fantasy, 1958)
*''
Cal Tjader Goes Latin'' (Fantasy, 1959)
*''
Cal Tjader's Concert by the Sea'' (Fantasy, 1959)
*''
Cal Tjader's Concert by the Sea, Vol. 2'' (Fantasy, 1959)
*''
Demasiado Caliente'' (Fantasy, 1960)
*''
Cal Tjader Plays Harold Arlen'' (Fantasy, 1960)
*''
In a Latin Bag'' (Verve, 1961)
*''
Live at the Monterey Jazz Festival 1958-1980'' (Concord, 2008)
With
Mel Tormé
Melvin Howard Tormé (September 13, 1925 – June 5, 1999), nicknamed "the Velvet Fog", was an American musician, singer, composer, arrangement, arranger, drummer, actor, and author. He composed the music for "The Christmas Song" ("Chestnuts Roa ...
*''
Right Now!'' (Columbia, 1966)
With
Jack Wilson
*''
The Jack Wilson Quartet featuring Roy Ayers'' (Atlantic, 1963)
References
''San Jose Mercury News'' report of death 30 July 2005* https://web.archive.org/web/20050328093624/http://extratv.warnerbros.com/cmp/presentations/99_grammy/ retrieved Aug. 5, 2005
* Frenandez, Raul. ''Latin Jazz: The Perfect Combination''/''La Combinacion Perfecta'' (Chronicle Books, 2002).
{{DEFAULTSORT:McKibbon, Al
Bebop double-bassists
Latin jazz double-bassists
Hard bop double-bassists
1919 births
2005 deaths
American jazz double-bassists
American male double-bassists
Cass Technical High School alumni
Mainstream Records artists
Miles Davis
20th-century American double-bassists
American male jazz musicians
The Giants of Jazz members
20th-century American male musicians