Carl Perkins (August 16, 1928 – March 17, 1958) was an American jazz pianist.

Biography

Perkins was born in

Indianapolis Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion ...

but worked mainly in Los Angeles. He is best remembered for his performances with the

Curtis Counce Curtis Counce (January 23, 1926 – July 31, 1963) was an American hard bop and West Coast jazz double bassist. Biography Counce was born in Kansas City, Missouri and moved to California in 1945. He began recording in 1946 with Lester Young ...

Quintet, which also featured

Harold Land Harold de Vance Land (December 18, 1928 – July 27, 2001) was an American hard bop and post-bop tenor saxophonist. Land developed his hard bop playing with the Max Roach/ Clifford Brown band into a personal, modern style, often rivalling Cliffor ...

, Jack Sheldon and drummer Frank Butler. He also performed with Tiny Bradshaw,

Big Jay McNeely Cecil James "Big Jay" McNeely (April 29, 1927 – September 16, 2018) was an American rhythm and blues saxophonist. Biography Inspired by Illinois Jacquet and Lester Young, McNeely teamed with his older brother Robert McNeely, who played barito ...

in 1948–49, and played dates with Miles Davis in 1950. Following a short stint in the Army (January 1951 to November 1952), he worked intermittently with the

Oscar Moore Oscar Frederic Moore (December 25, 1916 – October 8, 1981) was an American jazz guitarist with the Nat King Cole Trio. Career The son of a blacksmith, Moore was born in Austin, Texas, United States. The Moore family moved to Phoenix, Ariz ...

Trio (1953-1955) and the

Clifford Brown Clifford Benjamin Brown (October 30, 1930 – June 26, 1956) was an American jazz trumpeter and composer. He died at the age of 25 in a car accident, leaving behind four years' worth of recordings. His compositions "Sandu", "Joy Spring", an ...

– Max Roach group in 1954. He recorded with

Frank Morgan Francis Phillip Wuppermann (June 1, 1890 – September 18, 1949), known professionally as Frank Morgan, was an American character actor. He was best known for his appearances in films starting in the silent era in 1916, and then numerous soun ...

in 1955, and with his own group in 1956. Perkins composed the standard "Grooveyard". His playing was influenced by his polio-affected left arm, which he held parallel to the keyboard. He used his elbow to play deep bass notes. He was thus known as "the crab". He died of a drug overdose at age 29, in Los Angeles, California. He recorded one album, ''Introducing Carl Perkins'', and a short series of singles under his own name. Authors

Paul Tanner Paul Tanner (October 15, 1917 – February 5, 2013) was an American musician and a member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra. He developed and played the Electro-Theremin, a theremin soundalike instrument that is best known for its use on the B ...

, Maurice Gerow, and David Megill cite Perkins as one of the best "funky", or hard bop, piano players, but his early death prevented him from leaving a legacy.

Discography

As leader

*" Summertime" b/w "Lullaby in Rhythm" (Savoy, 1949) Single, with Edwin Perkins (b), Herb Williams (d) *"The Rosary" b/w " Ave Maria" (Savoy, 1949) Single, with unknown bass and drums *" Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" b/w " I'll Never Smile Again" (Savoy, 1949) Single, with unknown bass and drums *'' Introducing Carl Perkins'' (Dootone, 1956) Perkins's only album as leader. With Leroy Vinnegar (b),

Lawrence Marable Larance Norman Marable (May 21, 1929 – July 4, 2012) was a jazz drummer from Los Angeles, California. Early life Marable was born in Los Angeles on May 21, 1929. His family was musical, but he was largely self-taught. Later life and career In ...

(d)

Shared leadership

*''Jazz Pianists Galore'' (Pacific, 1957) Perkins plays on one track *''Piano Playhouse'' (Mode, 1957) Perkins plays four solo tracks; others are by Jimmy Rowles, Lou Levy, Paul Smith, Gerald Wiggins

As sideman

With Pepper Adams *''

Pepper Adams Quintet ''Pepper Adams Quintet'' (reissued as ''Pepper Adams 5''), is the debut album by baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams recorded in 1957 and originally released on the Mode label.

'' (Mode, 1957) With

Chet Baker Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker Jr. (December 23, 1929 – May 13, 1988) was an American jazz trumpeter and vocalist. He is known for major innovations in cool jazz that led him to be nicknamed the "Prince of Cool". Baker earned much attention and ...

and Art Pepper *'' Playboys'' (Pacific Jazz, 1956) With

and Max Roach *''The Best of Max Roach and Clifford Brown In Concert!'' (GNP, 1954) With

*''

The Curtis Counce Group ''The Curtis Counce Group'' (later released as ''Landslide'') is an album by American jazz bassist Curtis Counce recorded in 1956 and released on the Contemporary Records, Contemporary label.

'' (Contemporary, 1956) *''

You Get More Bounce with Curtis Counce! ''You Get More Bounce with Curtis Counce!'' (later released as ''Councelation'') is an album by American jazz bassist Curtis Counce recorded in 1956 and 1957 and released on the Contemporary Records, Contemporary label.Carl's Blues ''Carl's Blues'' is an album by American jazz bassist Curtis Counce recorded in 1957 and 1958 and released on the Contemporary label.

'' (Contemporary, 1957) With Buddy DeFranco *''Plays Benny Goodman'' (Verve, 1957) *''Wholly Cats'' (Verve, 1957) *''Closed Session'' (Verve, 1957) *''I Hear Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw'' (Verve, 1957) With Victor Feldman *''

Vic Feldman on Vibes ''Vic Feldman on Vibes'', subtitled ''Champagne Music for Cats Who Don't Drink'' and also reissued as ''Mallets A Fore Thought'', is an album by vibraphonist Victor Feldman recorded in 1957 and originally released on the Mode label.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 improviser, building on the virtuosic style of Roy Eldridge but addi ...

*''

Jazz Recital ''Jazz Recital'' (also released as ''Dizzy Gillespie and His Orchestra'') is an album by the trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, recorded in 1954 and 1955 and released on the Norgran label. It consists of quintet, sextet and jazz orchestra tracks.

'' (Norgran, 1955) With Dexter Gordon *''

Dexter Blows Hot and Cool ''Dexter Blows Hot and Cool'' is a 1955 album by jazz musician Dexter Gordon. Reception The Billboard Reviewer noted that Gordon appeared "somewhat mellowed, making little attempt to impress either as a technician or melodic innovator" but that ...

'' (Dootone, 1955) With Jim Hall *''

Jazz Guitar Jazz guitar may refer to either a type of electric guitar or a guitar playing style in jazz, using electric amplification to increase the volume of acoustic guitars. In the early 1930s, jazz musicians sought to amplify their sound to be hear ...

'' (Pacific Jazz, 1957) With Illinois Jacquet *''Collates'' (Clef, 1951) *''

Illinois Jacquet and His Orchestra ''Illinois Jacquet and His Orchestra'' (also released as ''Groovin' with Jacquet'') is an album by American jazz saxophonist Illinois Jacquet recorded in 1955 and originally released on the Clef label.Richie Kamuca *''Richie Kamuca Quartet'' (Mode, 1957) With

*''

Harold in the Land of Jazz ''Harold in the Land of Jazz'' (also released as ''Grooveyard'') is the debut studio album by saxophonist Harold Land recorded in 1958 and released on the Contemporary label.

originally titled as Grooveyard'' (Contemporary, 1958) With

*''Oscar Moore Trio'' (Skylark, 1954) With

*''

'' (Gene Norman Presents, 1955) With

Art Pepper Arthur Edward Pepper Jr. (September 1, 1925 – June 15, 1982) was an American alto saxophonist and very occasional tenor saxophonist and clarinetist. Active in West Coast jazz, Pepper came to prominence in Stan Kenton's big band. He was known ...

*''The Complete Art Pepper Aladdin Recordings'' (Blue Note, 1957) The Perkins recordings were released long after recording With Stuff Smith *''Have Violin, Will Swing'' (Verve, 1957) With Leroy Vinnegar *''

Leroy Walks! ''Leroy Walks!'' is the debut album by American jazz bassist Leroy Vinnegar recorded in 1957 and released on the Contemporary label.

'' (Contemporary, 1958)

References

External links

Comprehensive Carl Perkins DiscographyCurtis Counce featuring Perkins
{{DEFAULTSORT:Perkins, Carl 1928 births 1958 deaths Musicians from Indianapolis 20th-century American pianists American jazz pianists American male pianists Bebop pianists Drug-related deaths in California West Coast jazz pianists 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians American musicians with disabilities