James Emory Garrison (March 3, 1934 – April 7, 1976) 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. He is best remembered for his association with

John Coltrane John William Coltrane (September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967) was an American jazz saxophonist, bandleader and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the Jazz#Post-war jazz, history of jazz and 20th-century musi ...

from 1961 to 1967.

Career

Garrison was born in

Miami Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

, and moved when he was 10 to

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

, where he learned to play bass during his senior year of high school. Garrison came of age in the 1950s Philadelphia jazz scene, which included fellow bassists

Reggie Workman Reginald "Reggie" Workman (born June 26, 1937) is an American avant-garde jazz and hard bop double bassist, recognized for his work with both John Coltrane and Art Blakey, in addition to Alice Coltrane, Mal Waldron, Max Roach, Archie Shepp, Tri ...

and Henry Grimes, pianist

McCoy Tyner Alfred McCoy Tyner (December 11, 1938March 6, 2020) was an American jazz piano, jazz pianist and composer known for his work with the John Coltrane Quartet from 1960 to 1965, and his long solo career afterwards. He was an NEA Jazz Masters, NEA J ...

and trumpeter

Lee Morgan Edward Lee Morgan (July 10, 1938 – February 19, 1972) was an American jazz trumpeter and composer. One of the key hard bop musicians of the 1960s and a cornerstone of the Blue Note Records, Blue Note label, Morgan came to prominence in his la ...

. Garrison was in a short-lived trio started by

Bill Evans William John Evans (August 16, 1929 – September 15, 1980) was an American Jazz piano, jazz pianist and composer who worked primarily as the leader of his trio. His use of impressionist harmony, block chords, innovative chord voicings, a ...

, with Kenny Dennis on drums, in the 1950s. Between 1957 and 1962, Garrison played and recorded with trumpeter

Kenny Dorham McKinley Howard "Kenny" Dorham (August 30, 1924 – December 5, 1972) was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, and occasional singer. Dorham's talent is frequently lauded by critics and other musicians, but he never received the kind of attention ...

; clarinetist

Tony Scott Anthony David Leighton Scott (21 June 1944 – 19 August 2012) was a British film director and producer. He made his theatrical film debut with ''The Hunger (1983 film), The Hunger'' (1983) and went on to direct highly successful action and t ...

; drummer

Philly Joe Jones Joseph Rudolph "Philly Joe" Jones (July 15, 1923 – August 30, 1985) was an American Jazz drumming, jazz drummer. Biography Early career As a child, Jones appeared as a featured tap dancer on ''The Kiddie Show'' on the Philadelphia radio stat ...

; and saxophonists Bill Barron,

Lee Konitz Leon "Lee" Konitz (October 13, 1927 – April 15, 2020) was an American jazz Alto saxophone, alto saxophonist and composer. He performed successfully in a wide range of jazz styles, including bebop, cool jazz, and avant-garde jazz. Konitz's ass ...

, and

Jackie McLean John Lenwood McLean (May 17, 1931 – March 31, 2006) was an American jazz alto saxophonist, composer, bandleader, and educator. He is one of the few musicians to be elected to the ''DownBeat'' Hall of Fame in the year of their death. Bio ...

, as well as

Curtis Fuller Curtis DuBois Fuller (December 15, 1932May 8, 2021) was an American jazz trombonist. He was a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and contributed to many classic jazz recordings. Early life Fuller was born in Detroit on December 15, 193 ...

Benny Golson Benny Golson (January 25, 1929 – September 21, 2024) was an American bebop and hard bop jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, and arranger. He came to prominence with the big bands of Lionel Hampton and Dizzy Gillespie, more as a writer than a p ...

, Lennie Tristano, and

Pharoah Sanders Pharoah Sanders (born Ferrell Lee Sanders; October 13, 1940 – September 24, 2022) was an American jazz saxophonist. Known for his overblowing, harmonic, and multiphonic techniques on the saxophone, as well as his use of "sheets of sound", San ...

, among others. In 1961, Garrison recorded with

Ornette Coleman Randolph Denard Ornette Coleman (March 9, 1930 – June 11, 2015) was an American jazz saxophonist, trumpeter, violinist, and composer. He is best known as a principal founder of the free jazz genre, a term derived from his 1960 album '' Free Ja ...

, appearing on Coleman's albums '' Ornette on Tenor'' and '' The Art of the Improvisers''. He also worked with Walter Bishop, Jr. and Cal Massey during the early years of his career. He formally joined Coltrane's quartet in 1962, replacing Workman. The long trio blues "Chasin' the Trane" is one of his first recorded performances with Coltrane and

Elvin Jones Elvin Ray Jones (September 9, 1927 – May 18, 2004) was an American jazz drummer of the post-bop era. Most famously a member of John Coltrane's quartet, with whom he recorded from late 1960 to late 1965, Jones appeared on such albums as ''My Fa ...

. Garrison performed on many Coltrane recordings, including '' A Love Supreme''. After John Coltrane's death, Garrison worked and recorded with Alice Coltrane, Hampton Hawes,

Archie Shepp Archie Shepp (born May 24, 1937) is an American jazz saxophonist, educator and playwright who since the 1960s has played a central part in the development of avant-garde jazz. Biography Early life Shepp was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but ...

, Clifford Thornton and groups led by

. Garrison also worked with

during the 1960s, first recording with him in 1961 on '' Ornette on Tenor''. He and Elvin Jones recorded with Coleman in 1968, and have been credited with eliciting more forceful playing than usual from Coleman on the albums ''

New York Is Now! __NOTOC__ ''New York Is Now!'' is an album by the American jazz saxophonist and composer Ornette Coleman released on the Blue Note Records, Blue Note label in 1968.

'' and '' Love Call''. In 1971 and 1972, Garrison taught as a Visiting Artist at

Wesleyan University Wesleyan University ( ) is a Private university, private liberal arts college, liberal arts university in Middletown, Connecticut, United States. It was founded in 1831 as a Men's colleges in the United States, men's college under the Methodi ...

and

Bennington College Bennington College is a private liberal arts college in Bennington, Vermont, United States. Founded as a women’s college in 1932,

Personal life

Garrison had four daughters and a son. With his first wife Robbie he had three daughters, Robin, Lori and Italy based jazz vocalist Joy Garrison. With his second wife, dancer and choreographer Roberta Escamilla Garrison, he had Maia Claire, and jazz bassist Matt Garrison. Jimmy Garrison died of

lung cancer Lung cancer, also known as lung carcinoma, is a malignant tumor that begins in the lung. Lung cancer is caused by genetic damage to the DNA of cells in the airways, often caused by cigarette smoking or inhaling damaging chemicals. Damaged ...

on April 7, 1976.

Music and playing style

Garrison was known for his inventive and melodic basslines, often using broken time and avoiding straight quarter notes as in a traditional walking bassline, to suggest the time and pulse rather than to outright play it. He was also known for his frequent use of double stops, and for strumming the strings of the bass with his thumb. Garrison would often play unaccompanied improvised

solo Solo or SOLO may refer to: Arts and entertainment Characters * Han Solo, a ''Star Wars'' character * Jacen Solo, a Jedi in the non-canonical ''Star Wars Legends'' continuity * Kylo Ren (Ben Solo), a ''Star Wars'' character * Napoleon Solo, fr ...

s, sometimes as song introductions prior to the other musicians joining in, and occasionally used a bow. Garrison had a uniquely heavy and powerful gut string tone.

Discography

As leader

*1963: '' Illumination!'' with

( Impulse!)

As sideman

With Lorez Alexandria * '' For Swingers Only'' (Argo, 1963) With Bill Barron * '' The Tenor Stylings of Bill Barron'' (Savoy, 1961) With Walter Bishop Jr. * '' Speak Low'' (Jazztime, 1961) 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 ...

* '' Further Definitions'' ( Impulse!, 1961) With

* '' Ornette on Tenor'' (Atlantic, 1961) * ''

New York Is Now! __NOTOC__ ''New York Is Now!'' is an album by the American jazz saxophonist and composer Ornette Coleman released on the Blue Note Records, Blue Note label in 1968.

'' ( Blue Note, 1968) * '' Love Call'' (Blue Note, 1968) * '' The Art of the Improvisers'' (Atlantic, 1970) With Alice Coltrane * '' A Monastic Trio'' (Impulse!, 1968) * '' Cosmic Music'' (Impulse!, 1968) * '' Universal Consciousness'' (Impulse!, 1971) * '' Carnegie Hall '71'' (Hi Hat, 2018) * '' The Carnegie Hall Concert'' (Impulse!, 2024) With

* '' Live at the Village Vanguard'' (1961) * ''

Ballads A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and song of Great Britain and Ireland from the Late Middle Ages until the 19th century. They were widely used across Eur ...

'' (1962) * '' Coltrane'' (1962) * '' Duke Ellington & John Coltrane'' (1962) * '' John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman'' (1963) * '' Impressions'' (1963) * '' Live at Birdland'' (1963) * ''

Crescent A crescent shape (, ) is a symbol or emblem used to represent the lunar phase (as it appears in the northern hemisphere) in the first quarter (the "sickle moon"), or by extension a symbol representing the Moon itself. In Hindu iconography, Hind ...

'' (1964) * '' A Love Supreme'' (1964) * '' Ascension'' (1965) * '' First Meditations'' (1965) * '' The John Coltrane Quartet Plays'' (1965) * '' Kulu Sé Mama'' (1965) * '' The New Wave in Jazz'' (Impulse!, 1965) * '' Live at the Half Note: One Down, One Up'' (1965 005 * '' Live in Seattle'' (1965) * '' The Major Works of John Coltrane'' (1965) * ''

Meditations ''Meditations'' () is a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor from 161–180 AD, recording his private notes to himself and ideas on Stoic philosophy. Composition Marcus Aurelius wrote the 12 books of the ''Meditations'' i ...

'' (1965) * '' Transition'' (1965) * '' Sun Ship'' (1965) * '' Live in Antibes'' (1965) * '' Live in Japan'' (1966) * '' Live at the Village Vanguard Again!'' (1966) * '' Expression'' (1967) * '' The Olatunji Concert: The Last Live Recording'' (1967) * '' Stellar Regions'' (1967) * '' Both Directions at Once: The Lost Album'' (2018) * '' Blue World (album)'' (2019) With Ted Curson * '' Plenty of Horn'' (Old Town, 1961) With Nathan Davis * ''Rules of Freedom'' (Polydor, 1969) With Bill Dixon * ''

Intents and Purposes An intention is a mental state in which a person commits themselves to a course of action. Having the plan to visit the zoo tomorrow is an example of an intention. The action plan is the ''content'' of the intention while the commitment is the '' ...

'' (RCA Victor, 1967) With

* '' Jazz Contemporary'' (Time, 1960) * ''

Show Boat ''Show Boat'' is a musical theatre, musical with music by Jerome Kern and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It is based on Edna Ferber's best-selling 1926 Show Boat (novel), novel of the same name. The musical follows the lives of the per ...

'' (Time, 1960) With

* '' Blues-ette'' (Savoy, 1959) * ''

Imagination Imagination is the production of sensations, feelings and thoughts informing oneself. These experiences can be re-creations of past experiences, such as vivid memories with imagined changes, or completely invented and possibly fantastic scenes ...

'' (Savoy, 1959) * '' Images of Curtis Fuller'' (Savoy, 1960) * '' The Magnificent Trombone of Curtis Fuller'' (Epic, 1961) With Beaver Harris * ''From Ragtime to No Time'' (360 Records, 1975) With

* '' Puttin' It Together'' (Blue Note, 1968) * '' The Ultimate'' (Blue Note, 1968) With

* '' Blues for Dracula'' (Riverside, 1958) * '' Drums Around the World'' (Riverside, 1959) * '' Showcase'' (Riverside, 1959) With

* '' Live at the Half Note'' (Verve, 1959 994 With Rolf Kühn and

Joachim Kühn Joachim Kurt Kühn (born 15 March 1944) is a German jazz pianist. Biography Kühn was born in Leipzig, Germany. He was a musical prodigy and made his debut as a concert pianist, having studied classical piano and composition, with Arthur Schmidt-E ...

* '' Impressions of New York'' (Impulse!, 1967) With Cal Massey * '' Blues to Coltrane'' (Candid, 1961 987 With

* '' Swing, Swang, Swingin''' (Blue Note, 1959) With J. R. Monterose * ''Straight Ahead'' (Jaro, 1959, also issued as ''The Message'') With Robert Pozar * ''Good Golly Miss Nancy'' (Savoy, 1967) With

Sonny Rollins Walter Theodore "Sonny" Rollins (born September 7, 1930) is an American retired jazz tenor saxophonist who is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians. In a seven-decade career, Rollins recorded over sixt ...

* '' East Broadway Run Down'' (Impulse!, 1966) With

* ''Golden Moments'' (Muse, 1959 982 * ''I'll Remember'' (Muse, 1959 984 With

* ''Life at the Donaueschingen Music Festival'' (SABA, 1967) * '' Attica Blues'' (Impulse!, 1972) * '' The Cry of My People'' (Impulse!, 1972) * '' There's a Trumpet in My Soul'' (Freedom, 1975) With Clifford Thornton * '' Freedom & Unity'' (New World Records, 1967) With

* '' Today and Tomorrow'' (Impulse!, 1963) * '' McCoy Tyner Plays Ellington'' (Impulse!, 1964)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Garrison, Jimmy 1934 births 1976 deaths 20th-century American male musicians 20th-century American double-bassists American jazz double-bassists American male double-bassists American male jazz musicians Deaths from lung cancer in New York (state) Jazz musicians from Pennsylvania Musicians from Miami Post-bop jazz musicians The 360 Degree Music Experience members Wesleyan University faculty