James Pasco Gourley, Jr. (June 9, 1926 – December 7, 2008) 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 ...

guitarist who spent most of his life in Paris. Gourley was born in St. Louis in 1926. He met saxophonist

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 ...

in Chicago when both were members of the same high school band. He credits Konitz with encouraging him to become a serious musician. Gourley's father started the Monarch Conservatory of Music in Hammond, Indiana, though he didn't teach, and he bought Gourley his first guitar. Gourley took his first guitar classes at the school. He became interested in jazz while listening to the radio, enjoying in particular

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 ...

. For his first professional experience as a performer, he dropped out of high school to play with a jazz band in Oklahoma City. From 1944–1946, Gourley served in the U.S. Navy. After he returned to Chicago, he met guitarist

Jimmy Raney James Elbert Raney (August 20, 1927 – May 10, 1995) was an American jazz guitarist, born in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, known for his work from 1951 to 1952 and then from 1953 to 1954 with the Red Norvo trio (replacing Tal Farlow) a ...

and wanted to play like him. He worked in bars and clubs with

Jackie Cain Jacqueline Ruth Cain (May 22, 1928 – September 15, 2014) was an American jazz singer known for her partnership with her husband in the duo Jackie and Roy. She was the sister-in-law of singer Irene Kral. Life and career Born in Milwaukee, Wis ...

& Roy Kral,

Anita O'Day Anita Belle Colton (October 18, 1919 – November 23, 2006), known professionally as Anita O'Day, was an American jazz singer and self-proclaimed “song stylist” widely admired for her sense of rhythm and dynamics, and her early big band appe ...

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

Gene Ammons Eugene "Jug" Ammons (April 14, 1925 – August 6, 1974), also known as "The Boss", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. The son of boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons, Gene Ammons is remembered for his accessible music, steeped in soul and R ...

. Through the

G.I. Bill The G.I. Bill, formally the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, was a law that provided a range of benefits for some of the returning World War II veterans (commonly referred to as G.I. (military), G.I.s). The original G.I. Bill expired in ...

, he received tuition for three years to any college in the world. Beginning in 1951, Gourley spent the rest of his life in France, working with Henri Renaud, Lou Bennett,

Kenny Clarke Kenneth Clarke Spearman (January 9, 1914January 26, 1985), known professionally as Kenny Clarke and nicknamed Klook, was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. A major innovator of the bebop style of drumming, he pioneered the use of the ride ...

Richard Galliano Richard Galliano (born 12 December 1950, Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes) is a French accordionist of Italian heritage. Allmusic biography/ref> Biography He was drawn to music at an early age, starting with the accordion at 4, influenced by his father ...

Stéphane Grappelli Stéphane Grappelli (; 26 January 1908 – 1 December 1997) was a French jazz violinist. He is best known as a founder of the Quintette du Hot Club de France with guitarist Django Reinhardt in 1934. It was one of the first all-string jazz bands. ...

, Bobby Jaspar, Eddy Louiss, Martial Solal, and Barney Wilen. He played with American musicians who were passing through, including

Bob Brookmeyer Robert Edward "Bob" Brookmeyer (December 19, 1929 – December 15, 2011) was an American jazz valve trombone, valve trombonist, Jazz piano, pianist, arranger, and composer. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Brookmeyer first gained widespread public ...

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

Stan Getz Stan Getz (born Stanley Gayetski; February 2, 1927 – June 6, 1991) was an American jazz saxophonist. Playing primarily the tenor saxophone, Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, with his prime influence being the wis ...

Gigi Gryce Gigi Gryce (born George General Grice Jr.; November 28, 1925 – March 17, 1983), later in life changing his name to Basheer Qusim, was an American jazz saxophonist, flautist, clarinetist, composer, arranger, and educator. While his performing ...

Roy Haynes Roy Owen Haynes (March 13, 1925 – November 12, 2024) was an American jazz drummer. In the 1950s, he was given the nickname "Snap Crackle" for his distinctive snare drum sound and musical vocabulary. He is among the most recorded drummers in ja ...

Bud Powell Earl Rudolph "Bud" Powell (September 27, 1924 – July 31, 1966) was an American jazz pianist and composer. A pioneer in the development of bebop and its associated contributions to jazz theory,Grove Powell's application of complex phrasing to ...

Zoot Sims John Haley "Zoot" Sims (October 29, 1925 – March 23, 1985) was an American jazz saxophonist, playing mainly tenor but also alto (and, later, soprano) saxophone. He first gained attention in the "Four Brothers" sax section of Woody Herman's big ...

, Lucky Thompson, and

Lester Young Lester Willis Young (August 27, 1909 – March 15, 1959), nicknamed "Pres" or "Prez", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and occasional clarinetist. Coming to prominence while a member of Count Basie's orchestra, Young was one of the most i ...

.. Roger Cotterrell, ‘The Jimmy Gourley Story’ Jazz Forum 82 (Aug 1983), 38-40.

Discography

As leader

* '' Americans in Europe Vol. 1'' ( Impulse!, 1963) * ''Graffitti'' (Promophone, 1977) * ''No More'' (Musica, 1981) * ''The Jazz Trio'' with Marc Johnson & Philippe Combelle (Bingow, 1983) * ''Jimmy Gourley and the Paris Heavyweights'' (52e Rue Est, 1984) * ''The Left Bank of New York'' (Uptown, 1986) * ''Flyin' the Coop'' with Richard Galliano (52e Rue Est, 1991) * ''Repetition'' (Elabeth, 1995) * ''Double Action'' (Elabeth, 1999) * ''Straight Ahead Express'' (Elabeth, 2004) * ''Our Delight'' (Elabeth, 2006)

As sideman

With Lou Bennett * ''Amen'' (RCA 1960) * ''Lou Bennett et Son Quintette Avec Kenny Clarke'' (Bel Air, 1964) * ''Dansez et Revez'' (Phono, 2017) With

* ''In Paris 1958–1959'' (Royal, 1987) * ''Pennies from Heaven'' (Eclipse, 1990) * ''Sweetie Pie'' (Philology, 1992) * ''With European Friends'' (LRC, 1990) * ''1959'' (Fremeaux, 2018) With Stephane Grappelli * ''Les Valseuses'' (Festival, 1974) * ''Satin Doll'' (Festival, 1974) * ''Stephane Grappelli Plays George Gershwin'' (Festival,) With

* '' Lee Konitz Plays'' (Vogue, 1953) * ''Quintets'' (Vogue, 1992) * ''Ezz-thetic!'' (Prestige, 1970) With others * Buddy Banks, ''Jazz de Chambre'' (Le Club Francais, 1956) *

, ''The Clifford Brown Sextet in Paris'' (Prestige, 1970) *

, ''Bob Brookmeyer Quintet'' (Vogue, 1956) *

Donald Byrd Donaldson Toussaint L'Ouverture Byrd II (December 9, 1932 – February 4, 2013) was an American jazz and rhythm & blues trumpeter, composer and vocalist. A sideman for many other jazz musicians of his generation, Byrd was one of the few h ...

& Barney Wilen, ''Jazz in Camera'' (Sonorama, 2012) * Nathan Davis, ''Peace Treaty'' (SFP, 2007) * Christian Escoude, ''Gipsy Waltz'' (Mercury, 1989) * Samson Francois, ''L' Edition Integrale'' (EMI, 2010) *

, ''Jazz Time Paris Vol. 11'' (Vogue, 1954) *

, ''Roy Haynes Modern Group'' (Swing, 1955) * Chubby Jackson, ''Chubby's Back!'' (Jazz Beat 512) * Bobby Jaspar & Henri Renaud, ''New Sound from Belgium Vol. 4'' (Vogue, 1953) * Guy Lafitte, ''Jambo!'' (RCA Victor, 1968) * Eddy Louiss, ''Orgue'' (America, 1972) * Eddy Louiss, ''Orgue Vol. 2'' (America, 1973) * Brew Moore, ''Live in Europe 1961'' (Sonorama, 2015) * Sandy Mosse, ''Chicago Scene'' (Argo, 1957) *

Nat Pierce Nathaniel Pierce Blish Jr., known professionally as Nat Pierce (July 16, 1925 – June 10, 1992) was an American jazz pianist and prolific composer and arranger, perhaps best known for being pianist and arranger for the Woody Herman band from 195 ...

, Dick Collins, Ralph Burns, ''Play Paris'' (Fantasy, 2001) * Henri Renaud, ''Henri Renaud et Son Trio'' (Vogue, 1997) * Henri Renaud, ''Modern Sounds: France'' (Contemporary, 1953) *

, ''Zoot Goes to Town:'' (Vogue, 1953) * Zoot Sims, ''Zoot Sims & Frank Rosolino'' (Vogue, 1986) * Sugar Blue, ''Cross Roads'' (Blue Sound, 1979) * Sugar Blue, ''From Paris to Chicago'' (EPM, 1988) * Lucky Thompson, ''Bop & Ballads'' (Sonorama, 2016) * Benny Waters, ''In Paris'' (President, 1967) *

, ''Le Dernier Message de Lester Young'' (Barclay, 1959) *

, ''Lester Young in Paris'' (Verve, 1960)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gourley, Jimmy 1926 births 2008 deaths American jazz guitarists Jazz-blues guitarists Bebop guitarists 20th-century American guitarists American male guitarists 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians