Jimmy Cobb
Jimmy Cobb | |
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![]() Cobb drumming c. 2008 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Wilbur James Cobb |
Born | Washington, D.C., U.S. | January 20, 1929
Died | May 24, 2020 Manhattan, New York, U.S. | (aged 91)
Genres | Jazz |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instruments | Drums |
Years active | 1949–2020 |
Wilbur James Cobb (January 20, 1929 – May 24, 2020) was an American jazz drummer.[1] He was part of Miles Davis's First Great Sextet. At the time of his death, he had been the band's last surviving member for nearly thirty years. He was awarded an NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship in 2009.
Early life[]
Cobb was born in Washington, D.C. on January 20, 1929.[2][3] Before he began his music career, he listened to jazz albums and stayed awake into the late hours of the night in order to listen to Symphony Sid performing in New York City.[4] Cobb started his touring career in 1950 with the saxophonist Earl Bostic. He subsequently performed with vocalist Dinah Washington, pianist Wynton Kelly, saxophonist Cannonball Adderley,[3][5] bassist Keter Betts,[6] Frank Wess,[7] Leo Parker, and Charlie Rouse.[8] His website also recounts his gigs with Billie Holiday, Pearl Bailey, and Dizzy Gillespie that took place before 1957.[3]
Career[]
Cobb joined Miles Davis in 1958 as part of the latter's First Great Sextet,[3] after Adderley recommended him to Davis.[9] Cobb's best known recorded work is on Davis' Kind of Blue (1959).[10][11] Cobb was the last surviving player from the sessions, a distinction that, after Davis's death in 1991, he held for almost three decades.[2] He also played on other Davis albums, including Sketches of Spain (1960), Someday My Prince Will Come (1961), Miles Davis at Carnegie Hall (1962), In Person Friday and Saturday Nights at the Blackhawk, Complete, and briefly on Porgy and Bess (1959) and Sorcerer.[2][3] His subtle and understated demeanor drew the admiration of many including Davis.[2][12] However, this also meant that he did not get the same level of recognition that his fellow drummers would.[2] Cobb had the propensity to eschew publicity and did not record his first set as bandleader until 1983,[13] with the release of So Nobody Else Can Hear.[5]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/19930225_jimmy_cobb_braunschweig_museum.jpg/250px-19930225_jimmy_cobb_braunschweig_museum.jpg)
Cobb left the band in 1963, when Tony Williams was brought in by Davis. He formed a trio with pianist Wynton Kelly and bassist Paul Chambers, both of whom were part of Davis' rhythm section. The group recorded with Kenny Burrell (guitar) and J. J. Johnson (trombone), before breaking up at the end of the decade.[14] Cobb went on to join the Great Jazz Trio, together with Hank Jones on piano and Eddie Gómez on bass.[12] He also toured with Sarah Vaughan during the 1970s,[12][14] and taught at Stanford University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and Berklee College of Music.[12] He played in a tribute band called "4 Generations of Miles", together with Ron Carter (bass), Mike Stern (guitar), and George Coleman (tenor saxophone).[15]
During his career, Cobb worked with Bill Evans,[12] Clark Terry, Stan Getz,[9] John Coltrane,[5] Wes Montgomery, Art Pepper, Wayne Shorter,[13] Benny Golson,[2] Gil Evans, Kenny Dorham, Frank Strozier, Bobby Timmons, Booker Little, Johnny Griffin, Akiko Tsuruga, Bertha Hope, Hamiet Bluiett, Nat Adderley, Mark Murphy, Jon Hendricks, Joe Henderson,[16] Fathead Newman,[17] Geri Allen,[18] Larry Willis, Walter Booker,[19][20] Red Garland,[21] Richie Cole,[8] Ernie Royal, Jerome Richardson, Jimmy Cleveland, Philly Joe Jones,[22] Sonny Stitt, Nancy Wilson, Ricky Ford,[7] Richard Wyands, John Webber, and Peter Bernstein,[23] among many others.[13]
Awards[]
In June 2008, Jimmy Cobb was the recipient of the Don Redman Heritage Award.[24] On October 17, 2008, Cobb was one of six artists to receive the 2009 National Endowment for the Arts NEA Jazz Masters award.[25]
Personal life and death[]
Cobb was married to Eleana Steinberg Cobb until his death. Together, they had two daughters, Serena and Jaime, both of whom survived him.[2]
Cobb died on May 24, 2020, at his home in Manhattan. He was 91 and had been suffering from lung cancer.[2]
Discography[]
Source:[26]
As leader[]
- So Nobody Else Can Hear (Contempo Vibrato, 1983)
- Encounter (Philology, 1994)
- Only for the Pure of Heart (Fable/Lightyear, 1998)
- Four Generations of Miles: A Live Tribute to Miles (Chesky, 2002)
- Cobb's Groove (Milestone, 2003)
- Yesterdays (RteesanCobb Music, 2003)
- Tribute to Wynton Kelly & Paul Chambers (Sound Hills, 2004)
- Cobb Is Back in Italy! (Azzurra, 2005)
- Marsalis Music Honors Series: Jimmy Cobb (Marsalis/Rounder, 2006))
- Taking a Chance on Love (Azzurra, 2006)
- New York Time (Chesky, 2006)
- Cobb's Corner (Chesky, 2007)
- Jazz in the Key of Blue (Chesky, 2009)
- Live at Smalls (Smallslive, 2010)
- Remembering Miles 'Tribute to Miles Davis' (Sony Music, 2011)
- The Original Mob (Smoke Sessions, 2014)
- You'll See (SteepleChase, 2016)
- This I Dig of You (Smoke Sessions, 2019)
- Remembering U (Jimmy Cobb World, 2019)
As sideman[]
With Cannonball Adderley
- Sophisticated Swing (EmArcy, 1956)
- Cannonball Enroute (EmArcy, 1957)
- Cannonball's Sharpshooters (EmArcy, 1958)
- Jump for Joy (EmArcy, 1958)
- Cannonball Adderley Quintet in Chicago (Mercury, 1959)
- Cannonball Takes Charge (Riverside, 1959)
With Nat Adderley
- That's Right! (Riverside, 1960)
- On the Move (Theresa, 1983)
- Blue Autumn (Theresa, 1983)
- We Remember Cannon (In + Out, 1989)
- Autumn Leaves (Sweet Basil, 1990)
- Work Song: Live at Sweet Basil (Sweet Basil, 1990 [1993])
- Talkin' About You (Landmark, 1990 [1991])
With Lorez Alexandria
- Alexandria the Great (Impulse!, 1964)
- More of the Great Lorez Alexandria (Impulse!, 1964)
With John Coltrane
- Standard Coltrane (Prestige, 1958)
- Stardust (Prestige, 1958)
- Kenny Burrell and John Coltrane (Prestige, 1958)
- Bahia (Prestige, 1958)
- Giant Steps (on "Naima" only, Atlantic, 1959)
- Coltrane Jazz (Atlantic, 1959)
With Miles Davis
- Porgy and Bess (Columbia, 1958)
- 1958 Miles (Columbia, 1958)
- Jazz at the Plaza (Columbia, 1958)
- Kind of Blue (Columbia, 1959)
- Sketches of Spain (Columbia, 1960)
- Someday My Prince Will Come (Columbia, 1961)
- In Person Friday and Saturday Nights at the Blackhawk, Complete (Columbia, 1961)
- Miles & Monk at Newport (Columbia, 1963)
- Miles Davis at Newport 1955-1975: The Bootleg Series Vol. 4 (Columbia Legacy, 2015)
With Ricky Ford
- Flying Colors (Muse, 1980)
- Tenor for the Times (Muse, 1981)
- Interpretations (Muse, 1982)
- Future's Gold (Muse, 1983)
- Shorter Ideas (Muse, 1984)
- Saxotic Stomp (Muse, 1987)
With Joe Henderson
- Four (Verve, 1968)
- Straight, No Chaser (Verve, 1968)
With Wynton Kelly
- Kelly Blue (Riverside, 1959)
- Wynton Kelly! (Vee-Jay, 1961)
- Someday My Prince Will Come (Vee-Jay, 1961)
- Comin' in the Back Door (Verve, 1963)
- It's All Right! (Verve, 1964)
- Undiluted (Verve, 1965)
- Blues on Purpose (Xanadu, 1965)
- Full View (Riverside, 1967)
- Last Trio Session (Delmark, 1968)
With Wes Montgomery
- Full House (Riverside, 1962)
- Boss Guitar (Riverside, 1963)
- Guitar on the Go (Riverside, 1963)
- The Alternative Wes Montgomery (Riverside, 1963)
- Smokin' at the Half Note (Verve, 1965)
- Smokin' Guitar (Verve, 1965)
- Willow Weep for Me (Verve, 1969)
- Still Hard Times (Muse, 1982)
- Song for the New Man (HighNote, 2004)
With Sonny Red
- Out of the Blue (Blue Note, 1960)
- The Mode (Jazzland (1961)
- Images (Jazzland, 1961)
With Shirley Scott
- For Members Only (Impulse!, 1963)
- On a Clear Day (Impulse!, 1966)
With Bobby Timmons
- This Here Is Bobby Timmons (Riveside, 1960)
- Easy Does It (Riverside, 1961)
- From the Bottom (Riverside, 1964)
- The Soul Man! (Prestige, 1966)
- Got to Get It! (Milestone, 1967)
With Sarah Vaughan
- Live in Japan (Mainstream, 1975)
- Ronnie Scott's Presents Sarah Vaughan Live (Pye, 1977)
With others
- Pepper Adams-Donald Byrd Quintet, Out of this World (Warwick, 1961)
- Peter and Will Anderson, (, 2020)
- Toshiko Akiyoshi, Toshiko Mariano and Her Big Band (Vee-Jay, 1964)
- Geri Allen, Timeless Portraits and Dreams (Telarc, 2006)
- Dorothy Ashby, Soft Winds (Jazzland, 1961)
- Kenny Barron and John Hicks, Rhythm-a-Ning (Candid, 1989)
- Walter Benton, Out of This World (Jazzland, 1960)
- Walter Bishop Jr., The Walter Bishop Jr. Trio / 1965 (Prestige, 1963 [1965])
- Nick Brignola, Burn Brigade (Bee Hive, 1979)
- Paul Chambers, Go (Vee-Jay, 1959)
- Al Cohn, Son of Drum Suite (RCA Victor, 1960)
- Joey DeFrancesco, Wonderful! Wonderful! (HighNote, 2012)
- Kenny Dorham, Blue Spring (Riverside, 1959)
- Kenny Drew, Lite Flite (SteepleChase, 1977)
- Curtis Fuller, Soul Trombone (Impulse!, 1961)
- Benny Golson, Pop + Jazz = Swing (Audio Fidelity, 1961) – also released as Just Jazz!
- Turning Point (Mercury, 1962)
- Paul Gonsalves, Gettin' Together (Jazzland, 1960)
- Bunky Green, My Babe (Vee-Jay, 1960 [1965])
- Bill Hardman, Saying Something (Savoy, 1961)
- John Hendricks, Freddie Freeloader (Denon, 1990)
- John Hicks and Elise Wood, Luminous (Nilva, 1985)
- Hubert Laws, The Laws of Jazz (Atlantic, 1964)
- Johnny Lytle, New and Groovy (Tuba, 1966)
- Harold Mabern, To Love and Be Loved (Smoke Sessions, 2017)
- Pat Martino, Desperado (Prestige, 1970)
- Ronnie Mathews, Legacy (Bee Hive, 1979)
- Billy Mitchell, De Lawd's Blues (Xanadu, 1980)
- Frank Morgan, Quiet Fire (Contemporary, 1987 [1991] with Bud Shank
- Art Pepper, Gettin' Together (Contemporary, 1960)
- Jimmy Raney, Here's That Raney Day (Ahead, 1980)
- Wayne Shorter, Introducing Wayne Shorter (Vee-Jay, 1959)
- Don Sleet, All Members (Jazzland, 1961)
- Sonny Stitt, In Style (Muse, 1982)
- Teri Thornton, Devil May Care (Riverside, 1961)
- Norris Turney, Big, Sweet 'n Blue with Larry Willis and Walter Booker (Mapleshade, 1993)
- Phil Upchurch, Feeling Blue (Milestone, 1967)
- Cedar Walton, Midnight Waltz (Venus, 2005)
- Dinah Washington, For Those in Love (EmArcy, 1955)
- C. I. Williams, When Alto Was King (Mapleshade, 1997)
References[]
- ^ Ron Wynn. "Jimmy Cobb – Biography". All Music. Archived from the original on March 12, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h Weiner, Natalie (May 25, 2020). "Jimmy Cobb, The Pulse Of 'Kind Of Blue,' Dies At 91". NPR. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Helmore, Edward (May 25, 2020). "Jimmy Cobb, drummer on Miles Davis's Kind of Blue, dies aged 91". The Guardian. London. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ Sharp, David (August 20, 2019). "'Kind of Blue' drummer still keeping time as album turns 60". Associated Press. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Reed, Ryan; Shteamer, Hank (May 25, 2020). "Jazz Drummer Jimmy Cobb, Who Played on Miles Davis' 'Kind of Blue,' Dead at 91". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ Hart, Ron (August 17, 2019). "As 'Kind of Blue' Turns 60, Drummer Jimmy Cobb Shares Miles Davis Memories". Billboard. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Jimmy Cobb – Bio". National Endowment for the Arts. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Jimmy Cobb". Vail Daily. July 7, 2004. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Contreras, Russell (May 25, 2020). "Jimmy Cobb, 'Kind of Blue' drummer for Miles Davis, dies". Associated Press. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ "All-Time 100 Albums – Kind of Blue". Time Entertainment. January 27, 2010. Archived from the original on March 1, 2014. Retrieved August 30, 2008.
- ^ "The Dozens: The Golden Anniversary of Porgy and Bess". Jazz.com. Archived from the original on January 7, 2014. Retrieved August 30, 2008.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Bernstein, Adam (May 25, 2020). "Jimmy Cobb, consummate jazz drummer for Miles Davis, dies at 91". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Aswad, Jem (May 25, 2020). "Jimmy Cobb, Last Surviving Member of Miles Davis' 'Kind of Blue' Band, Dies at 91". Variety. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Dillon, Nancy (May 25, 2020). "Jazz drummer Jimmy Cobb, last surviving member of Miles Davis' 'Kind of Blue' sextet, dies at 91". Daily News. New York. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ Litweiler, John (March 1, 2003). "George Coleman/Mike Stern/Ron Carter/Jimmy Cobb: 4 Generations of Miles". JazzTimes. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ Owsley, Dennis (April 29, 2016). "The Career Of Jimmy Cobb". St. Louis Public Radio. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ Edwards, Michael (June 1, 2004). "David "Fathead" Newman: Song for the New Man". JazzTimes. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ Was, David (September 1, 2006). "Geri Allen's 'Timeless Portraits and Dreams'". NPR. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ Verrastro, Scott (November 29, 2006). "Bassist Walter Booker Dies at 72". JazzTimes. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ "Jazz Events". The New York Times. June 28, 1982. p. C13. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ Chinen, Nate (January 20, 2017). "A Take Five Salute to Jimmy Cobb, the Consummate Hard-Bop Drummer". WBGO. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ "JJ 09/59: Miles Davis – Porgy And Bess". Jazz Journal. September 1959. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ Kahn, Ashley (November 1, 2003). "Jimmy Cobb: The Reluctant Don". JazzTimes. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ "Jimmy Cobb, jazz drums". MSU College of Music. Michigan State University. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ "NEA Jazz Masters – Jimmy Cobb". Washington: National Endowment for the Arts. Archived from the original on March 23, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
- ^ "Jimmy Cobb | Album Discography | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
External links[]
- Jimmy Cobb - Legendary Jazz Drummer – includes full discography
- Jimmy Cobb discography at Discogs
- Drummerworld.com Page
- Jazz Icon Jimmy Cobb
- Jimmy Cobb interview at allaboutjazz.com
- 1929 births
- 2020 deaths
- 20th-century American drummers
- 21st-century American drummers
- African-American drummers
- American jazz drummers
- American male drummers
- Chesky Records artists
- Deaths from cancer in New York (state)
- Deaths from lung cancer
- Hard bop drummers
- American male jazz musicians
- Miles Davis Quintet members
- Musicians from Washington, D.C.
- SteepleChase Records artists
- Smoke Sessions Records artists