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Chris White (bassist)

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Chris White
Background information
BornJuly 6, 1936
New York City, US
DiedNovember 2, 2014 (aged 78)[1]
Occupation(s)Bass player, arranger, producer and teacher of music
InstrumentDouble bass
Websitewww.chriswhitebass.com

Chris White (July 6, 1936 − November 2, 2014) was an American jazz bassist.

Early life and education

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Christopher Wesley White was born in Harlem, New York, and grew up in Brooklyn.[2] He graduated in 1956 from City College of New York, and in 1968 from the Manhattan School of Music. In 1974, he earned his Master of Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. In 1994, he did postgraduate Advanced Computer Study at Berklee College of Music.[2]

Career

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White was an occasional member of Cecil Taylor's band in the 1950s, credited on the 1959 Love for Sale album.[3] From 1960 to 1961 he accompanied Nina Simone; subsequently he was a member of Dizzy Gillespie's ensemble until 1966.[4]

He later founded the band The Jazz Survivors and was a member of the band Prism.[4] In addition to this, he collaborated with Billy Taylor, Eubie Blake, Earl Hines, Chick Corea, Teddy Wilson, Kenny Barron, Mary Lou Williams, Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae and Billy Cobham.

White served as executive director of the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University from 1972-1976,[5] and served as chair of the Division of Creative Arts and Technology at Bloomfield College in New Jersey.[1][6][7]

Awards

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  • 1993-94 Bloomfield College, Award Of Acknowledgment
  • 1990, 1984, 1982 National Endowment for the Arts, Inter-Arts Program, Jazz Composition
  • 1990 New Jersey State Council On The Arts, Fellowship, Jazz
  • 1979 Consortium Of Jazz Organizations And Artists, Outstanding Musicianship Award
  • 1976 Professor Of The Year, Rutger's Newark Jazz Society
  • 1968 Record World, New Star Best Jazz Bassist (Winner)
  • 1963 Playboy Reader's Poll, Best Jazz Bassist (4th Place)
  • 1961-64 Downbeat Reader's Poll, Best Bassist (3rd & 4th place)

Discography

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As leader

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  • The Chris White Project (Muse) with Cassandra Wilson (vocals); Marvin Horne, Jimmy Ponder (guitar); Grachan Moncur III (trombone); Michael Raye (synthesizer); Steve Nelson (vibraphone); Keith Copeland (drums); Steve Kroon (percussion)

Interface recorded 2010 Lou Caputo/Chris White co leaders with Warren Smith Vibs Payton Crosley Drums Don Stein piano Leopoldo Fleming percussion

As sideman

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With Kenny Barron

With Nina Simone

With Dizzy Gillespie

With Ramsey Lewis

With James Moody

With Jimmy Owens

With Dave Pike

With Andrew Hill

With Lalo Schifrin

With Quincy Jones

References

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  1. ^ a b "Bassist and Educator Chris White Dies at 78". jazztimes.com. December 3, 2014. Archived from the original on March 26, 2016.
  2. ^ a b "White, Chris (Christopher Wesley)" Archived September 5, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, Encyclopedia of Jazz Musicians, Jazz.com.
  3. ^ Nat Hentoff (1975), sleevenotes to Cecil Taylor in Transition.
  4. ^ a b Kelsey, Chris. "Chris White: Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-09-05.
  5. ^ "History of the Institute of Jazz Studies | Rutgers University Libraries".
  6. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-05-27. Retrieved 2012-04-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ^ "CAT International". Bloomfield College. Archived from the original on August 19, 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-05.
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