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Jimmy Cobb

jimmy cobbJimmy Cobb (born January 20, 1929 in Washington D.C.) is an American hard bop drummer. He has worked extensively with a wide range of artists, including Geri Allen, Dinah Washington, Pearl Bailey, Clark Terry, Cannonball Adderly , Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane , Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Wynton Kelly , Stan Getz, Wes Montgomery, Gil Evans, Miles Davis , Paul Chambers , Kenny Burrell, J. J. Johnson, Sonny Stitt, Nat Adderley, Hank Jones, Ron Carter, George Coleman, and Fathead Newman, among many others.

His most famous work is on Miles Davis' Kind of Blue (1959), considered by many to be the quintessential jazz record. Cobb is the last surviving player from the session. He also played on other famous Davis albums, including Sketches of Spain, Someday My Prince Will Come, Live at Carnegie Hall, Live at the Blackhawk, and briefly on Porgy and Bess and Sorcerer.
As a result of his rhythmic timing, his unsurpassed experience, and unique style, Cobb is one of the most sought-after jazz musicians today. Still active today, he leads his own band (Jimmy Cobb's Mob) in New York City.jimmy cobb

Jimmy Cobb...
Legendary jazz drummer, Jimmy Cobb, was born in Washington, D.C. on January 20, 1929. A superb, mostly self-taught musician, Jimmy is the elder statesman of all of the incredible Miles Davis bands. Jimmy's inspirational work with Miles, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley and Co. spanned 1957 until 1963, and included the masterpiece "Kind of Blue", the most popular jazz recording in history. He also played on "Sketches of Spain", Someday My Prince will Come", "Live at Carnegie Hall, "Live at the Blackhawk", "Porgy and Bess", and many, many other watermark Miles Davis recordings.

The Miles recordings and live performances are not the only high points of Jimmy's quiet, but truly outstanding career. Jimmy did his first recording with Earl Bostic. Known from an early age as a great accompanist, Jimmy played extensively with Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday, Pearl Bailey, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Cannonball Adderly, before joining Miles in 1957. Tony Williams took over the Miles drum chair in 1963 and Jimmy left Miles to continue to work with Miles' rhythm section, Wynton Kelly and Paul Chambers behind Wes Montgomery. In addition to several Wynton Kelly Trio Albums, the three did albums with Kenny Burrell, and J.J. Johnson, among others, before disbanding in the late 60's. Mr. Cobb then worked with Sarah Vaughn for 9 years. Jimmy then continued to freelance with several great groups throughout the 70's 80's and 90's including, Sonny Stitt, Nat Adderly, Ricky Ford, Hank Jones, Ron Carter, George Coleman, Fathead Newman, The Great Jazz Trio, Dave Holland and Warren Bernhardt, and many, many others worldwide. (see list on succeeding pages). Eleana Tee produced a Television Special "So that Nobody Else Can Hear", which aired on AandE in the early 90's featuring Jimmy playing and hangin' with Freddie Hubbard, Gregory Hines, Bill Cosby, Dave Leibman, Pee Wee Ellis, and others. Jimmy has played around the world from Newport to Monte Carlo, from LA to Japan. He has performed for President Carter, the Shah of Iran and many other dignitaries in his storied career and is quoted extensively in "Kind of Blue", the Documentary of those legendary recording sessions.jimmy cobb

Now: Currently, Jimmy is not slowing down even a little. He splits any downtime between his New York City "digs" and his home in Woodstock, NY with his two children, Jaime and Serena, and long time partner and collaborator, Eleana Tee. However, he still tours with his own band, "Cobb's Mob" and combines with many incredible artists both old and new. Jimmy has just completed a "Four Generations of Miles" album with guitarist, Mike Stern, Ron Carter (bass), and George Coleman (tenor) for Chesky records. Jimmy is about to release his newest and long awaited solo album, "Yesterdays", produced by Eleana Tee for Rteesan Productions. It features Michael Brecker on tenor, Marion Meadows on soprano, Roy Hargrove, trumpet and flugelhorn, Jon Faddis, trumpet, Eric Lewis, electric piano, Peter Bernstein, guitar, Jerry Mall, percussion and John Weber on bass. This album was done in Jimmy's two adopted home towns; recorded and shot in New York, and mixed and edited in Woodstock, NY. It includes a wide variety of arrangements ranging from a unique interpretation of Jimi Hendrix "Purple Haze" to ballads "Yesterdays" and blues (All Blues, Faddis, Monk) and standards, "Without a Song" and "Love Walked Right In". This major musical statement will include several music videos and a complete television documentary. And as usual with Jimmy Cobb, you won't believe what's up next!
- - -Jimmy Cobb
performed with:
John Coltrane
Miles Davis
Wynton Kelly
Earl Bostic
Stan Getz
Paul Chambers
Billie Holiday
Leo Parker
Charlie Rouse
Dinah Washington
Wes Montgomery
Ernie Royal
Philly Joe Jones
Walter Booker
Jerome Richardson
Keter Betts
Jimmy Cleveland
Orrin Keepnews
Sam Jones
Ron Carter
Clark Terry
Red Garland
Joe Henderson
Eddie Gomez
Winton Kelly
Cannonball
& Nat Adderley
Bill Evans
Stefan Karlsson
Jeremy Steig
Richard Wyands
Peter Bernstein
Richie Cole
John Webber
Sarah Vaughn
Nancy Wilson
Johnny Stitt
Dizzy Gilespie
Dinah Washington
Ricky Ford
David Amram
Kenny Burrell
J.J. Johnson