RIP Henry Grimes

[Tenor Freak]

I have just read on the Twitter that Henry Grimes as died. RIP.

His wiki page has already been updated to the past tense.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Also Giuseppi Logan, cult figure from the ESP label days, who was then mostly playing in parks if at all, and more recently not in too good shape, living in a sheltered home.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

This is now being referenced on "Organissimo" web site... (Don't think the actual broadcast is available, but I have a tape somewhere...2010?)

"Henry Grimes
Jazz Library

Veteran bassist Henry Grimes has had two careers in jazz, first as one of the most influential bassists in the 1960s, and then after years of obscurity, he was rediscovered in 2003. In front of an audience at last year's Cheltenham jazz festival, Henry tells Alyn Shipton his remarkable story and presents his essential recordings.

When Henry Grimes' bass was broken in the late 1960s, he gave up his career as one of New York's great players - working with Gerry Mulligan, Sonny Rollins, Cecil Taylor and Albert Ayler - and went into forced retirement from music, working in obscurity as a building supervisor. He was rediscovered in 2003 and made a remarkable return to his former eminence, working with the cream of New York's avant garde players including Marc Ribot, William Parker Jr. and David Murray. In this edition of Jazz Library recorded at the Cheltenham Town Hall during the 2009 Jazz Festival, Grimes tells Alyn Shipton his extraordinary story. (R)."

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Lee Konitz, HENRY GRIMES, Billy Bauer, Dave Bailey...."Lenny Bird", from Konitz's Verve album "Tranquillity" (1957) which I was only playing yesterday. (Very Cool & Tranquillity LPs both on one excellent CD from Fresh Sounds/Gambit)...http://youtu.be/rsg2GTPLsIM

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Jazz on a Summer's Day (Newport 1958)... Monk, Grimes, Haynes : "Blue Monk", Grimes looking about 14! Gerry Mulligan in the audience, and the woman in the red wrap and gingham dress, who is hip!

http://youtu.be/Vn2kLBedk_o

[Ian Thumwood]

Grimes was only 22 when that film was made. Apparently he was supposed to have come from nowhere and impressed a number of bandleaders to the extent that he ended up performing with a range of musicians.

I believe that William Parker played a large part in reviving his career.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

William Parker sent him a green bass... there's a picture of it on Richard William's "Blue Moment" current blog. Grimes played with Monk, Rollins etc...and Benny Goodman at that 1958 Festival... covering the ground, as someone said.

[Jazzrook]

Henry Grimes with Fred Anderson & Avreeayl Ra at Club Crescendo, Sweden in November, 2006:

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=-6Y2osTwCds

JR