Alex Layne

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Alex Layne (born October 29, 1939 in New York City ; † March 31, 2020 there ) was an American jazz musician ( double bass , electric bass ).

Live and act

Layne began his music career after attending New York High School of Music & Art in 1959 at Count Basie ’s Night Club ; there he got a job in the house band of the club under the direction of Steve Pulliam at the age of 20, trombonist with Buddy Johnson and His Orchestra in the 1950s . Layne graduated with Honors from Bronx Community College and continued his professional music education at Queens College . He also had private lessons with bassists Stuart Sanky, Ron Carter and Alvin Brehm.

After his engagement in Basie's nightclub he worked in the New York music scene with Coleman Hawkins , Max Roach , Freddie Hubbard and Cedar Walton, among others . However, he spent most of his career accompanying singers of his time such as Billy Eckstine , Carmen McRae , Gloria Lynne , Johnny Hartman and Miriam Makeba (heard on their albums In Concert , Reprise 1967).

Layne was also involved as a session musician on recordings and performances with folk , blues and rhythm & blues musicians, including Josh White , Jimmy Witherspoon and with Little Anthony and the Imperials ; In the mid-1970s, he also worked with the fusion band The Prime Element , initiated by Carlos Franzetti , and on whose album Alborada (RP Music 1976) he was involved. Around 2001 he was still recording with the vocalist Yardena ( Sings Swing, Latin & Blues ). In his later years he worked at the Jazz Foundation of America , performing in schools, hospitals and nursing homes, and working with his own group in jazz clubs in New York City. Layne died in New York City at the end of March 2020 as a result of a SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b COVID-19: The Casualties - A tribute to members of the jazz community felled by the coronavirus. JazzTimes , April 3, 2020, accessed April 9, 2020 .
  2. ↑ a b c Harlem Jazz Series - Alex Layne. May 21, 2019, accessed April 9, 2020 .
  3. ↑ a b c Tom Lord : The Jazz Discography (online, accessed April 9, 2020)
  4. ↑ Obituary. The Strad, December 1, 2014, accessed April 9, 2020 .
  5. ↑ Alex Layne, bass. Smalls, November 1, 2019, accessed April 9, 2020 .
personal data
SURNAME Layne, Alex
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz musician (double bass)
DATE OF BIRTH October 29, 1939
PLACE OF BIRTH New York City
DATE OF DEATH March 31, 2020
Place of death New York City