Bob Cranshaw

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Zoot Sims (left) and Bob Cranshaw (right) 1976

Melbourne Robert "Bob" Cranshaw (born December 10, 1932 in Evanston , Illinois ; † November 2, 2016 ) was an American jazz bassist (double bass, tuba, electric bass) of modern jazz . He was Sonny Rollins' musical partner for many years .

Live and act

Cranshaw was a founding member of the short-lived jazz band MJT +3 (Modern Jazz Trio) with Frank Strozier on alto saxophone, Harold Mabern on piano and Walter Perkins on drums. The band from Chicago existed until 1962; Cranshaw and Perkins were also members of the backing band of singer Carmen McRae and recorded with her in 1961 the album Carmen McRae Sings Lover Man and Other Billie Holiday Classics .

From 1961 he became known for his collaboration with the drummer Mickey Roker , who accompanied Mary Lou Williams for many years (with Cecil Taylor in 1977 ). Cranshaw's name is linked to the classic sessions for Blue Note Records in the 1960s, when he played with musicians like Lee Morgan on his classic The Sidewinder or Grant Green on Idle Moments . With Sonny Rollins, on whose album The Bridge he participated, he had a long musical partnership that lasted to the end. He also worked on the film The Blue Note Story , a 90-minute documentary on the jazz label Blue Note Records; he was the bass player who appeared on most of Blue Note's classic recordings .

In 1964 Cranshaw organized a jam session with the formation Blue Flames , with Shirley Scott , Stanley Turrentine and Otis Finch (released on Prestige Records). Throughout his musical career, Cranshaw has played with Eddie Harris , Ella Fitzgerald , Coleman Hawkins , Oscar Peterson , Vera Auer , Jimmy Heath , Johnny Hodges , Grant Green , Jackie McLean , Thelonious Monk , James Moody , Lee Morgan , Wes Montgomery , Buddy Rich , George Shearing , Wayne Shorter , Horace Silver , JJ Johnson , McCoy Tyner , Joe Williams , Beegie Adair , Shirley Scott, Stanley Turrentine and many other musicians. In 1973 and 1974 he played at the Montreux Jazz Festival .

Cranshaw also worked as a studio musician and was involved in series of children's television; Bob Cranshaw starred for the television show Sesame Street during the 1960s and 1970s . Between 1975 and 1980 he played in the band on the television show Saturday Night Live . He has also worked for hundreds of TV shows and films. As a unionist for the New York musicians' union Local 802, he campaigned for better pay for musicians. Cranshaw also played live shows for tap dancer Maurice Hines with his friend, drummer Paul Goldberg .

Selection discography

with Lee Morgan

  • 1962: Take Twelve (Jazzland)
  • 1963: The Sidewinder (Blue Note, 1964)
  • 1964: Tom Cat (Blue Note, 1980)
  • 1965: The Gigolo (Blue Note, 1968)
  • 1966: Delightfulee (Blue Note, 1967)

with Grant Green

  • 1963: Idle Moments (Blue Note, 1965)
  • 1964: Matador (Blue Note, 1979)

with Hank Mobley

  • 1965: A Caddy for Daddy (Blue Note, 1967)
  • 1967: Hi Voltage (Blue Note, 1968)
  • 1968: Reach Out! (Blue note)

with Wes Montgomery

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Le contrebassiste Bob Cranshaw est décédé . Jazzradio.fr, November 3, 2016, accessed November 3, 2016 (French).
personal data
SURNAME Cranshaw, Bob
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Cranshaw, Melbourne R.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz musician
DATE OF BIRTH December 10, 1932
PLACE OF BIRTH Evanston , Illinois, USA
DATE OF DEATH November 2, 2016