Jack Nimitz
Jack Jerome Nimitz ( born January 11, 1930 in Washington, DC, † June 10, 2009 in Los Angeles, California ) was an American jazz baritone saxophonist, clarinetist and flutist.
Life and work
Jack Nimitz first played in local bands in Washington, then played at Willis Conover, Woody Herman 1953-54, with whom he visited Europe in the spring of 1954. Then he worked with Stan Kenton 1955-56 and again in 1959, and then in Herbie Mann's band. In 1956 he participated in Quincy Jones ' debut album, This Is How I Feel About Jazz; Nimitz then worked increasingly for television and film studios, among others, along with Johnny Mandel. He also had projects with its own formations, appeared with Thelonious Monk, Terry Gibbs and the Monterey Festival Orchestra in 1965 under the direction of Dizzy Gillespie. In the 1970s he took plates with Louie Bellson, Chuck Mangione, Shelly Manne, Charles Mingus, Horace Silver, Gil Fuller, Gene Ammons, and worked at various big-band projects with Oliver Nelson, Kenny Burrell, Quincy Jones, Milt Jackson, Frank Capp and Joey DeFrancesco with. He also accompanied the singer Johnny Hartman and the singers June Christy, Peggy Lee, Carmen McRae, Anita O'Day and Diane Schuur on recordings. In the 1980s and 1990s he played with various bands in California and founded the formation Supersax. In the 1990s, Nimitz also participated in recordings of Bill Perkins, Bud Shank and Gerald Wilson and, in 1995, his first album under his own name.
His style is heavily influenced by Art Pepper.
Discography
As a leader
- Jack Nimitz Quartet: Confirmation ( Fresh Sound Records, 1995)
As a sideman
- Woody Herman: Songs for Hip Lovers ( Verve Records, 1957)
- Herbie Mann: Sultry Serenade ( Riverside Records, 1957)
- Bill Perkins: Our Man Woody ( Jazz Mark, 1991)
- Bud Shank: New Gold! ( Candid Records, 1993)
- Gerald Wilson: State Street Sweet ( Mama Records, 1995); Theme for Monterey ( Mama Records, 1998)