Jymie Merritt

Jymie Merritt ( May 3, 1926) is an American jazz bassist of the hard bop. He played with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers.

Life and work

Jymie Merritt grew up in Philadelphia, where he received a classical education as a bassist. He is best known as a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, where he served from 1958 to 1962; he was at this time at the Blue Note albums Moanin ' (1958 ), A Night in Tunisia and Mosaic (1961 ) with. In the late 1950s he had a short-lived quintet with saxophonist Bobby Jaspar; Also in 1958 he accompanied Benny Golson on his album The Other Side of Benny Golson and Wayne Shorter in the early Vee -Jay album Wayning Moments 1962.

In later years, was Jymie Merritt to recordings by Max Roach Quintet (1965-1968) and the Lee Morgan Quintet (1970-1972) involved, such as Morgan's album Live at the Lighthouse. He also played in Dizzy Gillespie's big band and quintet as well as with Al Haig and Archie Shepp.

In addition to his work in the promotion of young talent in his hometown, he played from 1998 to 2005 regularly in a jazz duo at the restaurant The Prime Rib in Philadelphia.

Merritt is considered the inventor of the Ampeg bass, a hybrid of electric and acoustic bass instrument.