Tommy Potter

Charles Thomas " Tommy " Potter ( born September 21, 1918 in Philadelphia, † March 3, 1988 ) was an American jazz double bassist. He is regarded by its comparatively long affiliation with the Charlie Parker Quintet from 1947 to 1950 as one of the leading bassists of bebop.

Potter came only in relatively advanced age of 21 years to double bass as the main instrument, after he had previously received lessons on piano and guitar. This late entry may at least partially explain why it has never brought to a virtuoso on the level of a few years younger than Oscar Pettiford Potter. In his playing style he is more like an advanced musicians of the swing style for which special strength lay in being able to easily cope with the often extremely fast tempos, who loved einzuzählen Parker. In addition, the way of playing the bass player added excellently with the other two musicians from the rhythm section of Parker's quintet that time, namely the drummer Max Roach and pianist Duke Jordan. Moreover, since the young Miles Davis on trumpet, was a member of the band yet, this occupation by many fans and critics for one of the most compelling musical is held in Parker's career. She is also particularly well documented on records, these numerous shots give a good insight into the solid, unspectacular accompanying work Potters.

Potter and Parker met in 1944 during their time together in the big band of Billy Eckstine know the singer to the bassist was thrust upon first experiences in more traditional swing ensembles ( for example, with trombonist Trummy Young). The Eckstine band of the period of 1943-45 is still regarded as one of the earliest " hotbeds " of modern jazz. Parker, the jazz tradition of Kansas City entstammend, expected rhythmic inspiration mainly from the drums, while the bass walking undeviating lines in the style of Walter Pages. This musical conception corresponded Tommy Potter perfect.

From times of intensive touring activities apart (such as with Parker in Europe in 1949 or several times with Jazz at the Philharmonic ), the bassist used to investigate also always bourgeois professions in addition to his musical work. Nevertheless, his reputation also stars of modern jazz styles such as Gil Evans ( Great Jazz helped him as " the bassist Charlie Parkers" for decades to regular engagements with the big names in the jazz scene, including such diverse musicians such as Earl Hines, Count Basie and Benny Goodman, but standards 1959) or Stan Getz.