Leonard Gaskin 1920

Contrabbassista statunitense (New York, 25.8.1920 – 24.1.2009). Studia il piano, poi il contrabbasso al liceo e con insegnanti privati. Nel 1943 lavora al Monroe’s di Harlem con Duke Jordane Max Roach, poi con Dizzy Gillespie (1944), Eddie South, Charlie Shavers, Charlie Parker (1945-46), Don Byas (1946).

Si associa a Eddie Condon (1946-59), lavorando contemporaneamente come strumentista di studio. Ha partecipato a dischi di Stan Getz, Erroll Garner, J.J. Johnson (1949), Miles Davis (1953), Ruby Braff (1958), Roosvelt Sykes, Sunnyland Slim (1960), gli Staple Singers, Sidney DeParis (1962), Lightnin’ Hopkins (1964), Illinois Jacquet (1965) ecc. Alla fine degli anni ’70 partecipa a varie tournée in Europa, in particolare con Oliver Jackson.

L’elenco dei suoi “datori di lavoro” esprime di per sé il suo ecclettismo: dal blues arcaico al bebop passando per il dixieland e, addirittura, per l’accompagnamento di cantanti gospel o di ballerini di tip tap; nulla di ciò che concerne la musica nera americana gli è estraneo.
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[P.C.]

American double bass player (New York, 25.8.1920 - 24.1.2009). Study the piano, then the double bass in high school, and with private teachers. In 1943 he worked at Harlem's Monroe's with Duke Jordane Max Roach, then with Dizzy Gillespie (1944), Eddie South, Charlie Shavers, Charlie Parker (1945-46), Don Byas (1946).

He associates with Eddie Condon (1946-59), simultaneously working as a studio instrumentalist. He has participated in records by Stan Getz, Erroll Garner, J.J. Johnson (1949), Miles Davis (1953), Ruby Braff (1958), Roosvelt Sykes, Sunnyland Slim (1960), the Staple Singers, Sidney DeParis (1962), Lightnin' Hopkins (1964), Illinois Jacquet (1965), etc. In the late 1970s, he participated in various tours in Europe, in particular with Oliver Jackson.

The list of his "employers" in itself expresses his eclecticism: from old blues to bebop through Dixieland and even to the accompaniment of gospel singers or tap dancers; nothing about American black music is foreign to him.
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[P.C.]