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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZMcBEE, Cecil(b 19 May 1935, Tulsa OK) Bassist, composer. Began on clarinet, took up bass at 17, studied at Wilberforce (OH), conducted US Army band at Fort Knox. By the mid-'60s he was working with Grachan Moncur, Jackie McLean, Miles Davis, etc; made a significant contribution to the great popularity of Pharoah Sanders and Charles Lloyd groups: after each master bassist (Jimmy Blanton, Oscar Pettiford, Charles Mingus) listeners wonder if anything more can be done with the instrument; McBee is a member of that line. Too many fine records as sideman to mention, in the '80s with Chico Freeman; his own works include solo 'Love' on Sanders's album Thembi '70; Mutima '74 on Strata-East had a 13-piece group including George Adams, Cecil McBee Jr, vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater; sextet sets Music From The Source and Compassion '77 on Enja, both with Freeman, Don Moye and Steve McCall on percussion; and Alternate Spaces '79 on India Navigation, with Freeman, Moye, Don Pullen; quintet Flying Out '82 on India Navigation. Toured with Freeman '85-6; also worked with Joanne Brackeen (who only hires the best); in mainstream with Harry Edison and Buddy Tate at Kool Jazz Festival '85. Power Trio '90 on Novus was co-led by pianist John Hicks, McBee and Elvin Jones; The Seasons '92 on Soul Note by David Liebman on reeds, McBee and Billy Hart; Unspoken '96 on Palmetto was McBee's quintet playing his own fine tunes, with Randall Connors on alto, James Zollar on trumpet, David Berkman on piano, Matt Wilson on drums. He was touring with Freeman again '97. |