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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 ZPETTIFORD, Oscar(b 30 Sep. '22, Okmulgee OK on Indian reservation; d 8 Sep. '60, Copenhagen) Bassist, also cello; composer. His father, Harry 'Doc' Pettiford, was a veterinarian, mother a music teacher; they formed family band with ten musical siblings (brothers trumpeter Ira, trombonist Alonzo both played with Jay McShann). The band was successful all over the Midwest; he was raised in Minnesota, hired by Charlie Barnet c'42, got off in NYC, played at Minton's and soon became the premier bassist, taking up in jazz where Jimmy Blanton had left off, playing solo lines with astonishing power, time and intonation. Made important recording dates in early modern jazz with Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Earl Hines '43--4, co-led quintet with Dizzy Gillespie '44 etc; played with Duke Ellington '45--8, lending that band his special sound on broadcast records (during musicians' union strike against record companies). Joined Woody Herman '49, broke his arm playing baseball and while recuperating experimented with the cello, becoming the first to play that instrument like a bass. Led own groups (big band mid-'50s), recorded with Thelonious Monk, Art Blakey '55--7; went to Europe, settled in Copenhagen, worked with Stan Getz, Bud Powell. A volatile man, especially when drinking; the most infl. bassist between Blanton and Charles Mingus. Own records incl. tracks later on Xanadu by Oscar Pettiford Big Band '45; small-group tracks on Mercer '50- -51 with Ellington, on Roost '52 and The New Sextet '53 (now on Fantasy) with Mingus, Pettiford on cello; The Oscar Pettiford Memorial Album '54 on Prestige (multi-tracked on cello and bass), three Bethlehem LPs '54--5 incl. Bohemia After Dark; Oscar Pettiford Orchestra In HiFi '56, big band on ABC; The Legendary Oscar Pettiford '59 and Blue Brothers '60 on Black Lion, made in Europe. |