De volta ao Free Jazz, ressuscitado de um largo período de trevas:
«Henry Grimes
performes this unique solo on double bass with Zim Ngqawana, sax; and Andrew
Cyrille, drums; at The Stone in New York City on November 30, 2010.
Henry Grimes is a jazz double bassist, violinist, and poet who was born on
November 3, 1935 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a child, Grimes took up the
violin, then began playing tuba, English horn, percussion, and finally the
double bass at age 13 or 14, while he was in high school. Grimes furthered his
musical studies at Juilliard, and established a reputation as a versatile
bassist in the mid 1950s. He recorded or performed with saxophonists Gerry
Mulligan and Sonny Rollins, pianist Thelonious Monk, singer Anita O'Day,
clarinetist Benny Goodman and many others. At a time when bassist Charles
Mingus was experimenting with a second bass player in his band, Grimes was the
person he selected for the job. One of his earliest appearances on film is
captured in the Bert Stern documentary on the Newport Jazz Festival, "Jazz
on a Summer's Day."
Gradually growing interested in free jazz, Grimes performed with most of the
music's important names, including pianist Cecil Taylor, trumpeter Don Cherry,
saxophonists Steve Lacy, Pharoah Sanders, Archie Shepp, and Albert Ayler. He
released one album, The Call as a trio leader for the ESP-Disk record label in
1965. The album features Perry Robinson on clarinet and Tom Price on drums and
is considered to be of a great quality representative of his career.
After more than a decade of activity and performance, notably as a leading
bassist in free jazz, Grimes completely disappeared from the music scene around
1970 and was presumed dead.
Marshall Marrotte, a social worker and jazz fan, set out to discover Grimes's
fate once and for all. In 2003, he found Grimes alive but nearly destitute,
without a bass to play, renting a tiny apartment in Los Angeles, California,
writing poetry and doing odd jobs to support himself. He had fallen out of
touch with the jazz world and was unaware Albert Ayler had died, but was eager
to perform again.
Word spread of Grimes's 'resurrection', and some musicians and fans offered
their help. Bassist William Parker donated a bass (nicknamed "Olive Oil",
for its distinctive greenish color) and with David Gage's help had it shipped
from New York to Los Angeles, and others assisted with travel expenses and
arranging performances. Grimes's return was featured in The New York Times and
on National Public Radio».
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