Leroy Vinnegar
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| Leroy Vinnegar | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | The Walker |
| Born | July 13, 1928, Indianapolis, IN, USA |
| Origin | Los Angeles, CA, USA |
| Died | August 3, 1999 (aged 71) |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Instruments | Double bass |
Leroy Vinnegar (July 13, 1928 – August 3, 1999) was an American jazz bassist.
Born in Indianapolis, the self-taught Vinnegar established his reputation in Los Angeles during the 1950s and 1960s. His trademark was the rhythmic "walking" bass line, a steady series of ascending or descending notes, and it brought him the nickname "The Walker". Besides his jazz work, he also appeared on a number of soundtracks and pop albums, notably Van Morrison's 1972 album, Saint Dominic's Preview.
He recorded extensively as both a leader and sideman. He came to public attention in the 1950s as a result of recording with Lee Konitz, André Previn, Stan Getz, Shorty Rogers, Chet Baker, Shelly Manne, Joe Castro and Serge Chaloff. He played bass on Previn and Manne's My Fair Lady album, one of the most successful jazz records ever produced. He also performed on another of jazz's biggest hit albums, Eddie Harris and Les McCann's Swiss Movement, released in 1969.
He moved to Portland, Oregon in 1986. In 1995, the Oregon State Legislature honored him by proclaiming May 1 Leroy Vinnegar Day.
Vinnegar died from a heart attack, at the age of 71, on August 3, 1999, in a hospital in Portland.
Contents |
[edit] Discography
[edit] As leader
- Leroy Walks! (1957; Original Jazz Classics)
- Leroy Walks Again!! (1962; Fantasy Records)
- Jazz's Great "Walker" (1964; Vee Jay)
- Glass of Water (1973; Legend Records)
- The Kid (1974; PBR International) (2005; Q-Tape Records, France]])
- Walkin' the Basses (1992; Contemporary Records)
[edit] As sideman
- My Fair Lady by Shelly Manne & His Friends (1956; Contemporary Records)
- Live at Falcon's Lair! by Zoot Sims with the Joe Castro Trio (1956; Pablo Records)
- Sonny Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders by Sonny Rollins (1958, Contemporary Records)
- Groove Funk Soul! by Joe Castro (1958; Atlantic Records)
- At Falcon's Lair with Joe Castro 1959 (Teddy Edwards split LP with Sonny Rollins "At Music Inn") (1959; Metrojazz Records)
- Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster (1959; Verve)
- The Texas Twister by Don Wilkerson (1960; Riverside)
- Matador/Inta Somethin' by Kenny Dorham (1961/62); Blue Note Records)
- Swiss Movement by Eddie Harris and Les McCann (1969; Atlantic Jazz)
- Saint Dominic's Preview (1972; Warner Bros.)
- Saturday Morning by Sonny Criss (1975; Xanadu Records)
- California Hard by Dolo Coker (1977; Xanadu Records)
- Keystones! by Red Garland (1977; Xanadu Records)
- Home Is Where The Soul Is by Kenny Drew (1978; Xanadu Records)
- For Sure! by Kenny Drew (1978; Xanadu Records)
- On the Shoulder of Giants by Gordon Lee (1994; Unity Label Group)
- Encounters by Jessica Williams, with Leroy Vinnegar, Mel Brown (1994; Jazz Focus)
- Encounters II by Jessica Williams, with the Leroy Vinnegar Trio (1997; Jazz Focus)
