- Jerry Jemmott
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Jerry Jemmott 
Jemmott at the Beacon Theatre with the Allman Brothers Band
March 23, 2009Background information Birth name Gerald Joseph Stenhouse Jemmott Also known as Gerald "Fingers" Jemmott
Rasan Mfalme
The GroovemasterBorn 22 March 1946
New York City, New York, United StatesGenres Soul, funk, jazz, blues, blues rock Occupations Musician, composer, arranger, conductor, educator, film scorer Instruments Electric bass, upright bass, Years active 1967-present Labels Atlantic, P-Vine, Whachagonnado? Associated acts The Allman Brothers Band Website jemmott.com Gerald Joseph Stenhouse "Jerry" Jemmott (born March 22, 1946 in the borough of The Bronx, in New York City) is an American bass guitarist. Also known as Gerald "Fingers" Jemmott, Rasan Mfalme or "the Groovemaster", Jemmott was one of the chief session bassists of the late 1960s and early 1970s, working with many of the period's well known soul, blues, and jazz artists.[1]
Contents
Biography
Jemmott began playing the acoustic bass when he discovered Paul Chambers at age 10. Jemmott began his career at age 12, and after switching to the electric bass, was discovered by saxophonist King Curtis in 1966.[1] With his connection through Curtis to Atlantic Records, Jemmott soon began recording with other Atlantic recording artists, including Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett, The Rascals, Roberta Flack and Margie Joseph. Jemmott also recorded with noted blues artists B.B. King, Freddie King, Chuck Berry, Duane Allman, Otis Rush, Champion Jack Dupree, and backed jazz artists Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard, Erroll Garner, Les McCann, Eddie Harris, Houston Person, George Benson, Archie Shepp, Lionel Hampton, Herbie Mann, Eddie Palmieri and Charles Earland. He played the bass line for the original recording of "Mr. Bojangles", and contributed to B.B. King's "The Thrill Is Gone."
After Jemmott's recording sessions started to decline in 1975, he continued to work in film and theater as an arranger and conductor,[1] working with John Williams, The Boston Pops and Bette Midler.[clarification needed] Jemmott was cited as a major influence by fellow jazz bass guitar pioneer, Jaco Pastorius, who incorporated Jemmott's stuttering funk basslines into his own syncopated style. Jemmott was also the host and had a hand in the production of the instructional video Modern Electric Bass which featured lessons and guidance by Pastorius and was released in 1985.
Most recently, Jemmott recorded solo recordings for the Japanese P-Vine Records, Caught in the Low Beam and The New York View, as well as Make It Happen! for Whatcha Gonna Do Records. Jemmott continues to work as an educator teaching workshops and clinics, has written articles, four books, and released audio and video bass instruction material. He is the recipient of the 2001 Bass Player magazine's Lifetime Achievement Award and Chairman of the Electric Bass Department at the Richard Davis Foundation for Young Bassists Inc.
As "Jerry Jemmott & Souler Energy" he has performed a mix of his original "Cool Groove" songs and music along with his classic hits in addition to presenting his “Soul Kitchen”, improvisation workshops and clinics.
In 2009 Jemmott joined Gregg Allman's backing band ("Gregg Allman & Friends") in addition to Cornell Dupree’s Soul Survivors. That same year, he was one of many very special guests at The Allman Brothers Band's 40th anniversary at the Beacon Theatre, in New York City. This was an auspicious special version of the Allman's annual multiple-night stand there, including artists as varied as Levon Helm, members of Phish, Eric Clapton, Johnny Winter, and Sonny Rollins, amongst the participants, who came in part, to honor the late Duane Allman.
Discography
Solo
- New York View (P-Vine Records December 25, 1995)
- Make It Happen! (Whatchagonnado? 2005)
- Home Cookin' (Whatchagonnado? 2006)
- Bass on the Case (Whachagonnado? 2009)
As sideman
With Candido Camero
- Beautiful (Blue Note, 1970)
- Comin' on Home (Blue Note, 1971)
References
- ^ a b c Huey, Steve. "Jerry Jemmott: Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p154680/biography. Retrieved 2010-04-23.
External references
Categories:- 1946 births
- African American musicians
- American bass guitarists
- American rhythm and blues bass guitarists
- American blues musicians
- American jazz bass guitarists
- American music arrangers
- American funk musicians
- American soul musicians
- Musicians from New York
- People from New York City
- People from the Bronx
- American session musicians
- Living people
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