- Coleridge Goode
-
Coleridge Goode 
Background information Birth name Coleridge George Emerson Goode Born November 29, 1914 Origin Jamaica Genres Jazz Occupations Double bassist Instruments Double bass Associated acts Michael Garrick Coleridge George Emerson Goode (born November 29, 1914) is a former British Jamaican-born jazz bassist most noteworthy for his long collaboration with alto saxophonist Joe Harriott. Goode was a key figure in Harriott's innovatory jazz quintet throughout its eight year existence as a regular unit (1958–1965). He was also an important contributor to Harriott's later pioneer fusions of jazz and Indian music.
Goode came to Britain in 1934 as a student at the Royal Technical College in Glasgow (later the University of Strathclyde), and then went on to read for a degree in engineering at Glasgow University. He was already proficient as an amateur classical violinist but turned to jazz and took up the bass after hearing the music of such stars as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday and Louis Jordan. Abandoning his plans to return to Jamaica to work as an engineer, he decided to embark upon a musical career.
His primary early influences as a bassist have been Walter Page, Slam Stewart and Jimmy Blanton. Moving to London in 1942, he subsequently worked with Johnny Claes, Eric Winstone, Lauderic Caton and Dick Katz, became a founder member of the Ray Ellington Quartet and recorded with Django Reinhardt in 1946. Later he played in Tito Burns' sextet and led his own group before being invited to join Harriott's new band in 1958. During the 1960s and 1970s he worked extensively with pianist/composer Michael Garrick.
One of the finest jazz bassists who has worked in Europe, he is an important link to a proud heritage of Caribbean contributions to the music. His achievements through a long career have been an important inspiration for some leading contemporary black British jazz musicians. In 2002, his autobiography, co-authored with his friend, the academic and jazz writer Roger Cotterrell, not only told his own story but provided poignant and vivid memories of the brilliant and tragic Harriott and of the birth of free form jazz in Britain.
Further reading
- Goode, Coleridge and Cotterrell, Roger (2002). Bass Lines: A Life in Jazz. London:Northway Books. ISBN 0-9537040-2-5.
This article on a double bass player is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
