Leonard Gaskin

Leonard Gaskin (b. Aug. 25, 1920) is an American jazz bassist born in New York City.

Gaskin played on the early bebop scene at Minton's and Monroe's in New York in the early 1940s. In the middle of the 1940s he took over Oscar Pettiford's spot in Dizzy Gillespie's band, and followed it with stints in bands led by Cootie Williams, Charlie Parker, Don Byas, Eddie South, Charlie Shavers, and Erroll Garner. In the 1950s he played with Eddie Condon's Dixieland band, and played with Ruby Braff, Bud Freeman, Rex Stewart, Cootie Williams, Billie Holiday, Stan Getz, J.J. Johnson, and Miles Davis.

In the 1960s he became a studio musician, playing on numerous gospel and pop records. In the 1970s and 1980s he returned to jazz, playing with Sy Oliver, Panama Francis, and The International Art of Jazz.

Partial discography

* 1946 – Don Byas: "1946" (Classics)
* 1949 – J. J. Johnson – "Trombone by Three" (OJC, 1949)
* 1950 – "Charlie Parker All Stars – Charlie Parker At Birdland And Cafe Society" (Cool & Blue, 1950-52)
* 1950 Stan Getz: "The Complete Roost Recordings' (Roost, 1950–54)
* 1952 – Miles Davis: "Miles Davis With Horns" (Prestige/OJC)
* 1955 – "Billie Holiday: "Lady Sings The Blues" (Verve)
* 1957 – Bud Freeman: Chicago / Austin High School Jazz in HiFi (RCA)
* 1958 – Ruby Braff: "Easy Now" (RCA)
* 1959 – Rex Stewart: "Chatter Jazz" (RCA)
* 1961 – "Leonard Gaskin at the Jazz Band Ball", (Swingville)
* 1961 – "Leonard Gaskin at the Darktown Strutter's Ball", (Swingville)
* 2001 - "Meditations on a Downbeat, Words Spoken Through Jazz" Richard Negri, Leonard Gaskin, Howard Mall

References

* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:aifuxqu5ldae~T1 Leonard Gaskin] at Allmusic