Bob Whitlock
I'm gathering information about the great, legendary west coast jazz bassist, Bob Whitlock.
He was very active on the jazz scene out there in the late
50's and 60's.
I first heard about him through Red Mitchell. When I worked with Pat Moran, the wonderful lady pianist who got me the gig with Bill Evans, and who provided Scott LaFaro with his first recording endeavor, I asked who was her favorite bassist?....
Bob Whitlock.
When I first met and played with my dear friend and fabulous drummer, Colin Bailey, He played me a cut of " The Most Beautiful Girl In The World " from a Victor Feldman Trio album that he did with Monty Budwig on bass. Vic wrote this chart with a bass figure that I can only describe as something that might send a bass player to the ER with a serious case of whip lash...I thought Mont played it beautifully. Colin said.."You should have heard Bob Whitlock play it."
Vic and Colin were playing a gig one night in L.A., using Ray Brown on bass and Ray was thumbing through Vic's bass book. This bass figure, of course, jumped right out to Ray, as Colin explained to me, and Ray being Ray, said let's play this one. Vic said something like...Maybe you shouldn't try to sight read this one, man. Ray, being Ray, said and I quote Colin:
" No problem 'Gates'." ( A term of endearment Ray would use for players he respected and loved. ) Apparently, Ray failed miserably.
Bob recorded extensively with people like Gerry Mulligan, Art Pepper and most of the great west coast players.
When I first stayed at Colin's and his outta sight wife's house, Jan, I saw a picture on the wall of Vic, Colin and Bob, holding a beautiful, huge looking lion's head bass. Colin said that bass, in Bob's hands was the
BIGGIST sounding bass he'd ever heard.
Every time I visited L.A., and connected with many musicians I respected, all I ever heard was...Bob Whitlock, Bob Whitlock...
Here's the cap. Bob was a huge heroin addict. He kicked, absolved himself of any relationships with the night life and moved on to teach at UCLA. Teach what, I dunno. What happened to him? I dunno.
I'm planning to get more history on him through Colin and a few more old west coast buddies that are still with us, when I get some time. Meanwhile, do any of you have any information?
PW
I'm gathering information about the great, legendary west coast jazz bassist, Bob Whitlock.
He was very active on the jazz scene out there in the late
50's and 60's.
I first heard about him through Red Mitchell. When I worked with Pat Moran, the wonderful lady pianist who got me the gig with Bill Evans, and who provided Scott LaFaro with his first recording endeavor, I asked who was her favorite bassist?....
Bob Whitlock.
When I first met and played with my dear friend and fabulous drummer, Colin Bailey, He played me a cut of " The Most Beautiful Girl In The World " from a Victor Feldman Trio album that he did with Monty Budwig on bass. Vic wrote this chart with a bass figure that I can only describe as something that might send a bass player to the ER with a serious case of whip lash...I thought Mont played it beautifully. Colin said.."You should have heard Bob Whitlock play it."
Vic and Colin were playing a gig one night in L.A., using Ray Brown on bass and Ray was thumbing through Vic's bass book. This bass figure, of course, jumped right out to Ray, as Colin explained to me, and Ray being Ray, said let's play this one. Vic said something like...Maybe you shouldn't try to sight read this one, man. Ray, being Ray, said and I quote Colin:
" No problem 'Gates'." ( A term of endearment Ray would use for players he respected and loved. ) Apparently, Ray failed miserably.
Bob recorded extensively with people like Gerry Mulligan, Art Pepper and most of the great west coast players.
When I first stayed at Colin's and his outta sight wife's house, Jan, I saw a picture on the wall of Vic, Colin and Bob, holding a beautiful, huge looking lion's head bass. Colin said that bass, in Bob's hands was the
BIGGIST sounding bass he'd ever heard.
Every time I visited L.A., and connected with many musicians I respected, all I ever heard was...Bob Whitlock, Bob Whitlock...
Here's the cap. Bob was a huge heroin addict. He kicked, absolved himself of any relationships with the night life and moved on to teach at UCLA. Teach what, I dunno. What happened to him? I dunno.
I'm planning to get more history on him through Colin and a few more old west coast buddies that are still with us, when I get some time. Meanwhile, do any of you have any information?
PW
