Double Bass Check out Carson Smith!

[bassfiddlesteve]

Here's something that I bet most you you haven't heard. It's one of my favorite bass features, a circa 1956 "chamber jazz" recording by the Chico Hamilton Quartet called "Mr. Smith Goes To Town", written by and featuring the group's excellent bassist Carson Smith.

Carson Smith (1931-1997) was the older brother of jazz bassist Putter Smith and he worked with other west coast jazz artists including Chet Baker and Gerry Mulligan. He doesn't get mentioned a lot, but as you can hear on this track he was a fine player. Paul Warburton knew him personally and speaks highly of him.

- Steve

 

[Paul Warburton]

Here's a shot of Milt Hinton, myownself and Carson from A Dick Gibson Jazz Party in the mid 1980's.
He was a great player with an enormous sound without an amp. He lived in Las Vegas for most of his life. We always hung out when i'd be in town with Al Hirt, Richie Cole, Carl Fontana, and Pete Barbutti, the jazz comedian who both also lived in Vegas.
Thanks for the reminder, Steve......good memories of a great player, who, as you say never got his due.

 

[SAlcott]

That was pretty frickin' cool-great tone and feel-nice arrangement, too.

 

[gaz jazz]

Beautiful! thanks for that Steve.Sounds like it's based on the chords of the old standard Lullaby of the leaves.Check out Neal Miners tune NightOwls and Denzil's Best by Tommy Flanagan trio featuring George Mraz for similar bass features on the same sequence,and let's not forget Wilbur Ware playing the original melody on The Chicago Sound Great stuff Keep Swinging!

 

[gaz jazz]

Forgot to mention, Carsons younger brother Putter Smith was just here in Barcelona with pianist Michael Kanan giving workshops.Unfotunately didn't get to hear him,as I had gig obligations