Home » Jazz Musicians » George Cables

George Cables

When George Cables was going to school in New York City he used to walk the streets at night, taking in the cosmopolitan sights and sounds, mentally recording his encounters with “so many different kinds of people.” In his musical career as well, Cables has prowled sidestreets and main thoroughfares in relative anonymity, absorbing countless influences into his personal style.

Born in New York City on November 14, 1944, Cables was classically trained as a youth and when he started at the “Fame” worthy High School of Performing Arts, he admittedly “didn’t know anything about jazz.” But he was soon smitten with the potential for freedom of expression he heard in jazz.

The young Cables was impressed by such keyboardists as Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea. But, he points out, “I never really listened to pianists when I was coming up. I would probably say I’ve been more influenced by Miles or Trane and their whole bands rather than by any single pianist. The concept of the music is more important than listening to somebody’s chops, somebody’s technique, The Way Miles’ band held together, it was just like magic. You were transported to another world.”

Cables attended Mannes College of Music for two years and by 1964 he was playing in a band called The Jazz Samaritans which included such rising stars as Billy Cobham, Lenny White. and Clint Houston. Gigs around New York at the Top of the Gate, Slugs, and other clubs attracted attention to Cables’ versatility and before long he had recorded with tenor saxophonist Paul Jeffrey, played on Max Roach’s “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and earned a brief 1969 tenure at the piano bench with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers.

A 1969 tour with tenor titan Sonny Rollins took Cables to the West Coast. By 1971 he became a significant figure in the jazz scenes of Los Angeles, where he first resided, and San Francisco, where he also lived. Collaborations and recordings with tenor saxophonists Joe Henderson and Sonny Rollins (“Next Album:), trumpeters Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw (“Blackstone Legacy”), and vibist Bobby Hutcberson made Cables’ wide-ranging keyboard skills, often on electric piano, amply evident. Demand for his sensitive accompaniment increased and by the end of the 1970s, Cables was garnering a reputation as everyone’s favorite sideman.

Perhaps the most pivotal turn came when hard-bop legend Dexter Gordon invited Cables into his quartet in 1977. The two years he spent with the reappreciated tenor giant ignited Cables’s passion for the acoustic piano and rimmersed him in the bebop vocabulary. “I don’t feel that one should be stuck in the mud playing the same old stuff all the time, trying to prove that this music is valid,” Cables says. “We don’t need to prove anything. But I think you really have to be responsive to your heritage and then go on and find your own voice.”

Read more

Tags

7
Album Review

Eddie Henderson: Witness To History

Read "Witness To History" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic


Make no mistake: it is the hot buttered soul, “Shaft"-like theme of “Scorpio Rising" that first snags one's attention. But once snagged, the old cool sets in and Witness To History, trumpeter Eddie Henderson's self curated soundtrack, unwinds with a wicked fervor. A deep, wicked joy. Henderson--who has pretty much seen it all from the impulsive, jazz rock Realization (Capricorn, 1973) through The Cookers to the still palpable Shuffle and Deal (Smoke Avenue, 2020)--looks back for a PBS ...

4
The Vinyl Post

Blackstone Legacy

Read "Blackstone Legacy" reviewed by C. Andrew Hovan


When trumpeter Woody Shaw passed away in 1989, he left behind a wealth of amazing music, notwithstanding the realized sadness inherent in wondering what more he could have accomplished had he lived a longer life. Back in the mid '60s, Shaw was ubiquitous as a sideman recording iconic albums with the likes of Larry Young, Horace Silver, Chick Corea, Art Blakey, and McCoy Tyner. Despite common misconceptions, Shaw led his first date as a leader in December of 1965, which ...

5
Album Review

Eddie Henderson: Witness To History

Read "Witness To History" reviewed by Dave Linn


Dr. Eddie Henderson, 82 years old at the time of writing in 2023, has one of the most interesting stories in modern jazz and is a true Renaissance man. His parents were entertainers; his mother was a dancer at the original Cotton Club while his father was a member of the popular singing group Billy Williams and the Charioteers. Later, his stepfather was a doctor to Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Duke Ellington. When he was nine years old, his ...

33
Album Review

John Bailey: Time Bandits

Read "Time Bandits" reviewed by Jack Bowers


After working and recording for decades with some of the jazz world's best and brightest talents, trumpeter John Bailey released his first album as leader of his own group in 2018, the second in 2020 and, in 2023, his third, Time Bandits, which shares a name but nothing more with Terry Gilliam's 1981 film fantasy. Bailey leads an all-star quartet on this one, firmly anchored by drummer Victor Lewis (the timekeeper on all of Bailey's albums) and ...

1
Live Review

George Cables & Piero Odorici Qt. all'Auditorium Cinema Teatro di Palermo

Read "George Cables & Piero Odorici Qt. all'Auditorium Cinema Teatro di Palermo" reviewed by Maurizio Zerbo


George Cables & Piero Odorici Quartet Auditorium Cinema Teatro Nomos Jazz Palermo 9.12.2021 È un periodo artisticamente felice perGeorge Cables, che ha già firmato uno dei migliori CD jazz del 2021. Caratterizzato da una fisionomia artistica cooperativa e spazi solistici equamente distribuiti tra i musicisti, il suo quartetto ha confermato in tournée le impressioni suscitate dall'ascolto di Too Close for Comfort: un appassionante esito di modern mainstream impreziosito da cuore palpitante, buon gusto, senso ...

20
Album Review

George Cables: Too Close for Comfort

Read "Too Close for Comfort" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Maestro George Cables returns to the trio format on Too Close for Comfort, the twenty-first recording as leader of own groups. That means listeners are able to hear even more of his deft and delightful piano, always a welcome bonus. Cables is admirably supported throughout by bassist Essiet Essiet and drummer Victor Lewis. Cables leads with the title song, which is played slightly off-kilter, modestly blurring its resemblance to Sammy Davis Jr.'s mega-hit from the Broadway musical ...

6
Album Review

Roni Ben-Hur: Stories

Read "Stories" reviewed by Jerome Wilson


Guitarist Roni Ben-Hur, originally from Israel, has absorbed a lot of different cultures and styles into his music. That is reflected on this CD in the variety of music played here: straight ahead jazz as well as Latin and Middle Eastern folk melodies. Mexican singer Magos Herrera brings a sense of husky passion to the songs “La Serena" and “A Redoblar" that sits nicely beside Ben-Hur's warm guitar chords, Ingrid Jensen's soaring trumpet and George Cables' crafty piano ...

Read more articles
1

Performance / Tour

World-renowned Smoke Jazz Club Kick-starts The Fall Season With Vocalist Jazzmeia Horn, Pianists Billy Childs And George Cables, And Album Release By Eddie Henderson, And More

World-renowned Smoke Jazz Club Kick-starts The Fall Season With Vocalist Jazzmeia Horn, Pianists Billy Childs And George Cables, And Album Release By Eddie Henderson, And More

Source: AMT Public Relations

Rated the #1 Jazz Club in New York City (Secret NYC), Smoke Jazz Club begins a new season with some heavy hitters starting with a Labor Day weekend run with the Peter Bernstein Quartet featuring Al Foster (Aug 31-Sep 3). Hailed as “2023 Record Label of the Year (Jazz Journalists Association), Smoke Sessions Records releases Eddie Henderson’s Witness to History album complemented by a four-night concert series at the club (Sep 7-10). Celebrating their Smoke Jazz Club debuts are renowned ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: George Cables

Jazz Musician of the Day: George Cables

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating George Cables' birthday today!

When George Cables was going to school in New York City he used to walk the streets at night, taking in the cosmopolitan sights and sounds, mentally recording his encounters with “so many different kinds of people.” In his musical career as well, Cables has prowled sidestreets and main thoroughfares in relative anonymity, absorbing countless influences into his personal style. Born in New York City on November 14, 1944, Cables was ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: George Cables

Jazz Musician of the Day: George Cables

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating George Cables' birthday today!

When George Cables was going to school in New York City he used to walk the streets at night, taking in the cosmopolitan sights and sounds, mentally recording his encounters with “so many different kinds of people." In his musical career as well, Cables has prowled sidestreets and main thoroughfares in relative anonymity, absorbing countless influences into his personal style. Born in New York City on November 14, 1944, Cables was ...

4

Performance / Tour

Strata-East At 50! June 16th With Narrator Danny Glover, Charles Tolliver, Billy Harper, George Cables, Buster Williams, Lenny White & Special Guests!

Strata-East At 50! June 16th With Narrator Danny Glover, Charles Tolliver, Billy Harper, George Cables, Buster Williams, Lenny White & Special Guests!

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations

Strata-East Records celebrate 50 years of amazing Jazz on June 16th at 7:30pm EDT. Price: $20. Day of show $25. The performance will be available on-demand for 48 hours starting June 17th at 12:00 AM EDT. Strata-East @ 50 featuring Charles Tolliver, Billy Harper, George Cables, Buster Williams, Lenny White and special guest Danny Glover! Strata-East Records, now in its 50th year, was created by Charles Tolliver & Stanley Cowell. Their first recording in 1970, “Music Inc" & Big Band, ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: George Cables

Jazz Musician of the Day: George Cables

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating George Cables' birthday today!

When George Cables was going to school in New York City he used to walk the streets at night, taking in the cosmopolitan sights and sounds, mentally recording his encounters with “so many different kinds of people." In his musical career as well, Cables has prowled sidestreets and main thoroughfares in relative anonymity, absorbing countless influences into his personal style. Born in New York City on November 14, 1944, Cables was ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: George Cables

Jazz Musician of the Day: George Cables

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating George Cables' birthday today!

When George Cables was going to school in New York City he used to walk the streets at night, taking in the cosmopolitan sights and sounds, mentally recording his encounters with “so many different kinds of people." In his musical career as well, Cables has prowled sidestreets and main thoroughfares in relative anonymity, absorbing countless influences into his personal style. Born in New York City on November 14, 1944... Read more. ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: George Cables

Jazz Musician of the Day: George Cables

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating George Cables' birthday today!

When George Cables was going to school in New York City he used to walk the streets at night, taking in the cosmopolitan sights and sounds, mentally recording his encounters with “so many different kinds of people." In his musical career as well, Cables has prowled sidestreets and main thoroughfares in relative anonymity, absorbing countless influences into his personal style. Born in New York City on November 14, 1944... Read more. ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: George Cables

Jazz Musician of the Day: George Cables

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating George Cables' birthday today!

When George Cables was going to school in New York City he used to walk the streets at night, taking in the cosmopolitan sights and sounds, mentally recording his encounters with “so many different kinds of people." In his musical career as well, Cables has prowled sidestreets and main thoroughfares in relative anonymity, absorbing countless influences into his personal style. Born in New York City on November 14, 1944... Read more. ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: George Cables

Jazz Musician of the Day: George Cables

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating George Cables' birthday today!

When George Cables was going to school in New York City he used to walk the streets at night, taking in the cosmopolitan sights and sounds, mentally recording his encounters with “so many different kinds of people." In his musical career as well, Cables has prowled sidestreets and main thoroughfares in relative anonymity, absorbing countless influences into his personal style. Born in New York City on November 14, 1944... Read more. ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: George Cables

Jazz Musician of the Day: George Cables

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating George Cables' birthday today! When George Cables was going to school in New York City he used to walk the streets at night, taking in the cosmopolitan sights and sounds, mentally recording his encounters with “so many different kinds of people." In his musical career as well, Cables has prowled sidestreets and main thoroughfares in relative anonymity, absorbing countless influences into his personal style. Born in New York City on November 14, 1944... Read more. ...

Photos

Concerts

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Time Bandits

Freedom Road Records
2023

buy

Witness To History

Smoke Sessions Records
2023

buy

Blackstone Legacy

Contemporary Records/Craft Recordings
2023

buy

Stardust

Omnivore Recordings
2023

buy

Stories

Dot Time Records
2021

buy

Too Close for Comfort

HighNote Records
2021

buy

Totem Pole

From: Witness To History
By George Cables

Time Bandits

From: Time Bandits
By George Cables

Videos

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.