Scott LaFaro
Rocco Scott LaFaro (1936-1961) was a musician of the first order, who found his 'voice' in jazz in the mid-1950s. His played the double bass violin, better known today as the acoustic bass to differentiate this instrument from the electric (or electronic) bass. His life was cut short in an automobile accident in the summer of 1961 near Geneva, New York, his home town. Although he performed for only six years (1955-1961), his innovative approach to the bass astounded his contemporaries, and to this day his recorded performances continue to surprise and delight.
Those who have found the Bill Evans Jazz Resource on the Internet know of the profound interplay among Paul Motian, Scott LaFaro and Bill Evans in a jazz trio that for many musicians to this day remains a model of sonority, complexity, and swing. Scott LaFaro's bass playing 'alchemy' (to borrow from an Ornette Coleman recording on which LaFaro performed) propelled Bill Evans to meet the artistic challenge of balance in a jazz trio.
The trios of Art Tatum, Nat Cole, and Oscar Peterson feature the pianist. Bill Evans and Scott LaFaro and Paul Motian were of one voice. The Evans trios that followed in the wake of the tragic death of Scott LaFaro in 1961, continued the search for balanced interplay but, notwithstanding the contributions of Chuck Israels and Larry Bunker, Gary Peacock, Eddie Gomez and Marty Morell and Elliot Zigmund, Marc Johnson and Joe LaBarbera, musicians with technical facility and swing, the pianist's voice remained dominant.
The post-LaFaro trios of Bill Evans achieved maturity and polish, the result of many years of playing together. Evans and LaFaro and Motian played (and recorded) as a trio less than two years, from December 1959 to June 1961. It is the sense of harmonic exploration and discovery, challenge and response, time's ebb and flow, that draws one to listen again and again to Portrait in Jazz, Explorations , Sunday at the Village Vanguard, and Waltz For Debby. These recordings are as fresh today as when they were first made, and together serve as an archetype of the jazz piano trio.
Scott LaFaro's mastery of his chosen instrument began after his 1954 graduation from high school. Although he played bass only six years, LaFaro remains a beacon for jazz bassists.
Born in Newark, New Jersey, LaFaro grew up in a musical family (his father played in many big bands). He started on piano while in elementary school, began on the bass clarinet in Junior High School, changing to tenor saxophone when he entered High School. He only took up the double bass the summer before he entered college, since learning a string instrument was required for music majors. About three months into college, LaFaro decided to concentrate on bass.
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Album Review
- Pieces of Jade by Larry Taylor
- Pieces of Jade by David Rickert
Book Review
Album Review
- Pieces of Jade by Stuart Broomer
April 03, 2022
Jazz Musician of the Day: Scott LaFaro
April 03, 2021
Jazz Musician of the Day: Scott LaFaro
April 03, 2020
Jazz Musician of the Day: Scott LaFaro
April 03, 2019
Jazz Musician of the Day: Scott LaFaro
April 03, 2018
Jazz Musician of the Day: Scott LaFaro
April 03, 2017
Jazz Musician of the Day: Scott LaFaro
April 03, 2016
Jazz Musician of the Day: Scott LaFaro
August 17, 2015
Just Because: Hampton Hawes With Scott LaFaro
April 03, 2015
Jazz Musician of the Day: Scott LaFaro
April 09, 2014
Mike Downes
bassDominic Duval
bassDavid Friesen
bassGary Peacock
bass, acousticFrantisek Uhlir
bassAlan Lewine
bassKen Lister
bass, acousticMichael Staron
bass, acousticGianmarco Scaglia
bassRichard Andersson
bass, acousticSal La Rocca
bass, acousticDon Mopsick
bass, acousticAdam Armstrong
bass, acousticTim Aucoin
bassBancroft And Lyne
voice / vocalsPhil Ravita
bassJake Leckie
bassGary Kelly
bass, electricSteven Bulmer
bass, acousticMaciej Domaradzki
bassAlison Keslow
bassJesse Dietschi
bass, acousticShimpei Ogawa
bassManel Fortia
bassMarshal Herridge
bassMax Gerl
bassPatrick Carey
bass, electricPetros Dragoumis
bass, electricRick Kilburn
bass, acousticAlireza Kohany
arrangerAram Sinnreich
bassJohn Lyden
bassPhotos
Album Discography
I Hear A Rhapsody
From: Pieces Of JadeBy Scott LaFaro