Mickey Bass

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[edit] Mickey Bass

BASSIST ‘EXTRAORDINAIRE’. BAND-LEADER, COMPOSER, ARRANGER, EDUCATOR, INNOVATOR, JAZZ HISTORIAN,BROADCASTER, PRODUCER.

Emanating from a Musical ‘hotbed’ in Pittsburgh; his Grandparents were a part of ‘Minstrelsy’, his Grandmother sang and taught Piano, his Mother was a singer, and danced, and Mickey & his Cousins sang ‘barbershop’ harmony…He was born, into all of this on May 2nd 1943…..Lee Oddis Bass lll. A Pittsburgh born Bassist, who became, and is, a Major ‘Force’ on The New York Scene for more than 40 years.

As a young Man, ‘Downbeat’ said “He’s A First rate Soloist!” as he matured, he was ‘labelled’“Definitely worth listening to! His Melodious ideas are something to behold” “The Heartbeat of the Band” whos’ “Ensemble work is nothing short of Brilliant!”

There’s been plenty said, and written, and most importantly heard from Mickey Bass in the intervening years, but I leave you with this one:

“A seasoned and formidable Bass player, Mickey hasn’t missed a beat…..His longevity and musical expertise has deepened and matured with time and experience. The genuine, uncontrived nature of this Music, and its' ability to provide a conduit to the souls of both performers and listeners alike can only serve to inspire." Mercy Monet, January 2007 issue 'Jazz Improv.' magazine

“Mickey, is a regular ’spark-plug’ on the Harlem Music Scene!” Whether it be in performance; with His,“New York Powerhouse Ensemble” or His “Manhattan Burn Unit”;or in his capacity as ‘Creative Consultant’ to Jazz Clubs & Organizations; this is a Man, who has made his presence ‘known’ in New York City, for over forty years…..he is, in fact, somewhat of an ‘Elder Statesman’, on the World Jazz Scene today.

Mickey Bass played, and also recorded with; Bennie Green, Sonny Rollins, Charles Mingus, Kenny Dorham, Jackie McLean, Billy Eckstine, Johnny Hartman, Joe Henderson, Sonny Stitt, Ramon Morris, Reuben Wilson, Freddie Hubbard, Art Blakey & The ‘Jazz Messengers‘, Ruth Brown, Carmen McRae,Miriam Makeba, Gloria Lynne (for whom he also served as Musical Director for seventeen years) Hank Mobley, and Lee Morgan.

Teacher; ‘Bass’ “Jazz-Mobile, Inc.” 1965 to present An Organization founded by Dr. Billy Taylor, in 1965, who’s ‘Mission’ was; to bring free Concerts to the Neighborhoods’ and Communities’ of New York City…which they did .An Educational Program ensued: As Curriculum Coordinator, Mickey ‘shaped’ and ‘supervised’ the program, to; consistently elevate the level of Education, and awareness, made available to the General Public, through “Jazz-Mobile, Inc.”. Mickey’s Accredited College Curriculum, “The Diminished Whole Tone Concept” © 2006 is currently being used at “Jazz-mobile”, as a ‘Model’ for other teachers to follow. In recognition; of the importance of ‘Cultural Enrichment Programs’, in our Public Schools; Mickey taught at two Elementary Schools in East Harlem, one of which was for “intellectually gifted children”. As a result of observation, of Mickeys’ teaching; a Book was written, edited by Dr. Billy Taylor, and published through “Jazz-Mobile, Inc.”; “An Arts Enrichment Educational Program”, a teaching ‘primer’ for Elementary Education. This book is an intended ‘guideline’, to impart the fundaments of Music.

Adjunct Faculty Professor; “Hartt College of Music”, Hartford. 1982 to 1985 Engaged by Jackie McLean, Chairman, to offer something vital, to students, in addition to their curriculum; from a working Musician, put in terms made tangible for them;Born of necessity; to impart to his students, the ‘meat’ and the ‘essence’ of this music; Mickey began to formulate and teach his Original Improvisatory Method,“The Diminished Whole Tone Concept”(c)2006, which was ‘accredited’ there, at “Hartt” as a 2 Year College course. In addition to this, Mickey also taught ‘Jazz Arranging’ and ‘Transcription’.

Teacher; ‘Bass’ “Ellington School of the Arts, Washington, D.C.” 1975 to 1978 Though initially invited to teach ‘Bass’, a Big Band Jazz Ensemble evolved, and writing Arrangements for them.… Mickey was re-engaged to; Conduct, Orchestrate, and Arrange; Music, for a Play entitled “Langston”; based on Langston Hughes’ life in Harlem, in the 1930’s. In addition to ‘arranging the score for the play, Mickey also arranged a fifteen minute Dance sequence, to Duke Ellingtons’ Music, called “A Night at Ellington”;

Mickey Bass: “A particularly rewarding ‘role’, was functioning as Director of ‘The Jazz Ensemble’; for which, I did all the Writing, Arranging, and Conducting for the students. The Musical Repertoire was vast, and diverse and of course, included a ‘goodly’ amount of Ellington’s Music, which I especially enjoyed arranging. During this three year period, I had the pleasure of nurturing ‘The Jazz Ensemble’ to an eventual state of maturity and sophistication. This ensemble evolved to such a level of Musical Excellence, that I resulted in Producing a sound recording of the group. In September I was asked to return to Washington, to do a Television production with this ensemble; a ninety minute show, in two segments -the first based on Langston Hughes’ life in Harlem in the ‘thirties - a Play, set to Music, entitled “Langston”, played by former members of ‘The Jazz Ensemble’ (whos’ members, perhaps I should include, included Wallace Roney & Eric Allen). The second part was comprised of three dance pieces, set to Ellingtons’ Music, and played by current members of ‘The Jazz Ensemble’. I assumed sole responsibility for the complete Arrangement of the entire Musical format. The T.V. Show, “Ellington, ‘Live’” was taped, for possible syndication. The show was ‘picked up’, and aired by W.N.E.T. as “A Night at Ellington.” In 1979, The Show won an ‘Emmy’ , for the entire Musical format.” Mickey Bass also Wrote, Arranged, and Conducted all Ellington music, for; “The Ellington Jazz Ensemble”,that performed at “The Whitehouse”, for President Jimmy Carter, in 1977.

[edit] He was Awarded:

A National Endowment for the Arts, Composer’s Grant, in 1980; which he used to write a String Quartet with Jazz Rhythm Section with miscellaneous percussion. He also Wrote & Arranged; Four Octet Arrangements, for Chico Hamilton, and many Original Compositions.

His Compositions have been recorded by; Lee Morgan, Hank Mobley, Reuben Wilson, Art Blakey, Ramon Morris, George Cables, Ronnie Mathews, Richard Wyands, Rahn Burton, and are also featured on John Hicks’ “Piece for My Peace”, and on a tribute to Earl ‘Fatha’ Hines, “Fatha’s Day”. Mickey’s Compositions can also be found on his own Record Label; “Early Bird”, which he founded in 1990. Both Wynton and Branford Marsalis played in Mickeys’ Bands, before moving to play with Art Blakey.Mickey’s Compositions are amongst the tunes they cut their chops on, during their tenure with Art Blakey’s “Jazz Messengers”.

Broadcast; “Adventures in Jazz”; Interviewing; Mary Lou Williams, Randy Weston, and Leonard Feather, amongst others. Interviewing Mr. Feather, was a particularly interesting ‘turnaround’, because here was a Jazz Musician (Mickey), interviewing an established Music Critic, who, at that time was writing for “The Los Angeles Times”. The Interview is ‘archived’ in “Pacifica” Radio.

Presented; the T.V. series, “New York Art Exclusive” for Manhattan Cable T.V.

Volunteered; for “The Jazz Foundation of America’s” Annual Fundraiser, “A Great Night in Harlem”, at The World Famous Apollo Theatre, Harlem. Mickey worked at this event, for three consecutive years, as an Assistant Stage Manager. Also volunteered; at a Benefit for Woody Shaw, as Stage Manager.

A Synopsis of his Musical Career can be found in; “The Encyclopedia of Jazz”, for the ‘seventies,and the ‘nineties.

But..There is a lot more to Lee Oddis Bass lll than that.....In person, his optimism and easy wit convey the impression that he’s always lived life in ‘cruise-o-matic over-drive’! “His World was an all day sucker,flavored with Jazz”.

But, all that belies an intense and lifelong struggle towards his own destiny. Speaking of his dear friend John Hicks, Mickey says: “I included John, on many ‘gig’s’ with Gloria Lynne, when we were just ’starting out’. Later on, John saw qualities in me, and asked things of me - I didn’t even know that I could do!….’on the spot’ ! Such as arranging….. which I subsequently did for him on many occasions -'on the spot'! “Nobody said it was going to be easy…And Nobody was Right!”

By the time he was nine years old, Bass had just about every record that ‘Bird’ ever cut, not to mention living in an atmosphere permeated by ‘Dizzy’, ‘Duke’, ‘Basie’, ‘Sassy’, ‘Billie’and ‘Miles’. These recordings were later considered ideal ‘Frisbee’ material by his younger brother & sister….little did they know!

In 1961 Bass entered Howard University, where he studied Bass with Bernard Mason. He also discovered there a very definite bias against ‘Blues’ & ’Be-bop’; when he was ‘failed’ by a Teacher there—because he was practicing in a music room at the School…..playing Jazz. Classmates Harold Vick, Marion Brown, and Charles Tolliver all similarly suffered—nobody, at that time was allowed to play “Jazz” on the Campus.

In 1963—Bass got ‘Apple Fever’, and headed for New York City.

In New York City, early ‘breaks’ came with Titan Tenor Saxophonist Hank Mobley, at the famous ‘Hotel Theresa’, Harlem. Mickey also played at the original ’Birdland’ with Sonny Rollins and Bennie Green. He first recorded with Lee Morgan, on the ‘Blue Note’ record label, “The Sixth Sense”…..

Mickey Bass; “Originally ‘slated’ as “The Sleepwalker”, I was ‘subbing’ for Ron Carter-who asked me to ‘sub’ for him at Rehearsal for that Record date at Lynn Oliver Studio’s, where Blue Note Records always rehearsed for its’ recording dates….. Ron was unable to make the rehearsal the next day as well ( he was really doing me a favor I think, and getting me ready to be a new Bass player for the Blue Note Records ‘clique’, as well as he did when he was teaching at City College, by using some of my small band arrangements that Second Floor Music was putting out on the market.) (God Bless Him! ) eventually Lee Morgan looked at me and said “Look! Ron’s not here, you’re here and you know the music, and you’re on the Record! I happened to have one of my arrangements with me, which didn’t yet have a title, we needed another tune, and so..we played it.. and it, for lack of a better title, became known as “Mickey’s Tune”. So because my writing debut, stayed ‘in the can’ for 32 Years..and was eventually released in 2000 – my ‘Recorded Compositional Debut’ – has sometimes been referred to as; my “Recorded Compositional ‘De-Butt’!!!!” Mickey Bass, December 21st 2006

Mickey Bass is a man who is “Always a work in progress!”"There is no future, without a past, as far as the Music is concerned.” Mickey will tell you, without the slightest hesitation, or reservation, that it was Jimmy Blanton, Oscar Pettiford and Ray Brown who were the men to first establish what modern Bass playing was to be about, that they were the Inventors of the time.

Mickey Bass: “In those days, when I was coming along, you didn’t just walk up on the stand and play without having your stuff together, or you would find yourself ostracized, musically, and also socially. That’s the way it was, and it was beautiful because you were being silently instructed; You must play it right…or not at all.. Learn the music, learn your instrument and learn it right. Coltrane, Parker, Coleman,all of them spent many agonizing hours, toiling over their instruments and the music…they didn’t ’arrive’at who they were by listening to recordings of others…..”

Mickey Bass: “I love ’Be-bop’ I grew up in it, and on it. I want to perpetuate it because there are a lot of Musical Architects who are no longer with us. There is no future without a past, as far as the music is concerned.”'

Mickey Bass: “I believe in playing it ‘straight-ahead’, and I believe in playing the ‘changes’.”'

All Great Musicians are , or have been 'Sidemen' in their Time.....It's in the nature of their Music...

There is going to be a great deal more…..about Mickey Bass!

1966:’Downbeat’ Magazine: “A First Rate Soloist.”

1970:’Downbeat’: “He is definitely worth listening to! His melodious ideas are something to behold.”

While performing with the great Jimmy McGriff, ‘Essence’ Magazine ’named’ Mickey Bass: “The Heartbeat of the Band.”

While playing with Freddie Hubbard, Lee Edwards said of Mickey:“His Ensemble work is nothing short of Brilliant!”

Whilst a member of Art Blakeys’ fabled ‘Jazz Messengers’ Mickeys’ Compositional abilities came to light…..

1979 The New York Times: “When Mickey Bass & The Cooperation get in the right groove, ( the ‘right groove’ being a ‘loose’, ‘driving’ up-tempo) it is doubtful if there is a jazz group in town that swings as hard as this one.” John S. Wilson. New York Times.