George Tucker (musician)

George Andrew Tucker (December 10, 1927, Palatka, Florida - October 10, 1965, New York City) was an American jazz double-bassist.

Tucker attended the New York Conservatory of Modern Music, studying bass in the late 1940s. Early in his career he played with Earl Bostic, John Coltrane, and Jackie McLean. He worked in the house bands of several lauded New York jazz venues, such as the Continental Lounge, The Playhouse, and Minton's; he played with Eric Dolphy, Clifford Jordan, Horace Parlan, Booker Ervin, Jerome Richardson, and Junior Mance during this time. In 1958, he recorded with Melba Liston on her jazz classic, "Melba and Her 'Bones". In 1960-61 he recorded with Stanley Turrentine, Parlan, Ervin, Dexter Gordon, and Shirley Scott, and in 1962-63 he toured with the trio of Dave Lambert, John Hendricks and Yolande Bavan. Near the end of his life he recorded with Coleman Hawkins and Jaki Byard.

Discography

As Sideman

With Lou Donaldson

Midnight Sun (Blue Note, 1960)

With Booker Ervin

The Book Cooks (Bethlehem, 1960)

With Curtis Fuller

Curtis Fuller Volume 3 (Blue Note, 1957)
Two Bones (Blue Note, 1958)

With Dexter Gordon

Doin' Allright (Blue Note, 1961)

With Bennie Green

Back on the Scene (Blue Note, 1958)
Walkin' & Talkin' (Blue Note, 1959)

With Clifford Jordan

Cliff Craft (Blue Note, 1957)

With Lambert, Hendricks & Bavan

Havin' a Ball at the Village Gate (RCA, 1963)

With Horace Parlan

Us Three (Blue Note, 1960)
Speakin' My Piece (Blue Note, 1960)
Headin' South (Blue Note, 1960)
On the Spur of the Moment (Blue Note, 1961)
Up & Down (Blue Note, 1961)

With Freddie Redd

San Francisco Suite (Riverside, 1957)

With Stanley Turrentine

Look Out! (Blue Note, 1960)
Comin' Your Way (Blue Note, 1961)
Up at "Minton's" (Blue Note, 1961)
Jubilee Shout!!! (Blue Note, 1961)

References

Brenda Pennell, "George Tucker". The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz.