Chuck Israels
Encyclopedia
Charles H. "Chuck" Israels (born August 10, 1936) is a composer
, arranger, and bassist
who is best known for his work with the Bill Evans Trio
. He has also worked with Billie Holiday
, Benny Goodman
, Coleman Hawkins
, Stan Getz
, Herbie Hancock
, J. J. Johnson, John Coltrane
and many others.
is a singer who performed extensively with composer Hanns Eisler
and who, along with Chuck's mother, Irma Commanday, created a home environment in which music was a part of normal daily activity. Paul Robeson
, Pete Seeger
and The Weavers
were visitors to the Bauman home and the appearance of Louis Armstrong
's All Stars in a concert series produced by his parents in 1948 gave Chuck his first opportunity to meet and hear jazz musicians.
Israels is best known for his work with the Bill Evans
Trio from 1961 through 1966 and for his pioneering accomplishments in Jazz Repertory as Director of the National Jazz Ensemble from 1973 to 1981. Afterwards, he became less active as a musician, but did record with the Kronos String Quartet in 1984 and Rosemary Clooney
in 1985. He was the Director of Jazz Studies at Western Washington University
in Bellingham
until 2010, and currently resides in Portland
, Oregon
.
With John Coltrane
With Rosemary Clooney
With Bill Evans
With Stan Getz
With Herbie Hancock
With George Russell
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, arranger, and bassist
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
who is best known for his work with the Bill Evans Trio
Bill Evans
William John Evans, known as Bill Evans was an American jazz pianist. His use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines influenced a generation of pianists including: Chick Corea, Herbie...
. He has also worked with Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
, Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
, Coleman Hawkins
Coleman Hawkins
Coleman Randolph Hawkins was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Hawkins was one of the first prominent jazz musicians on his instrument. As Joachim E. Berendt explained, "there were some tenor players before him, but the instrument was not an acknowledged jazz horn"...
, Stan Getz
Stan Getz
Stanley Getz was an American jazz saxophone player. Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, his prime influence being the wispy, mellow timbre of his idol, Lester Young. Coming to prominence in the late 1940s with Woody Herman's big band, Getz is described by critic Scott...
, Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock
Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet," Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound...
, J. J. Johnson, John Coltrane
John Coltrane
John William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
and many others.
Biography
Chuck Israels was raised in a musical family. His stepfather, Mordecai BaumanMordecai Bauman
Mordecai Bauman was an American baritone.-Biography:Mordecai Hirsch Bauman was born on March 2, 1912 to Allen and Minnie Bauman in the Bronx, New York City...
is a singer who performed extensively with composer Hanns Eisler
Hanns Eisler
Hanns Eisler was an Austrian composer.-Family background:Eisler was born in Leipzig where his Jewish father, Rudolf Eisler, was a professor of philosophy...
and who, along with Chuck's mother, Irma Commanday, created a home environment in which music was a part of normal daily activity. Paul Robeson
Paul Robeson
Paul Leroy Robeson was an American concert singer , recording artist, actor, athlete, scholar who was an advocate for the Civil Rights Movement in the first half of the twentieth century...
, Pete Seeger
Pete Seeger
Peter "Pete" Seeger is an American folk singer and was an iconic figure in the mid-twentieth century American folk music revival. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, he also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of The Weavers, most notably their recording of Lead...
and The Weavers
The Weavers
The Weavers were an American folk music quartet based in the Greenwich Village area of New York City. They sang traditional folk songs from around the world, as well as blues, gospel music, children's songs, labor songs, and American ballads, and selling millions of records at the height of their...
were visitors to the Bauman home and the appearance of Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
's All Stars in a concert series produced by his parents in 1948 gave Chuck his first opportunity to meet and hear jazz musicians.
Israels is best known for his work with the Bill Evans
Bill Evans
William John Evans, known as Bill Evans was an American jazz pianist. His use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines influenced a generation of pianists including: Chick Corea, Herbie...
Trio from 1961 through 1966 and for his pioneering accomplishments in Jazz Repertory as Director of the National Jazz Ensemble from 1973 to 1981. Afterwards, he became less active as a musician, but did record with the Kronos String Quartet in 1984 and Rosemary Clooney
Rosemary Clooney
Rosemary Clooney was an American singer and actress. She came to prominence in the early 1950s with the novelty hit "Come On-a My House" written by William Saroyan and his cousin Ross Bagdasarian , which was followed by other pop numbers such as "Botch-a-Me" Rosemary Clooney (May 23, 1928 –...
in 1985. He was the Director of Jazz Studies at Western Washington University
Western Washington University
Western Washington University is one of six state-funded, four-year universities of higher education in the U.S. state of Washington. It is located in Bellingham and offers bachelor's and master's degrees.-History:...
in Bellingham
Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Whatcom County in the U.S. state of Washington. It is the twelfth-largest city in the state. Situated on Bellingham Bay, Bellingham is protected by Lummi Island, Portage Island, and the Lummi Peninsula, and opens onto the Strait of Georgia...
until 2010, and currently resides in Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
.
Discography
With Gary BurtonGary Burton
Gary Burton is an American jazz vibraphonist.A true original on the vibraphone, Burton developed a pianistic style of four-mallet technique as an alternative to the usual two-mallets. This approach caused Burton to be heralded as an innovator and his sound and technique are widely imitated...
- Something's Coming!Something's Coming! (album)Something's Coming! is an album by vibraphonist Gary Burton recorded in 1963 and released on the RCA label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 3 stars stating "Gary Burton's third full-length album as a leader finds him rapidly developing into a fresh new voice on the...
(RCA, 1963)
With John Coltrane
John Coltrane
John William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
- Coltrane TimeColtrane TimeStereo Drive is an album by jazz musician Cecil Taylor featuring John Coltrane, released in 1959 on United Artists Records, catalogue UAS 5014. The mono edition was issued as UAL 4014 with the title Hard Driving Jazz, and later reissued under Coltrane's name in 1963 as Coltrane Time...
With Rosemary Clooney
Rosemary Clooney
Rosemary Clooney was an American singer and actress. She came to prominence in the early 1950s with the novelty hit "Come On-a My House" written by William Saroyan and his cousin Ross Bagdasarian , which was followed by other pop numbers such as "Botch-a-Me" Rosemary Clooney (May 23, 1928 –...
- Rosemary Clooney Sings BalladsRosemary Clooney Sings BalladsRosemary Clooney Sings Ballads is a 1985 album by Rosemary Clooney. -Track listing:# "Thanks for the Memory" – 5:00# "Here's That Rainy Day" – 3:41...
(Concord, 1985)
With Bill Evans
Bill Evans
William John Evans, known as Bill Evans was an American jazz pianist. His use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines influenced a generation of pianists including: Chick Corea, Herbie...
- Nirvana Quartet with Herbie MannHerbie MannHerbert Jay Solomon , better known as Herbie Mann, was a Jewish American jazz flutist and important early practitioner of world music...
(Atlantic, 1962) - Moon BeamsMoon BeamsMoon Beams is a 1962 album by jazz musician Bill Evans, and the first trio album recorded by Evans after the death of Scott LaFaro. With Chuck Israels on bass taking the place of LaFaro, Evans recorded several songs during these May and June 1962 sessions. Moon Beams contains a collection of...
(Riverside, 1962) - How My Heart Sings!How My Heart Sings!How My Heart Sings! is a 1962 album by jazz musician Bill Evans, recorded at the same time as Moon Beams. It was reissued in 1992 with one bonus track.-Reception:...
(Riverside, 1962) - Time RememberedTime Remembered-Track listing:# "Danny Boy" - 10:41# "Like Someone in Love" - 6:27# "In Your Own Sweet Way" - 2:58# "Easy to Love" - 4:42...
(Milestone, 1963) - At Shelly's Manne-HoleAt Shelly's Manne-HoleAt Shelly's Manne-Hole is a live album by American jazz musician Bill Evans, released in 1963 .-Reception:...
(Riverside, 1963) - Trio LiveTrio LiveThe Bill Evans Trio Live is a live album by American jazz pianist Bill Evans and his Trio, released in 1971 and recorded in 1964.-Track listing:Side 1# "Nardis" 6:00# "Some Day My Prince Will Come" 6:20...
(Verve, 1964) - Waltz for DebbyWaltz for Debby (1964 album)Waltz for Debby is a 1964 album by jazz musician Bill Evans and Swedish singer Monica Zetterlund.It was reissued by Verve Records in 2006.-Reception:...
with Monica ZetterlundMonica ZetterlundEva Monica Zetterlund was a Swedish singer and actress.-Biography:Zetterlund was a singer particularly noted for her jazz work. She began by learning the classic jazz songs from radio and records, initially not knowing the language and what they sang about in English...
(Philips, 1964) - Trio '65Trio '65Trio '65 is a studio album by American jazz pianist Bill Evans and his Trio, released in 1965.-Reception:Writing for Allmusic, music critic Scott Yanow wrote of the album: "Although all eight of the selections heard on this Verve release have been recorded on other occasions by pianist Bill Evans,...
(Verve, 1965) - Bill Evans Trio with Symphony OrchestraBill Evans Trio with Symphony OrchestraBill Evans Trio with Symphony Orchestra is an album by American jazz pianist Bill Evans and his Trio, released in 1965. The Evans trio is accompanied by a symphony orchestra conducted and arranged by Claus Ogerman.- Reception :...
(Verve, 1965) - Bill Evans at Town HallBill Evans at Town HallBill Evans at Town Hall is a live album by American jazz pianist Bill Evans and his Trio, released in 1966.-Reception:Writing for Allmusic, music critic Scott Yanow called the album: "... a superior effort by Bill Evans and his trio in early 1966... this live set features the group mostly...
(Verve, 1966)
With Stan Getz
Stan Getz
Stanley Getz was an American jazz saxophone player. Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, his prime influence being the wispy, mellow timbre of his idol, Lester Young. Coming to prominence in the late 1940s with Woody Herman's big band, Getz is described by critic Scott...
- Getz au Go-Go
With Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock
Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet," Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound...
- My Point of ViewMy Point of ViewMy Point of View is the second album by pianist Herbie Hancock. It was released in 1963 on Blue Note Records as BLP 4126 and BST 84126.-Track listing:All compositions by Herbie Hancock.#"Blind Man, Blind Man" – 8:19#"A Tribute to Someone" – 8:45...
(Blue Note, 1963)
With George Russell
- George Russell Sextet at the Five SpotGeorge Russell Sextet at the Five SpotGeorge Russell Sextet at the Five Spot is an album by George Russell originally released on Decca in 1960. The album contains performances by Russell with Al Kiger, David Baker, Dave Young, Chuck Israels and Joe Hunt. The Allmusic review by Ken Dryden states that "Although Russell plays more of a...
(Decca, 1960) - StratusphunkStratusphunkStratusphunk is an album by George Russell originally released on Riverside in 1960. The album contains performances by Russell with Al Kiger, David Baker, Dave Young, Chuck Israels and Joe Hunt...
(Riverside, 1960) - George Russell Sextet in K.C.George Russell Sextet in K.C.George Russell Sextet in K.C. is an album by George Russell recorded in a New York studio and originally released on Decca in 1961. The album contains performances by Russell with Don Ellis, David Baker, Dave Young, Chuck Israels and Joe Hunt...
(Decca, 1961)