Joe Comfort
Encyclopedia
{About|a jazz bassist|
Joe Comfort (July 18, 1917 - October 29, 1988) was an American jazz bassist
. Comfort, from a musically oriented Los Angeles
family, taught himself bass
and began performing with Lionel Hampton
's orchestra in the late 1920s, and later began performing with Nat King Cole
in a partnership that would continue until the early 1950s. Comfort participated in numerous studio dates in the late 1950s and early 1960s, with such luminaries as Sammy Davis, Jr.
, Benny Carter
and Nancy Wilson
.
Early Years: Quoted by Charlie Mingus in his biography, "Beneath the Underdog," Joe Comfort taught Mingus how to play in Watts where he grew up. Joe also performed with Frank Sinatra but Joe's adversity to flying, kept in and around Los Angeles. Joe's brother, George Comfort was a singer, a music teacher and actor who performed with Dorothy Dandridge in "Porgy and Bess," and many other films working until his seventies, including a role in "Barreta."with Robert Black. Joe's mother, Francis Comfort was born in Mississippi and played the organ during black and white silent movies. George Comfort, Sr. Joe's father, taught music at Alcorn College and made sure all his children could read music. Joe Comfort is the great uncle of author Pam Ward, Los Angeles writer/graphic designer who states that "Uncle Joe's funeral was a giant celebration of L.A. jazz's musicians, a Central Avenue homecoming which included a stellar performance by trumpeter, Clora Bryant. Joe's beautiful wife, Mattie, was the inspiration for Duke Ellington's "Satin Doll." Joe had no children and died in Los Angeles.
Joe Comfort (July 18, 1917 - October 29, 1988) was an American jazz 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...
. Comfort, from a musically oriented Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
family, taught himself bass
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...
and began performing with Lionel Hampton
Lionel Hampton
Lionel Leo Hampton was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, bandleader and actor. Like Red Norvo, he was one of the first jazz vibraphone players. Hampton ranks among the great names in jazz history, having worked with a who's who of jazz musicians, from Benny Goodman and Buddy...
's orchestra in the late 1920s, and later began performing with Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
in a partnership that would continue until the early 1950s. Comfort participated in numerous studio dates in the late 1950s and early 1960s, with such luminaries as Sammy Davis, Jr.
Sammy Davis, Jr.
Samuel George "Sammy" Davis Jr. was an American entertainer and was also known for his impersonations of actors and other celebrities....
, Benny Carter
Benny Carter
Bennett Lester Carter was an American jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. He was a major figure in jazz from the 1930s to the 1990s, and was recognized as such by other jazz musicians who called him King...
and Nancy Wilson
Nancy Wilson (singer)
Nancy Wilson is an American singer with more than 70 albums, and three Grammy Awards. She has been labeled a singer of blues, jazz, cabaret and pop; a "consummate actress"; and "the complete entertainer." The title she prefers, however, is song stylist...
.
Early Years: Quoted by Charlie Mingus in his biography, "Beneath the Underdog," Joe Comfort taught Mingus how to play in Watts where he grew up. Joe also performed with Frank Sinatra but Joe's adversity to flying, kept in and around Los Angeles. Joe's brother, George Comfort was a singer, a music teacher and actor who performed with Dorothy Dandridge in "Porgy and Bess," and many other films working until his seventies, including a role in "Barreta."with Robert Black. Joe's mother, Francis Comfort was born in Mississippi and played the organ during black and white silent movies. George Comfort, Sr. Joe's father, taught music at Alcorn College and made sure all his children could read music. Joe Comfort is the great uncle of author Pam Ward, Los Angeles writer/graphic designer who states that "Uncle Joe's funeral was a giant celebration of L.A. jazz's musicians, a Central Avenue homecoming which included a stellar performance by trumpeter, Clora Bryant. Joe's beautiful wife, Mattie, was the inspiration for Duke Ellington's "Satin Doll." Joe had no children and died in Los Angeles.
External links
- [ Joe Comfort on Allmusic]
- Joe Comfort on the IMDb