Birth name Denzil DaCosta Best Albums Concert by the Sea Genres Bebop | Role Percussionist Name Denzil Best Awards Grammy Hall of Fame | |
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Occupation(s) Percussionist, composer Died May 24, 1965, New York City, New York, United States Similar People Erroll Garner, Chuck Wayne, Dizzy Gillespie, Billy Bauer, George Shearing | ||
Born april 27 1917 denzil best composer of move lou donaldson alto saxophonist
Denzil DaCosta Best (April 27, 1917 – May 24, 1965) was an American jazz percussionist and composer born in New York City. He was a prominent bebop drummer in the 1950s and early 1960s.
Contents
- Born april 27 1917 denzil best composer of move lou donaldson alto saxophonist
- Move by denzil best arr mike tomaro
- Biography
- Compositions
- Influence
- Discography
- References
Move by denzil best arr mike tomaro
Biography
Best was born in New York City, into a musical West Indian family originally from Barbados. Trained on piano, trumpet, and bass, he concentrated on the drums starting in 1943. Between 1943 and 1944 he worked with Ben Webster, and subsequently with Coleman Hawkins (1944–45), Illinois Jacquet (1946) and Chubby Jackson. The drummer was known to sit in at Minton's Playhouse. He took part in a recording with George Shearing in 1948 and was a founding member of his Quartet, remaining there until 1952. In 1949 he played on a recording with Lennie Tristano and also recorded later with Lee Konitz.
In a 1953 car accident he fractured both legs and was forced into temporary retirement until 1954, when he played with Artie Shaw, and then in a trio with Erroll Garner (1955–57). Best subsequently played with Phineas Newborn, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday and Tyree Glenn, and in 1962 appeared on the first release by Sheila Jordan. He suffered from paralysis after this and was no longer able to play; he died aged 48 in 1965, after falling down a staircase in a New York City Subway station.
Compositions
Best composed several well-known bebop tunes, including "Move" (which featured, arranged by John Lewis, on the seminal 1957 Miles Davis album, Birth of the Cool), "Wee", "Nothing but D. Best", and "Dee Dee's Dance", as well as Thelonious Monk's "Bemsha Swing". Best's composition "45 Degree Angle" was recorded by Herbie Nichols and Mary Lou Williams.
Influence
Unlike many bebop percussionists, who loaded the musical space with accents against the prevailing meter and thus created rhythmic intensity, Best resumed the legato development of Jo Jones. He played on the beat and rarely used loud accents. Playing in this way he was not only a model for cool jazz but also influenced countless bar combos. Best was renowned for his brush work: fellow drummer Jake Hanna said that he "might be the best brush player of all drummers", and Elvin Jones listed Best in his top three. He was the drummer on the very popular Erroll Garner Concert by the Sea recording, along with bassist Eddie Calhoun.
Discography
With Erroll Garner
With Sheila Jordan
With Phineas Newborn, Jr.
With Lennie Tristano