Carson Smith (musician)
Carson Raymond Smith (January 9, 1931, San Francisco – November 2, 1997, Las Vegas) was an American jazz double-bassist.[1] Carson is the older brother of jazz musician and composer Putter Smith.[1]
Carson Smith | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Carson Raymond Smith |
| Born | January 9, 1931 San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Died | November 2, 1997 (aged 66) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Double bass |
| Years active | 1952–unknown |
Smith's early work was in West Coast jazz, playing with Gerry Mulligan (1952–53), Chet Baker (1953–55), Russ Freeman (1955–56), and Chico Hamilton (1955–57).[1] Smith also recorded with Clifford Brown (1954), Dick Twardzik (1954), and Billie Holiday at Carnegie Hall (1956).[2] In 1959, he toured with Stan Kenton, then recorded with Charlie Barnet in 1960.[2] In 1962, he moved to Los Angeles, playing with Charlie Teagarden (1962) and Lionel Hampton (1963).[1] He toured Japan with Georgie Auld in 1964.[2] Later in the 1960s, he played with Buddy Rich, Arno Marsh, and Carl Fontana.[2] He held a longtime residency at the Four Queens Hotel in Las Vegas, where he accompanied visiting musicians such as Art Farmer, Lew Tabackin, Zoot Sims, and Chet Baker.[1]
He died of cancer in Las Vegas at the age of 66.[3]
Discography
As sideman
With Chet Baker
- Sings and Plays with Bud Shank, Russ Freeman and Strings (Pacific Jazz, 1955)
- Chet Baker Sings (Pacific Jazz, 1956)
- The Trumpet Artistry of Chet Baker (Pacific Jazz, 1955)
- Jazz at Ann Arbor (Pacific Jazz, 1955)
With Chico Hamilton
- Chico Hamilton Quintet (Pacific Jazz, 1955)
- Chico Hamilton Quintet in Hi-Fi (Pacific Jazz, 1956)
- Sweet Smell of Success (Brunswick, 1957)
- Ellington Suite (World Pacific, 1959)
- The Original Chico Hamilton Quintet (World Pacific, 1960)
- Spectacular! (World Pacific Jazz, 1968)
With others
- Clifford Brown, Jazz Immortal (Pacific Jazz, 1960)
- Lionel Hampton & Charlie Teagarden, The Great Hamp and Little T (Coral, 1963)
- Fred Katz, Zen: The Music of Fred Katz (Pacific Jazz, 1957)
- Dick Marx, Marx Makes Broadway (Omega Disk, 1958)
- Gerry Mulligan, Gerry Mulligan Quartet (Pacific Jazz, 1955)
- Gerry Mulligan, Mulligan and Baker! (Jazztone, 1957)
- Jack Montrose Presents Bob Gordon Quintet, Clifford Brown Ensemble, Arranged by Montrose (Pacific Jazz, 1956)
- Buddy Rich, Swingin' New Big Band (Pacific Jazz, 1966)
- Dick Twardzik, The Last Set (Pacific Jazz, 1962)
- Tommy Vig, The Tommy Vig Orchestra (Take V, 1965)
References
- Colin Larkin, ed. (2002). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. p. 405. ISBN 1-85227-937-0.
- Kernfeld, Barry (2003). "Smith, Carson (Raymond)". Grove Music Online (8th ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.J415000. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0.
- "Jazz bassist Smith dies at 66 - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper". 5 November 1997.