Chuck Israels

Charles H. Israels (born August 10, 1936)[1] is an American jazz 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 Judy Collins.

Chuck Israels
Chuck Israels in 2014
Chuck Israels in 2014
Background information
Birth nameCharles H. Israels
Born (1936-08-10) August 10, 1936
New York City
OriginCleveland, Ohio
GenresJazz, cool jazz
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, arranger
Instrument(s)Double bass
Websitechuckisraelsjazz.com
The Public Domain Song Anthology with Modern and Traditional Harmonization, a 2020 book co-edited by Israels

Biography

Born in New York City,[2] Chuck Israels was raised in a musical family which moved to Cleveland, Ohio, when he was 10. His stepfather Mordecai Bauman was a singer who performed extensively with composer Hanns Eisler. He, along with Israels' 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. In 1948, the appearance of Louis Armstrong's All Stars in a concert series produced by his parents gave him his first opportunity to meet and hear jazz musicians.

In college, Israels had the opportunity to perform with Billie Holiday. His first professional job after college was working with pianist Bud Powell in Paris. His first professional recording was Stereo Drive (aka Coltrane Time) with John Coltrane, Cecil Taylor, Kenny Dorham, and Louis Hayes.[1] The recording showcased Israels as a composer with his composition "Double Clutching". Israels is best known for his work with the Bill Evans Trio from 1961 through 1966, having replaced the deceased Scott LaFaro, [1] and for the Jazz Repertory as Director of the National Jazz Ensemble from 1973 to 1981.[1] He made recordings with Kronos Quartet and Rosemary Clooney in 1985. He was the Director of Jazz Studies at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington until 2010. In 2011, he created the Chuck Israels Jazz Orchestra and recorded Second Wind: A Tribute to the Music of Bill Evans in 2013.

Humphrey Lyttelton, presenting Jazz 625 in 1965, said that Israels was "a superb technician who handles the double bass as easily as if it were a guitar... Chuck Israels is one of the reasons why musicians have come reeling away from performances by the Bill Evans Trio in a mood poised between elation and utter despair."

Discography

As leader

YearAlbumGroup
1976National Jazz Ensemble Vol. 2National Jazz Ensemble
1992Meeting on HvarChuck Israels International Trio
1998The Eindhoven ConcertChuck Israels and the Metropole Orchestra with Claudio Roditi
1999The Bellingham SessionsChuck Israels Quartet
2013Chaconne a Son GoutChuck Israels Quartet
2008ConvergenceChuck Israels Trio
2012It's Nice to Be with YouChuck Israels Trio
2013Second Wind: A Tribute to the Music of Bill EvansChuck Israels Jazz Orchestra
1975National Jazz EnsembleNational Jazz Ensemble
2015Joyful Noise: The Music of Horace SilverChuck Israels Jazz Orchestra
2016Garden of DelightsChuck Israels Jazz Orchestra

As sideman

YearAlbumMain Artist
1976End of a RainbowPatti Austin
1963Something's Coming!Gary Burton
1959Stereo Drive (aka Coltrane Time)Cecil Taylor
1985Rosemary Clooney Sings BalladsRosemary Clooney
1961Eric Dolphy in EuropeEric Dolphy
1962NirvanaBill Evans and Herbie Mann
1962Moon BeamsBill Evans
1962How My Heart Sings!Bill Evans
1962Time RememberedBill Evans
1964The Bill Evans Trio "Live"Bill Evans
1963At Shelly's Manne-HoleBill Evans
1964Waltz for DebbyBill Evans, Monica Zetterlund
1964The Judy Collins ConcertJudy Collins
1965Trio '65Bill Evans
1965Bill Evans Trio with Symphony OrchestraBill Evans
1966Bill Evans at Town HallBill Evans
1961A Day in the CityDon Friedman
1962Circle WaltzDon Friedman
1964Getz Au Go GoStan Getz
1965Here and NowHampton Hawes
1963My Point of ViewHerbie Hancock
1963Impressions of CleopatraPaul Horn
1963J.J.'s BroadwayJ. J. Johnson
1963New Jazz on CampusPaul Winter
1960George Russell Sextet at the Five SpotGeorge Russell
1960StratusphunkGeorge Russell
1961George Russell Sextet in K.C.George Russell
1963Eddie Costa: Memorial ConcertColeman Hawkins and Clark Terry
1966The Doors of PerceptionDave Pike
1973MizrabGábor Szabó
1974Phoebe SnowPhoebe Snow
1985Monk Suite: Kronos Quartet Plays Music of Thelonious MonkKronos Quartet
1978BaltimoreNina Simone
1998An Evening With Herb EllisHerb Ellis
2010Barry Harris in SpainBarry Harris
2005Strictly ConfidentialJon Mayer
1965Fifth AlbumJudy Collins
1966No Dirty NamesDave Van Ronk

References

  1. Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 1239. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
  2. Yanow, S. (2015). Chuck Israels: Biography., AllMusic, Retrieved August 31, 2015.
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