
The long trio blues "Chasin' the Trane" is probably his first recorded performance with Coltrane and Elvin Jones. He formally joined Coltrane's quartet in 1962, replacing Workman. He continued to work with many leaders, including Walter Bishop, Jr., Coleman, Dorham, and Cal Massey for the next two years. In 1959 he first appeared on record with Ornette Coleman on "Art of the Improvisers" (Atlantic, 1959). Between 19, Garrison played and recorded with trumpeter Kenny Dorham clarinetist Tony Scott drummer Philly Joe Jones and saxophonists Bill Barron, Lee Konitz, and Jackie McLean, as well as Curtis Fuller, Benny Golson, Lennie Tristano, and Pharoah Sanders, among others. Garrison came of age in the midst of a thriving Philadelphia jazz scene that included fellow bassists Reggie Workman and Henry Grimes, pianist McCoy Tyner and trumpeter Lee Morgan. Garrison was raised in both Miami, Florida and Philadelphia where he learned to play bass. He is best remembered for his association with John Coltrane from 1961 to 1967. His family legacy includes five grandchildren, Keith Owens, GlendaRose Aiello, Benjamin Garrison, Lucas Garrison and Salif Alessandro Trinn.James Emory Garrison (March 3, 1934 – April 7, 1976) was an American jazz double bassist born in Americus, Georgia. Jimmy Garrison died of lung cancer on April 7, 1976. Maia Claire (Garrison-Trinn), former soloist with the dance troupe Urban Bush Women, currently works a Dance & Health Educator in Altamonte Springs, Florida. Joy Garrison sang alongside Barney Kessel, Cameron Brown, Tony Scott and many others. He has performed and recorded with Joe Zawinul, Chaka Khan, The Saturday Night Live Band, John McLaughlin, Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock, Steve Coleman, Whitney Houston, Pino Daniele, John Scofield, Paul Simon, Tito Puente and many others. Matthew Garrison is a bass guitar player and the founder/ owner of ShapeShifter Lab in Brooklyn, NY. Matthew, Joy and Maia Claire are accomplished artists in their own right. Then later with his second wife, Italy-based dancer and choreographer Roberta Escamilla Garrison came Maia Claire and Matthew. Garrison and his first wife Robbie had daughters Lori, Joy and Robin. Jimmy Garrison had four daughters and a son. He and drummer Elvin Jones have been credited with eliciting more forceful playing than usual from Coleman on the albums New York is Now and Love Call.


Garrison also had a long association with Ornette Coleman, first recording with him on Ornette on Tenor andappeared on the outtake compilation Art of the Improvisers. After Coltrane’s death, Garrison worked and recorded with Hampton Hawes, Archie Shepp, Clifford Thornton and groups led by Elvin Jones. In concert with Coltrane, Garrison would often play unaccompanied improvised solos, sometimes as the prelude to a song before the other musicians joined in. Garrison performed on many classic Coltrane recordings, including A Love Supreme.

The long trio blues “Chasin’ the Trane” is probably his first recorded performance with Coltrane and Elvin Jones. He formally joined Coltrane’s quartet in 1962, replacing Workman. In 1959 he first appeared on record with Ornette Coleman on “Art of the Improvisers” (Atlantic, 1959).

James Emory “Jimmy” Garrison (Ma– April 7, 1976) was an American jazz double bassist born in Americus, Georgia.
