Leroy Vinnegar

Who owns a swinging “walking bass” way, comfortable in a number of idioms however, not a prolific soloist, Leroy Vinnegar had several heydays — in the ’50s and ’60s like a busy freelance recording sideman, so that as an associate of Les McCann’s most popular combo in 1969. Therefore, he played a significant part in two of jazz’s biggest strike albums, the trend-setting My Good Lady arranged with Andre Previn and Shelly Manne (1956) as well as the Eddie Harris/Les McCann soul-jazz manifesto Swiss Movement (1969). A totally self-taught musician, Vinnegar “misled around” using the piano but gravitated toward the bass upon his 1st encounter. After turning pro at 20, he was the home bassist at Chicago’s Beehive in 1952-1953. Upon shifting to LA in 1954, Vinnegar quickly resolved in as the bass participant of preference on information by Stan Getz, Shorty Rogers, Chet Baker, Shelly Manne, and Serge Chaloff, amongst others. He also began documenting as a innovator in 1957, reeling off a set of albums for Modern with the term “strolls” appropriately put in each name. Beginning in 1959, Vinnegar works and tour regularly with Joe Castro and Teddy Edwards while carrying on his freelance actions. In the first ’80s, he made an appearance on tv as an associate from the Dixieland-styled Panama Hats behind acting professional/banjoist George Segal. Although a episode of sick health triggered him to go to Portland in the past due ’80s, Vinnegar continued to be an active participant in to the ’90s, and he came back towards the documenting scene like a head in 1992 (on Modern again) using a Compact disc entitled — what else? — Walkin’ the Basses. Vinnegar passed away of cardiac arrest in August 1999, a reduction towards the jazz globe and a specific blow towards the Portland jazz community.