Tommy Potter

Tommy Potter was usually best-known for his association with Charlie Parker (1947-50), particularly to be an associate of Bird’s quintet at the same time when its additional players were Kilometers Davis, Duke Jordan and Maximum Roach. Never a significant soloist himself on the amount of an Oscar Pettiford, Potter (who generally just performed four-to-the-bar lines) really was an advanced golf swing stylist who was simply flexible (and experienced) enough to maintain with Parker’s frequently quick tempoes. He in fact began around the bass pretty past due, originally playing piano and acoustic guitar rather than switching to bass until he had been 21 in 1940. Potter caused John Malachi, Trummy Youthful and quite notably the Billy Eckstine Orchestra (1944-45). After using John Hardee and Maximum Roach, Potter became a member of Bird’s group. Furthermore to his use Charlie Parker, Potter documented with Bud Powell, Excess fat Navarro, Wardell Grey and other best bop musicians through the period. In the 1950s he continued to be in demand, dealing with Count number Basie (1950), Eckstine once again (1950-51), Earl Hines (1952-53), Artie Shaw (1953-54), Eddie Heywood, Bud Powell’s Trio, Tyree Glenn (1958-59), Harry “Sweets” Edison (1959-61), Buck Clayton and also Charles Lloyd. Although Potter’s simple style steadily slipped behind the days, he had possibilities to record in lots of configurations including with Mls Davis, Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz, Shaw and Edison amongst others. After playing within a Charlie Parker memorial group in 1965, Potter steadily dropped away from music, getting semi-retired. Tommy Potter just led two record schedules, within three times of each various other in Stockholm (in 1956) for the Metronome and East Western world labels.