April 3 Birthdays, Scott LaFaro’s Among Them

The Jazz West Coast list serve often begins its posts with the names of jazz people born on the current date. The April 3 list is a profusion of such names.

• Paul Abler, guitar, 1957 (d. March 3, 2017)
• Jamie Davis, vocal
• Doris Day, vocal, 1922
• Terry Deane, tenor sax, 1972 (d. March 19, 2017)
• Bill Finegan, arranger, leader, piano, composer, 1917 (d. June 5, 2008)
• Stan Freeman, piano, celeste, vocal, arranger, 1920 (d. Jan. 13, 2001)
• James Gelfand, piano, 1959
• Art Harris, piano, French horn, vocals, arranger, (or March 4) 1927 (d.
1992)
•Kenny Kersey, piano, 1916 (d. Apr.1, 1983)
• Eric Kloss, soprano, alto and tenor sax, 1949
• Scott LaFaro, bass, 1936 (d. July 6, 1961)
• Dennis Mackrel, drums, 1962
• Jimmy McGriff, organ, 1936 (d. May 24, 2008)
• Bubber Miley, trumpet, 1903 (d. May 20, 1932)
• Bob Mitchell, trumpet, 1920
• Mary O’Keefe, drums
• Walter “Fats” Pichon, piano, vocal, 1906 (d. Feb. 26, 1967)
• Bill Potts, piano, arranger, 1928 (d. Feb. 16, 2005)
• Tessa Souter, vocal
• Martin Speake, alto saxophone, 1958
• Scott Stroman, trombone, vocals, composer, conductor 1958
• Mayo Tiana, trombone, 1942
• Billy Taylor, bass, tuba, arranger, 1906 (d. Sept. 2, 1986)
• Ray Vega, trumpet, 1961
• Harold Vick, tenor & soprano saxes, flute, 1936 (d. Nov. 13, 1987)

It would be tempting to attach a video clip to each of those names, but we don’t want to keep you up all night. Let’s be arbitrary and let Scott LaFaro be the surrogate birthday artist for all 26 of the performers born on this day. His composition “Gloria’s Step” is one of the pieces that LaFaro played with pianist Bill Evans’ trio in their celebrated Sunday at the Village Vanguard performances of 1961. LaFaro’s skill, creativity and ingenuity as a bassist and his interaction with Evans and drummer Paul Motian were central to the trio’s musical achievement. He influenced virtually every bassist who succeeded him. His innovations were crucial to a redefinition of jazz rhythm sections. LaFaro’s death in an automobile crash at 25 devastated Evans, who required a long recovery before resuming his career.