Andy Simpkins
Encyclopedia
Andy Simpkins was an American
jazz
bassist.
Born Andrew Simpkins in Richmond, Indiana
, he first became known as a member of the group The Three Sounds
, with which he performed from 1956 to 1968. After that, until 1974, he was a member of pianist
George Shearing
's group, and from 1979 to 1989 toured with singer Sarah Vaughan
. Throughout and after that time, during which he settled in Los Angeles
, Simpkins became respected as a top-quality bassist and widely known as a solid and reliable studio musician. He performed with singers Carmen McRae
and Anita O'Day
, instrumentalists Gerald Wiggins
, Monty Alexander
, Buddy DeFranco
, Don Menza
, and Stéphane Grappelli
, and many others. He recorded three albums as a leader.
Simpkins died of stomach cancer in Los Angeles.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
bassist.
Born Andrew Simpkins in Richmond, Indiana
Richmond, Indiana
Richmond is a city largely within Wayne Township, Wayne County, in east central Indiana, United States, which borders Ohio. The city also includes the Richmond Municipal Airport, which is in Boston Township and separated from the rest of the city...
, he first became known as a member of the group The Three Sounds
The Three Sounds
The Three Sounds were an American jazz trio that formed in 1956 and disbanded in 1973. The trio played and recorded with Lester Young, Lou Donaldson, Nat Adderley, Johnny Griffin, Anita O'Day, Bucky Pizzarelli, Stanley Turrentine and Sonny Stitt among others.The band formed in Benton Harbor,...
, with which he performed from 1956 to 1968. After that, until 1974, he was a member of pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
George Shearing
George Shearing
Sir George Shearing, OBE was an Anglo-American jazz pianist who for many years led a popular jazz group that recorded for MGM Records and Capitol Records. The composer of over 300 titles, he had multiple albums on the Billboard charts during the 1950s, 1960s, 1980s and 1990s...
's group, and from 1979 to 1989 toured with singer Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Lois Vaughan was an American jazz singer, described by Scott Yanow as having "one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century."...
. Throughout and after that time, during which he settled in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, Simpkins became respected as a top-quality bassist and widely known as a solid and reliable studio musician. He performed with singers Carmen McRae
Carmen McRae
Carmen Mercedes McRae was an American jazz singer, composer, pianist, and actress. Considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century, it was her behind-the-beat phrasing and her ironic interpretations of song lyrics that made her memorable...
and Anita O'Day
Anita O'Day
Anita O'Day was an American jazz singer.Born Anita Belle Colton, O'Day was admired for her sense of rhythm and dynamics, and her early big band appearances shattered the traditional image of the "girl singer"...
, instrumentalists Gerald Wiggins
Gerald Wiggins
Gerald Wiggins was a jazz pianist and organist. He studied classical, but switched to jazz in his teens. He began as a professional playing accompaniment to Stepin Fetchit. He worked with Louis Armstrong and Benny Carter. In the 1940s he moved to Los Angeles where he played music for television...
, Monty Alexander
Monty Alexander
Monty Alexander is a jazz pianist and melodica player. His playing has a strong Caribbean influence and swinging feeling, but he has also been influenced by Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, Wynton Kelly, and Ahmad Jamal.-Biography:Alexander discovered the piano at the age of 4, taking classical music...
, Buddy DeFranco
Buddy DeFranco
Boniface Ferdinand Leonard "Buddy" DeFranco is an American jazz clarinet player.-Biography:DeFranco began his professional career just as swing music and big bands — many of which were led by clarinetists like Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman and Woody Herman — were fading in popularity...
, Don Menza
Don Menza
Don Menza is an American saxophonist, arranger, composer, session musician, and jazz educator noted for his many contributions to American jazz and big band music. -Early years:...
, and Stéphane Grappelli
Stéphane Grappelli
Stéphane Grappelli was a French jazz violinist who founded the Quintette du Hot Club de France with guitarist Django Reinhardt in 1934. It was one of the first all-string jazz bands....
, and many others. He recorded three albums as a leader.
Simpkins died of stomach cancer in Los Angeles.
Discography
With The Three SoundsThe Three Sounds
The Three Sounds were an American jazz trio that formed in 1956 and disbanded in 1973. The trio played and recorded with Lester Young, Lou Donaldson, Nat Adderley, Johnny Griffin, Anita O'Day, Bucky Pizzarelli, Stanley Turrentine and Sonny Stitt among others.The band formed in Benton Harbor,...
- 1958: Introducing the 3 SoundsIntroducing the 3 SoundsIntroducing the 3 Sounds is the debut album by jazz group The Three Sounds featuring performances recorded in 1958 and released on the Blue Note label. The CD reissue includes five bonus tracks and one alternate take originally issued in Japan as Introducing the 3 Sounds Volume 2...
- 1958: Branching OutBranching Out-Track listing:# "Sister Caroline" - 5:50# "Well, You Needn't" - 8:20# "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" - 4:29# "I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'" - 4:59...
with Nat AdderleyNat AdderleyNathaniel Adderley was an American jazz cornet and trumpet player who played in the hard bop and soul jazz genres. He was the brother of saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley.... - 1959: Bottoms Up!Bottoms Up!Bottoms Up! is the second album by jazz group The Three Sounds featuring performances recorded in 1958 and 1959 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:...
- 1959: LD + 3LD + 3LD + 3 is an album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson and The Three Sounds recorded for the Blue Note label and performed by Donaldson with Gene Harris, Andrew Simpkins, and Bill Dowdy.-Reception:...
with Lou DonaldsonLou DonaldsonLou Donaldson is a jazz alto saxophonist. He was born in Badin, North Carolina. He is best known for his soulful, bluesy approach to playing the alto saxophone, although in his formative years he was, as many were of the bebop era, heavily influenced by Charlie Parker.His first recordings were... - 1959: Good DealGood DealGood Deal is the third album by jazz group The Three Sounds featuring performances recorded in 1959 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:...
- 1960: MoodsMoods (The Three Sounds album)Moods is an album by jazz group The Three Sounds released in 1960 on the Blue Note label. It was recorded the same day Feelin' Good was recorded.-Reception:...
- 1960: Feelin' Good
- 1960: Here We Come
- 1960: It Just Got to BeIt Just Got to BeIt Just Got to Be is an album by jazz group The Three Sounds featuring performances recorded in 1960 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:...
- 1960: Blue HourBlue HourBlue Hour is an album by jazz saxophonist Stanley Turrentine and The Three Sounds recorded for the Blue Note label and performed by Turrentine with Gene Harris, Andrew Simpkins and Bill Dowdy...
with Stanley TurrentineStanley TurrentineStanley William Turrentine, also known as "Mr. T" or "The Sugar Man", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.-Biography:Turrentine was born in Pittsburgh's Hill District into a musical family... - 1961: Hey ThereHey There (album)Hey There is an album by jazz group The Three Sounds featuring performances recorded in 1961 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:...
- 1961: Babe's BluesBabe's BluesBabe's Blues is an album by jazz group The Three Sounds featuring performances recorded in 1961 with one additional track from 1962 but not released on the Blue Note label until 1986.-Reception:...
- 1962: Out of This WorldOut of This World (The Three Sounds album)Out of This World is an album by jazz group The Three Sounds featuring performances recorded in 1962 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:...
- 1962: Black OrchidBlack Orchid (album)Black Orchid is an album by jazz group The Three Sounds featuring performances recorded in 1962 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:...
- 1962: Blue GenesBlue GenesBlue Genes is the fifth story in the "Kate Brannigan Series" written by Val McDermid A popular Scottish author. The book was written in 1996 and has been advised that younger reader's do not read it as it has sexual responses and death.- Plot :...
- 1962: The Three Sounds Play Jazz on Broadway
- 1963: Anita O'Day & The Three Sounds
- 1963: Jazz on Broadway
- 1963: Some Like It Modern
- 1964: Live at the Living Room
- 1964: Three Moods
- 1965: Beautiful Friendship
- 1966: Today's Sounds
- 1966: Vibrations
- 1967: Live at the LighthouseLive at the Lighthouse (The Three Sounds album)Live at the Lighthouse is a live album by jazz group The Three Sounds featuring performances recorded in 1967 at the Lighthouse Club in California and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:...
- 1968: Coldwater FlatColdwater FlatColdwater Flat is an album by jazz group The Three Sounds featuring performances with an orchestra arranged by Oliver Nelson recorded in 1968 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:...
- 1968: Elegant SoulElegant SoulElegant Soul is an album by jazz group The Three Sounds featuring performances with an orchestra arranged by Monk Higgins recorded in 1968 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:...
External links
- Lees, Gene. "Andy Simpkins". (Web site all about jazz)
- [ Yanow, Scott. "Andy Simpkins". (Web site allmusic)]