Jimmy Woode

Jimmy Woode was an American jazz bassist known for his rich contributions to jazz from the 1940s through the early 2000s. Born in Philadelphia in 1926, Woode studied piano and bass in Boston before becoming a sought-after musician at George Wein's Storyville Club, where he played with legends like Sidney Bechet, Billie Holiday, and Charlie Parker. His big break came in 1955 when he joined the Duke Ellington Orchestra, a position he held until 1960. Woode was part of the famous Newport Jazz Festival performance in 1956, driving the rhythm section that supported Paul Gonsalves' legendary solo, helping cement a historic moment in jazz history. After leaving Ellington, he spent many years in Europe playing with ensembles such as the Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band and touring with Lionel Hampton. Toward the end of his career, he teamed up with drummer Pete York and German jazz comedian Helge Schneider, even appearing in the film *Jazzclub* in 2004. Woode passed away in 2005, leaving behind a legacy as a talented, versatile bassist who worked with some of jazz’s biggest names.

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