Jack Nimitz

Jack Nimitz (January 11, 1930 – June 10, 2009) was an American jazz baritone saxophonist. He was nicknamed "The Admiral."[1]

He played in a variety of genres including jazz and rock. He appeared on many jazz albums as sideman and rock albums as session musician, including The Beach Boys singles "Sloop John B", "Please Let Me Wonder, and "The Girl from New York City".

Biography

Nimitz was born in Washington DC. He first began playing on clarinet at age 12, and picked up alto saxophone at 14. He played in local bands in Washington DC, and after specializing on baritone sax he found work in the territory bands of Willis Conover, Bob Astor, Johnny Bothwell, and Daryl Harpa. He played with Woody Herman (1953–55), Stan Kenton (1955–56, 1958–59), and Herbie Mann (1959); he also played in the house band for the Savoy Theater in the 1950s.

He then moved to Los Angeles and worked in film music in addition to playing with Bill Berry, Benny Carter, Onzy Matthews, Gerald Wilson, Supersax, Frank Strazzeri, Thelonious Monk, Terry Gibbs, Dizzy Gillespie, Louie Bellson, Chuck Mangione, Shelly Manne, Charles Mingus, Horace Silver, Gil Fuller, Gene Ammons Oliver Nelson, Kenny Burrell, Quincy Jones, Milt Jackson, Frank Capp and Joey DeFrancesco into the 1980s. Additionally he recorded with the vocalists Johnny Hartman, June Christy, Peggy Lee, Carmen McRae, Anita O'Day and Diane Schuur. In the 1990s Nimitz recorded with Stewart Liebig, Bill Perkins, Bud Shank and Gerald Wilson.

In 1995 he released his first album under his own name. The Jack Nimitz Quintet played their final performance on May 10, 2009, in Northridge, California. Nimitz died aged 79 from complications from emphysema in Studio City, Los Angeles, California.[2]

Discography

As leader

As sideman

With Gene Ammons

With Kenny Burrell

With Nat King Cole

With Clare Fischer

With Gil Fuller

With Woody Herman

With Stan Kenton

With Steuart Liebig

With Herbie Mann

With Shelly Manne

With Les McCann

With Carmen McRae

With Oliver Nelson

With Bill Perkins

With Bud Shank

With Lalo Schifrin

With Bud Shank

With Gerald Wilson

References

Footnotes
  1. ↑ Lawrence Koch & Barry Kernfeld. "Nimitz, Jack". In L. Root, Deane. Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press. (subscription required)
  2. ↑ Jack Nimitz Baritone Sax Player Dies All About Jazz - Retrieved on 16 June 2009.
Sources
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