Chris White (bassist)


Chris White was an American jazz bassist.

Early life and education

Christopher Wesley White was born in Harlem, New York, and grew up in Brooklyn. He graduated in 1956 from City College of New York, and in 1968 from the Manhattan School of Music. In the 1960s and 1970s, Chris lived on the Upper Westside of Manhattan and is largely considered to be the inventor and first manufacturer of the now commonly used "bow caddie" for a string bassists bow. A close friend of mine and Mr White's boarder at the time, cut the leather and hand stitched the first several hundred ever made. In 1974, he earned his Master of Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. In 1994, he did postgraduate Advanced Computer Study at Berklee College Of Music.

Career

White was an occasional member of Cecil Taylor's band in the 1950s, credited on the 1959 Love for Sale album. From 1960 to 1961 he accompanied Nina Simone; subsequently he was a member of Dizzy Gillespie's ensemble until 1966.
He later founded the band The Jazz Survivors and was a member of the band Prism. In addition to this, he collaborated with Billy Taylor, Eubie Blake, Earl Hines, Chick Corea, Teddy Wilson, Kenny Barron, Mary Lou Williams, Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae and Billy Cobham.
White was on the creative arts and technology faculty at Bloomfield College in New Jersey.

Awards

As leader

Interface recorded 2010 Lou Caputo/Chris White co leaders with Warren Smith Vibs Payton Crosley Drums Don Stein piano Leopoldo Fleming percussion

As sideman

With Kenny Barron
With Nina Simone
With Dizzy Gillespie
With Ramsey Lewis
With James Moody
With Jimmy Owens
With Dave Pike
With Lalo Schifrin
With Quincy Jones'