Wilbur Bernard Ware (September 8, 1923 – September 9, 1979) was an African-American Classical Contra-bassist known for his creative use of time and space, his angular, unorthodox solo technique and a distinctive percussive sound. He was a staff bassist at Riverside Records in the 1950s, playing on many of the label's sessions, including LPs with such widely diverse stylists as J.R. Monterose, Toots Thielemans, Tina Brooks, Zoot Sims, and Grant Green.Born in Chicago, Ware taught himself to play banjo and bass and he approached the contra-bass not only as a melodic and rhythmic instrument but also as a percussive instrument. In the 1940s, he worked with Stuff Smith, Sonny Stitt, and Roy Eldridge. He recorded with Sun Ra in the early 1950s. Later in the 1950s, settling in New York, Ware played with Eddie Vinson, Art Blakey, and Buddy DeFranco. His only album recorded under his own name during his lifetime was The Chicago Sound, from 1957, while Ware was signed to Riverside. Ware was also active in studio recordings of several Music Minus One (MMO) jazz instructional LPs made in a New Jersey studio in the late 1950s, several of which have now been re-released on compact disc. In 1958, Ware was one of 57 jazz musicians to appear in the photograph A Great Day in Harlem.In 2012, Ware's widow produced and released a collection of previously unreleased studio tracks made with trumpeter Don Cherry, under the title Wilbur Ware: Super Bass. The CD also contains a 5-minute track in which Ware describes his early years in music and his life in this art-form commonly known as jazz.Ware is best known for his work with the Thelonious Monk quartet in 1957-58 and for his live recordings with the Sonny Rollins Trio at the Village Vanguard.
by Rashid
Tracklist:
1
What Is This Thing Called Love? 13:25
Cole Porter
2
Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise 7:30
Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg
3
Sonnymoon for Two 7:30
Sonny Rollins
4
I Can't Get Started 4:00
Vernon Duke / Ira Gershwin
5
I'll Remember April 8:35
Gene DePaul / Patricia Johnston / Don Raye
6
Get Happy 8:43
Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler
7
Striver's Row 5:50
Sonny Rollins
8
All the Things You Are 6:32
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
9
Get Happy 4:32
Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler
Credits:
Elvin Jones - Drums
Sonny Rollins - Sax (Tenor)
Wilbur Ware - Bass
Pianist Eddie Higgins alternates trio outings (also including bassist Phil Flannigan and drummer Danny Burger) with quartet performances that feature the cool-toned tenor of John Doughten on this consistently swinging set. "Zoot's Hymns" is a Higgins original that sets the tone for the CD (of which many but not all of the songs were formerly performed by Zoot Sims); other highlights include "The Red Door," "In Your Own Sweet Way," "Hi Fly," and "'Tis Autumn." by Scott Yanow
