Oscar Pettiford playing the double bass at the Aquarium, New York, ca. November 1946

Photo by William P. Gottlieb (public domain)

Oscar Pettiford

Bass · born 30 September 1922 – died 8 September 1960

▸ Click for Richard Cook Bio

Pettiford came from a large musical family, and he learned to play various instruments in what amounted to a touring vaudeville family band based around Minnesota. He went to New York as one of the two bassists in Charlie Barnet's orchestra in 1943, and from there he played on the nascent bebop scene before going to California with Coleman Hawkins, but was soon back in New York and leading bands on 52nd Street. He joined Woody Herman in 1949, practised cello while recovering from an accident in which he broke his arm, and then led more groups in New York. Eventually he led his own big band for a spell in the middle 50s, but inevitably it didn't last long, and he then went to Europe in 1958, playing in France, Germany and Scandinavia before his sudden demise from a stroke. Everyone who heard Pettiford in person seems to agree that he always sounded better than his records: on both bass and cello, he played with a lively, almost pneumatic style, supportive of the soloists but always ready to assert his instrument's singularity. His tunes Tricotism and Bohemia After Dark became staples of the hard-bop repertoire.

Biography from Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia (2005).

If you'd like more information, check out The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz (2002) or The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz (2007), both of which are still in print.

As leader

  • Oscar Pettiford – Basically DukeOscar Pettiford – Basically Duke
  • Oscar Pettiford Orchestra – In Hi-FiOscar Pettiford Orchestra – In Hi-Fi
  • Lucky Thompson & Oscar Pettiford – Vol. 2Lucky Thompson & Oscar Pettiford – Vol. 2

Plays on

  • Lee Konitz – With Warne MarshLee Konitz – With Warne Marsh
  • Clark Terry – Clark TerryClark Terry – Clark Terry
  • Miles Davis – The Musings of MilesMiles Davis – The Musings of Miles
  • Phineas Newborn Jr. – Here is PhineasPhineas Newborn Jr. – Here is Phineas
  • Miles Davis – Volume OneMiles Davis – Volume One
  • Miles Davis – Volume TwoMiles Davis – Volume Two
  • Thad Jones – Detroit-New York JunctionThad Jones – Detroit-New York Junction
  • Gil Mellé – Patterns in JazzGil Mellé – Patterns in Jazz
  • Earl Coleman – Earl Coleman ReturnsEarl Coleman – Earl Coleman Returns
  • Thelonious Monk – Plays the Music of Duke EllingtonThelonious Monk – Plays the Music of Duke Ellington
  • Thelonious Monk – The UniqueThelonious Monk – The Unique
  • Sonny Stitt – Plays Arrangements from the Pen of Quincy JonesSonny Stitt – Plays Arrangements from the Pen of Quincy Jones
  • Thomas Talbert – Bix Duke FatsThomas Talbert – Bix Duke Fats
  • Milt Jackson – Plenty Plenty SoulMilt Jackson – Plenty Plenty Soul
  • Kenny Dorham – Afro-CubanKenny Dorham – Afro-Cuban
  • Kenny Burrell – Kenny BurrellKenny Burrell – Kenny Burrell
  • Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers – Drum SuiteArt Blakey and the Jazz Messengers – Drum Suite
  • Teddy Charles – Three for DukeTeddy Charles – Three for Duke
  • Thelonious Monk – Brilliant CornersThelonious Monk – Brilliant Corners
  • Coleman Hawkins – The Hawk Flies HighColeman Hawkins – The Hawk Flies High
  • Kenny Dorham – Jazz ContrastsKenny Dorham – Jazz Contrasts
  • Sonny Rollins – Freedom SuiteSonny Rollins – Freedom Suite

Mentioned in text

  • Miles Davis – Blue MoodsMiles Davis – Blue Moods
  • Cannonball Adderley – Julian Cannonball AdderleyCannonball Adderley – Julian Cannonball Adderley
  • Kenny Clarke – Bohemia After DarkKenny Clarke – Bohemia After Dark
  • Cannonball Adderley – Presenting CannonballCannonball Adderley – Presenting Cannonball
  • Billy Taylor – EvergreensBilly Taylor – Evergreens
  • Modern Jazz Quartet – At Music InnModern Jazz Quartet – At Music Inn
  • Duke Ellington – Duke Ellington Presents…Duke Ellington – Duke Ellington Presents…
  • Bud Powell – The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume TwoBud Powell – The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume Two
  • Jay Jay Johnson – The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume OneJay Jay Johnson – The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume One
  • Jay Jay Johnson – The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume TwoJay Jay Johnson – The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume Two
  • Kenny Burrell – Introducing Kenny BurrellKenny Burrell – Introducing Kenny Burrell
  • Paul Quinichette – The Kid from DenverPaul Quinichette – The Kid from Denver
  • Bennie Green – Walking DownBennie Green – Walking Down
  • Modern Jazz Quartet – DjangoModern Jazz Quartet – Django
  • Sonny Stitt – Sonny Stitt PlaysSonny Stitt – Sonny Stitt Plays
  • Paul Chambers Sextet – Whims of ChambersPaul Chambers Sextet – Whims of Chambers
  • Lou Donaldson Quintet – Wailing With LouLou Donaldson Quintet – Wailing With Lou
  • Curtis Fuller – The OpenerCurtis Fuller – The Opener
  • Paul Chambers – Bass On TopPaul Chambers – Bass On Top
  • Marian McPartland – Marian McPartland TrioMarian McPartland – Marian McPartland Trio
  • J.J. Johnson – First PlaceJ.J. Johnson – First Place
  • Sonny Rollins – Way Out WestSonny Rollins – Way Out West
  • Zoot Sims – Goes to JazzvilleZoot Sims – Goes to Jazzville
  • Nat Adderley – To The Ivy League From NatNat Adderley – To The Ivy League From Nat
  • Max Roach – Jazz in 3/4 TimeMax Roach – Jazz in 3/4 Time
  • Horace Silver – Silver’s BlueHorace Silver – Silver’s Blue
  • Gil Mellé – Gil’s GuestsGil Mellé – Gil’s Guests
  • James Moody – MoodyJames Moody – Moody
  • Ray Draper Quintet – Tuba SoundsRay Draper Quintet – Tuba Sounds
  • John Coltrane – ColtraneJohn Coltrane – Coltrane
  • Prestige Jazz Quartet – Prestige Jazz QuartetPrestige Jazz Quartet – Prestige Jazz Quartet
  • Gene Ammons – Jammin’ In Hi FiGene Ammons – Jammin’ In Hi Fi
  • Idrees Sulieman / Webster Young / John Coltrane / Bobby Jaspar – Interplay for 2 Trumpets and 2 TenorsIdrees Sulieman / Webster Young / John Coltrane / Bobby Jaspar – Interplay for 2 Trumpets and 2 Tenors
  • Phil Woods / Gene Quill / Sahib Shihab / Hal Stein – Four AltosPhil Woods / Gene Quill / Sahib Shihab / Hal Stein – Four Altos
  • Thelonious Monk – Monk’s MusicThelonious Monk – Monk’s Music
  • Billy Taylor – The New Billy Taylor TrioBilly Taylor – The New Billy Taylor Trio
  • George Wallington – Knight MusicGeorge Wallington – Knight Music
  • Warne Marsh – Warne MarshWarne Marsh – Warne Marsh
  • Hank Mobley – Hank MobleyHank Mobley – Hank Mobley
  • Sonny Clark – Dial “S” For SonnySonny Clark – Dial “S” For Sonny
  • Lee Morgan – The CookerLee Morgan – The Cooker
  • Sonny Clark – Sonny Clark TrioSonny Clark – Sonny Clark Trio
  • Cliff Jordan – Cliff CraftCliff Jordan – Cliff Craft
  • Jimmy Smith – Groovin’ at Smalls’ Paradise, Volume OneJimmy Smith – Groovin’ at Smalls’ Paradise, Volume One
  • Jimmy Smith – Groovin’ at Smalls’ Paradise, Volume TwoJimmy Smith – Groovin’ at Smalls’ Paradise, Volume Two
  • Sonny Clark – Cool Struttin’Sonny Clark – Cool Struttin’
  • Cannonball Adderley – Somethin’ ElseCannonball Adderley – Somethin’ Else
  • Red Mitchell – Presenting Red MitchellRed Mitchell – Presenting Red Mitchell
  • Hampton Hawes Quartet – All Night Session! Vols. 1-3Hampton Hawes Quartet – All Night Session! Vols. 1-3
  • George Wallington Quintet – The PrestidigitatorGeorge Wallington Quintet – The Prestidigitator
  • Yusef Lateef Quintet – The Sounds of YusefYusef Lateef Quintet – The Sounds of Yusef
  • Freddy Redd Trio – San Francisco Suite for Jazz TrioFreddy Redd Trio – San Francisco Suite for Jazz Trio
  • Pepper Adams – 10 to 4 at the 5 SpotPepper Adams – 10 to 4 at the 5 Spot
  • The 3 Sounds – The 3 SoundsThe 3 Sounds – The 3 Sounds
  • Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers – Moanin’Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers – Moanin’
  • Dizzy Reece – Blues in TrinityDizzy Reece – Blues in Trinity
  • Cannonball Adderley Quintet – In San FranciscoCannonball Adderley Quintet – In San Francisco
  • Duke Pearson – ProfileDuke Pearson – Profile
  • Dizzy Reece – Star BrightDizzy Reece – Star Bright
  • Freddie Redd Quartet – Music from The ConnectionFreddie Redd Quartet – Music from The Connection
  • Harold Land – The FoxHarold Land – The Fox
  • Curtis Fuller – Curtis Fuller, Volume ThreeCurtis Fuller – Curtis Fuller, Volume Three
  • Howard McGhee – Maggie’s Back in TownHoward McGhee – Maggie’s Back in Town
  • Miles Davis – And the Modern Jazz GiantsMiles Davis – And the Modern Jazz Giants