“The drummer has to swing the band, there is no doubt about that,” said Jimmy Cobb once, bringing his view of drums to the point. Jimmy Cobb was a swing master and the prototype of the tasteful, forward-grooving companion who knew how to build tension with unusual fills. As such, for decades, he was one of the most sought-after drummers of jazz, who participated in some of the most epochal recordings between 1958 and 1963. First and foremost with Miles Davis’ “Kind Of Blue” from 1959, where with John Coltrane, Wynton Kelly, Bill Evans and Cannonball Adderley the modal playing style was introduced and modern jazz was redefined. “These recordings must have been made in heaven,” said Cobb when he first heard the result of the session.
Other important albums with Miles Davis included “Sketches of Spain”, “Someday My Prince Will Come” and “Porgy and Bess”. We also find it on John Coltrane’s masterpiece “Giant Steps”. In 2009 Jimmy Cobb was named “NEA Jazz Master”. It is the highest official award given to jazz musicians in the USA. He performed regularly until the age of 90 and released the album “This I Dig Of You ”(smoke sessions / membrane).
His daughter’s call for donations
On January 20 of this year, Jimmy Cobb celebrated his 91st birthday. He was already sick and his doctors strongly advised him to step down. But because he could not afford this and the financial reserves for medication and care had long been used up, his daughter Serena started a successful call for donations. Already in the first days, around $ 50,000 was donated. Nevertheless, according to his daughter, Jimmy Cobb has become increasingly in need of help and died on May 24 in New York.
Prominent deaths in 2020:
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—-May 24: Drum legend Jimmy Cobb died in New York.
© Rolf Jenni, photographer Br / BAD
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