Carson Raymond Smith (January 9, 1931, San Francisco – November 2, 1997,

Las Vegas Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...

) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

double-bass The double bass (), also known simply as the bass () (or #Terminology, by other names), is the largest and lowest-pitched Bow (music), bowed (or plucked) string instrument in the modern orchestra, symphony orchestra (excluding unorthodox addit ...

ist. Carson is the older brother of jazz musician and composer

Putter Smith Patrick Verne "Putter" Smith (born January 19, 1941) is an American jazz bassist, music teacher, author, and actor. Early life Smith was born in Bell, California, and began playing the bass at the age of eight, inspired by his older brother, ja ...

. Smith's early work was in

West Coast jazz West Coast jazz refers to styles of jazz that developed in Los Angeles and San Francisco during the 1950s. West Coast jazz is often seen as a subgenre of cool jazz, which consisted of a calmer style than bebop or hard bop. The music relied rela ...

, playing with

Gerry Mulligan Gerald Joseph Mulligan (April 6, 1927 – January 20, 1996), also known as Jeru, was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and arranger. Though primarily known as one of the leading jazz baritone saxophonists—playing the instrum ...

(1952–53), Chet Baker (1953–55), Russ Freeman (1955–56), and Chico Hamilton (1955–57). Smith also recorded with Clifford Brown (1954),

Dick Twardzik Richard Henryk Twardzik (April 30, 1931 – October 21, 1955) was an American jazz pianist who worked in Boston for most of his career. Career Twardzik trained in classical piano as a child and made his professional debut at the age of fourteen. ...

(1954), and

Billie Holiday Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959) was an American jazz and swing music singer. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and music partner, Lester Young, Holiday had an innovative influence on jazz music and pop s ...

at Carnegie Hall (1956). In 1959, he toured with

Stan Kenton Stanley Newcomb Kenton (December 15, 1911 – August 25, 1979) was an American popular music and jazz artist. As a pianist, composer, arranger and band leader, he led an innovative and influential jazz orchestra for almost four decades. Though K ...

, then recorded with

Charlie Barnet Charles Daly Barnet (October 26, 1913 – September 4, 1991) was an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. His major recordings were "Skyliner", " Cherokee", "The Wrong Idea", "Scotch and Soda", "In a Mizz", and "Southland Shuffl ...

in 1960. In 1962, he moved to Los Angeles, playing with

Charlie Teagarden Charlie Teagarden (July 19, 1913 – December 10, 1984), known as 'Smokey Joe', was an American jazz trumpeter. He was the younger brother of Jack Teagarden. His nickname was ''Little T''. Born in Vernon, Texas, United States, Teagarden worked loc ...

(1962) and Lionel Hampton (1963). He toured Japan with

Georgie Auld Georgie Auld (May 19, 1919 – January 8, 1990) was a jazz tenor saxophonist, clarinetist, and bandleader. Early years Auld was born John Altwerger in Toronto, Canada, and moved to Brooklyn, New York, in 1929. Before the family left Canada, Au ...

in 1964. Later in the 1960s, he played with

Buddy Rich Bernard "Buddy" Rich (September 30, 1917 – April 2, 1987) was an American jazz drummer, songwriter, conductor, and bandleader. He is considered one of the most influential drummers of all time. Rich was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, ...

Arno Marsh Arno Marsh (May 28, 1928 – July 12, 2019) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States, Marsh played early on in local dance bands, then played in Woody Herman's ensemble from 1951 to 1953, where he soloe ...

, and

Carl Fontana Carl Charles Fontana (July 18, 1928 – October 9, 2003) was an American jazz trombonist. After working in the big bands of Woody Herman, Lionel Hampton, and Stan Kenton, he devoted most of his career to playing music in Las Vegas. Career Font ...

. He held a longtime residency at the Four Queens Hotel in Las Vegas, where he accompanied visiting musicians such as Art Farmer,

Lew Tabackin Lewis Barry Tabackin (born March 26, 1940) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist and flutist. He is married to pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi with whom he has co-led large ensembles since the 1970s. Biography Tabackin started learning flute at age ...

Zoot Sims John Haley "Zoot" Sims (October 29, 1925 – March 23, 1985) was an American jazz saxophonist, playing mainly tenor but also alto (and, later, soprano) saxophone. He first gained attention in the "Four Brothers" sax section of Woody Herman's big ...

, and Chet Baker. He died of cancer in Las Vegas at the age of 66.

Discography

As sideman

With Chet Baker * '' Sings and Plays with Bud Shank, Russ Freeman and Strings'' (Pacific Jazz, 1955) * ''

Chet Baker Sings ''Chet Baker Sings'' is the debut vocal album by jazz musician Chet Baker, released in 1954 by Pacific Jazz Records. In 2001, the album received the Grammy Hall of Fame Award. Baker would return to selections from this album throughout his care ...

'' (Pacific Jazz, 1956) * '' The Trumpet Artistry of Chet Baker'' (Pacific Jazz, 1955) * '' Jazz at Ann Arbor'' (Pacific Jazz, 1955) With Chico Hamilton * ''

Chico Hamilton Quintet ''Chico Hamilton Quintet'' is a live album by drummer and bandleader Chico Hamilton, released on the Pacific Jazz label.

'' (Pacific Jazz, 1955) * '' Chico Hamilton Quintet in Hi-Fi'' (Pacific Jazz, 1956) * ''

Sweet Smell of Success ''Sweet Smell of Success'' is a 1957 American film noir drama film directed by Alexander Mackendrick, starring Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis, Susan Harrison, and Martin Milner, and written by Clifford Odets, Ernest Lehman, and Mackendrick fr ...

'' (Brunswick, 1957) * '' Ellington Suite'' (World Pacific, 1959) * '' The Original Chico Hamilton Quintet'' (World Pacific, 1960) * ''Spectacular!'' (World Pacific Jazz, 1968) With others * Clifford Brown, ''Jazz Immortal'' (Pacific Jazz, 1960) * Lionel Hampton &

, ''The Great Hamp and Little T'' (Coral, 1963) * Fred Katz, ''Zen: The Music of Fred Katz'' (Pacific Jazz, 1957) *

Dick Marx Richard Henry Marx (April 12, 1924 – August 12, 1997) was an American jazz pianist and arranger. He also composed for film, television, and commercials. Personal life Marx and wife Ruth (née Guildoo) had a son, Richard Marx, pop singer, ...

, ''Marx Makes Broadway'' (Omega Disk, 1958) *

, ''Gerry Mulligan Quartet'' (Pacific Jazz, 1955) *

, ''Mulligan and Baker!'' (Jazztone, 1957) *

Jack Montrose Jack Montrose (December 30, 1928 – February 7, 2006) was a jazz tenor saxophonist and arranger. After attending college in Los Angeles, he worked with Jerry Gray and then Art Pepper. Montrose also did arrangements for Clifford Brown. He became kno ...

Presents Bob Gordon Quintet, Clifford Brown Ensemble, ''Arranged by Montrose'' (Pacific Jazz, 1956) *

, ''Swingin' New Big Band'' (Pacific Jazz, 1966) *

, ''The Last Set'' (Pacific Jazz, 1962) *

Tommy Vig Tommy may refer to: People * Tommy (given name) * Tommy Atkins, or just Tommy, a slang term for a common soldier in the British Army Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Tommy'' (1931 film), a Soviet drama film * ''Tommy'' (1975 fil ...

, ''The Tommy Vig Orchestra'' (Take V, 1965)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Carson 1931 births 1997 deaths American jazz double-bassists Male double-bassists Jazz musicians from San Francisco 20th-century American musicians 20th-century double-bassists 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians