James Edward Rowser (April 18, 1926 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; - June 24, 2004 in Teaneck, New Jersey)Cite Web : https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/northjersey/obituary.aspx?n=james-e-rowser&pid=2368134 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 major ...

double-bassist. Rowser learned to play piano and bass as a youth. He played with the

house band A house band is a group of musicians, often centrally organized by a band leader, who regularly play at an establishment. It is widely used to refer both to the bands who work on entertainment programs on television or radio, and to bands which ...

at Philadelphia's Blue Note club, accompanying touring musicians such as

Cannonball Adderley Julian Edwin "Cannonball" Adderley (September 15, 1928August 8, 1975) was an American jazz alto saxophonist of the hard bop era of the 1950s and 1960s. Adderley is perhaps best remembered for the 1966 soul jazz single "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy", whi ...

Miles Davis Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Davis adopted a variety of music ...

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 si ...

J.J. Johnson J.J. Johnson (January 22, 1924 – February 4, 2001), born James Louis Johnson and also known as Jay Jay Johnson, was an American jazz trombonist, composer and arranger. Johnson was one of the earliest trombonists to embrace bebop. Biography ...

Anita O'Day Anita Belle Colton (October 18, 1919 – November 23, 2006), known professionally as Anita O'Day, was an American jazz singer and self proclaimed “song stylist” widely admired for her sense of rhythm and dynamics, and her early big band appe ...

Charlie Parker Charles Parker Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955), nicknamed "Bird" or "Yardbird", was an American jazz saxophonist, band leader and composer. Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading figure in the development of bebop, a form ...

, and

Kai Winding Kai Chresten Winding ( ; May 18, 1922 – May 6, 1983) was a Danish-born American trombonist and jazz composer. He is known for his collaborations with fellow trombonist J. J. Johnson. His version of "More", the theme from the movie ''Mondo Ca ...

. In the late 1950s he played with

Dinah Washington Dinah Washington (born Ruth Lee Jones; August 29, 1924 – December 14, 1963) was an American singer and pianist, who has been cited as "the most popular black female recording artist of the 1950s songs". Primarily a jazz vocalist, she performe ...

Maynard Ferguson Walter Maynard Ferguson CM (May 4, 1928 – August 23, 2006) was a Canadian jazz trumpeter and bandleader. He came to prominence in Stan Kenton's orchestra before forming his own big band in 1957. He was noted for his bands, which often served ...

Lee Morgan Edward Lee Morgan (July 10, 1938 – February 19, 1972) was an American jazz trumpeter and composer. One of the key hard bop musicians of the 1960s, Morgan came to prominence in his late teens, recording on John Coltrane's '' Blue Train'' (1 ...

, and

Red Garland William McKinley "Red" Garland Jr. (May 13, 1923 – April 23, 1984) was an American modern jazz pianist. Known for his work as a bandleader and during the 1950s with Miles Davis, Garland helped popularize the block chord style of playing in jazz ...

. He was active in New York in the early 1960s with

Junior Mance Julian Clifford Mance, Jr. (October 10, 1928 – January 17, 2021), known as Junior Mance, was an American jazz pianist and composer. Biography Early life (1928–1947) Mance was born in Evanston, Illinois. When he was five years old, Mance st ...

Ray Bryant Raphael Homer "Ray" Bryant (December 24, 1931 – June 2, 2011) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. Early life Bryant was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on December 24, 1931. His mother was an ordained minister who had tau ...

Herb Ellis Mitchell Herbert Ellis (August 4, 1921 – March 28, 2010), known professionally as Herb Ellis, was an American jazz guitarist. During the 1950s, he was in a trio with pianist Oscar Peterson. Biography Born in Farmersville, Texas, and raised ...

, and

Illinois Jacquet Jean-Baptiste "Illinois" Jacquet (October 30, 1922 – July 22, 2004) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, best remembered for his solo on "Flying Home", critically recognized as the first R&B saxophone solo. Although he was a pioneer of t ...

, and toured internationally with

Benny Goodman Benjamin David Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American clarinetist and bandleader known as the "King of Swing". From 1936 until the mid-1940s, Goodman led one of the most popular swing big bands in the United States. His co ...

and

Friedrich Gulda Friedrich Gulda (16 May 1930 – 27 January 2000) was an Austrian pianist and composer who worked in both the classical and jazz fields. Biography Early life and career Born in Vienna the son of a teacher, Gulda began learning to play the piano ...

in 1963-1964. Later in the 1960s he worked with

Al Cohn Al Cohn (November 24, 1925 – February 15, 1988) was an American jazz saxophonist, arranger and composer. He came to prominence in the band of clarinetist Woody Herman and was known for his longtime musical partnership with fellow saxophonist Zo ...

and

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 then with

Les McCann Leslie Coleman McCann (born September 23, 1935) is an American jazz pianist and vocalist.Feather, Leonard, and Ira Gitler (2007), ''The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz'', p. 448. Oxford University Press. Early life Les McCann was born in ...

; he remained with McCann well into the 1970s. In the 1980s he played with Bryant once more and also with

Hilton Ruiz Hilton Ruiz (May 29, 1952 – June 6, 2006) was an American jazz pianist in the Afro-Cuban jazz mold, but was also a talented bebop player. He was of Puerto Rican descent. Biography Born in New York City, Ruiz began playing piano at the age of f ...

. He returned to school in the 1980s, receiving a bachelor's and master's from

Lehman College Lehman College is a public college in the Bronx borough of New York City. Founded in 1931 as the Bronx campus of Hunter College, the school became an independent college within CUNY in September 1967. The college is named after Herbert H. Lehma ...

, and then taught music in New Jersey in the 1990s.

Discography

With

* ''

Dancing the Big Twist ''Dancing the Big Twist'' is an album by pianist Ray Bryant released on Columbia Records in 1961 to capitalise on the Twist dance craze.

'' (Columbia, 1961) * ''

Live at Basin Street East ''Live at Basin Street East'' is a live album by pianist Ray Bryant recorded at Basin Street East and released on Sue Records in 1964.

'' (Sue, 1964) * ''

Cold Turkey "Cold turkey" refers to the abrupt cessation of a substance dependence and the resulting unpleasant experience, as opposed to gradually easing the process through reduction over time or by using replacement medication. Sudden withdrawal from dru ...

'' (Sue, 1964) * ''

Lonesome Traveler ''Lonesome Traveler'' is a non-fiction collection of short essays and sketches by American novelist and poet Jack Kerouac, published in 1960. It is a compilation of Kerouac's journal entries about traveling the United States, Mexico, Morocco, t ...

'' (Cadet, 1966) * ''

The Ray Bryant Touch ''The Ray Bryant Touch'' is a live album by pianist Ray Bryant recorded in Los Angeles and released by Sue Records in 1967.Sound Ray ''Sound Ray'' is an album by pianist Ray Bryant recorded and released by Cadet Records in 1969.Maynard Ferguson Walter Maynard Ferguson CM (May 4, 1928 – August 23, 2006) was a Canadian jazz trumpeter and bandleader. He came to prominence in Stan Kenton's orchestra before forming his own big band in 1957. He was noted for his bands, which often served ...

* ''A Message from Birdland'' (Roulette, 1959) * ''

Maynard Ferguson Plays Jazz for Dancing ''Maynard Ferguson Plays Jazz for Dancing'' is an album released by Canadian jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson featuring tracks recorded in early 1959 and originally released on the Roulette label.Minn, MMaynard Ferguson discography accessed Octob ...

'' (Roulette, 1959) * ''

Swingin' My Way Through College ''Swingin' My Way Through College'' (subtitled ''Maynard Ferguson and His Orchestra Play for Dancing'') is an album released by Canadian jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson featuring tracks recorded in late 1958 and originally released on the Roulette ...

'' (Roulette, 1959) * ''

A Message from Newport ''A Message from Newport'' is an album by jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson featuring tracks recorded in 1958 and originally released on the Roulette label.Minn, M. ichaelminn.net/discographies/maynard/?releases#Roulette-52012 Maynard Ferguson disc ...

'' (Roulette, 1960) With

* '' Red Garland at the Prelude'' (Prestige, 1959) * '' Lil' Darlin''' (Status, 1965) * '' Red Garland Live!'' (Prestige, 1965) * ''

Satin Doll "Satin Doll" is a jazz standard written by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. Written in 1953, the song has been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, 101 Strings, Terry Callier, and Nancy Wilson. Its chord progression is ...

'' (Prestige, 1983) With

* ''What's Going On'' (Atlantic, 1972) * ''

Invitation to Openness ''Invitation to Openness'' is an album by pianist Les McCann recorded in 1971 and released on the Atlantic label.Freed., RLes McCann Discographyaccessed March 8, 2016 Reception Allmusic gives the album 4 stars stating "Every nuance of McCann's st ...

'' (Atlantic, 1972) * '' Talk to the People'' (Atlantic, 1972) * ''

Layers Layer or layered may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Layers'' (Kungs album) * ''Layers'' (Les McCann album) * ''Layers'' (Royce da 5'9" album) *"Layers", the title track of Royce da 5'9"'s sixth studio album *Layer, a female Maveric ...

''(Atlantic, 1973) * ''

Live at Montreux Live at Montreux is the name of live concert releases from Montreux Sounds and Eagle Vision, on CD and/or DVD, by various musicians, usually referring to recordings at the Montreux Jazz Festival: * James Brown: ''Live at Montreux 1981, Sex Machine'' ...

'' (Atlantic, 1973) * ''Another Beginning'' (Atlantic, 1974) * ''Hustle to Survive'' (Atlantic, 1975) * ''River High River Low'' (Atlantic, 1976) * ''Change, Change, Change'' (ABC/Impulse!, 1977) * ''Music Lets Me Be'' (ABC/Impulse!, 1977) * ''The Man'' (A&M, 1978) With others *

, ''The Midnight Roll'' (Epic, 1962) *

, ''Gulda Jazz'' (Amadeo, 1964) *

Eddie Harris Eddie Harris (October 20, 1934 – November 5, 1996) was an American jazz musician, best known for playing tenor saxophone and for introducing the electrically amplified saxophone. He was also fluent on the electric piano and organ. His best-k ...

& Les McCann, ''Second Movement'' (Atlantic, 1971) *

, ''Illinois Jacquet'' (Epic, 1963) *

, '' Big Chief!'' (Jazzland, 1961) *

Blue Mitchell Richard Allen "Blue" Mitchell (March 13, 1930 – May 21, 1979) was an American trumpeter and composer who worked in jazz, rhythm and blues, soul, rock and funk. He recorded albums as leader and sideman for Riverside, Mainstream Records, and Blu ...

, ''Booty'' (Mainstream, 1974) *

Thad Jones Thaddeus Joseph Jones (March 28, 1923 – August 20, 1986) was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader who has been called "one of the all-time greatest jazz trumpet soloists". Biography Thad Jones was born in Pontiac, Michigan, U ...

, ''Minor Strain'' (Roulette, 1990) *

Buddy Montgomery Charles "Buddy" Montgomery (January 30, 1930 – May 14, 2009) was an American jazz vibraphonist and pianist. He was the younger brother of Wes and Monk Montgomery, a guitarist and bassist respectively. Buddy and brother Monk formed The Masters ...

, ''This Rather Than That'' (ABC/Impulse!, 1969) *

, ''Doin' It Right'' (Novus 1990) *

, ''September in the Rain'' (Mercury, 1961)

References

Barry Kernfeld Barry Dean Kernfeld (born August 11, 1950) is an American musicologist and jazz saxophonist who has researched and published extensively about the history of jazz and the biographies of its musicians. Education In 1968, Kernfeld enrolled at U ...

, "Jimmy Rowser". '' The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz''. 2nd edition, 2004. {{DEFAULTSORT:Rowser, Jimmy American jazz double-bassists Male double-bassists Musicians from Philadelphia Jazz musicians from Pennsylvania American male jazz musicians 1926 births 2004 deaths