Lisle Arthur Atkinson (sometimes "Lysle") (born September 16, 1940, New York, NY; died March 25, 2019, New York, NY) 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-bassist.

Career

Atkinson played violin from the age of four and switched to stand-up bass at 12 years of age. He attended the

Manhattan School of Music The Manhattan School of Music (MSM) is a private music conservatory in New York City. The school offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in the areas of classical and jazz performance and composition, as well as a bachelor's in m ...

, and after graduating worked as

Nina Simone Eunice Kathleen Waymon (February 21, 1933 – April 21, 2003), known professionally as Nina Simone (), was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, and civil rights activist. Her music spanned styles including classical, folk, gospel, blu ...

's bassist from 1962 to 1966. He also worked with the New York Bass Choir and Les Spann during this time. Atkinson played with

Betty Carter Betty Carter (born Lillie Mae Jones; May 16, 1929 – September 26, 1998) was an American jazz singer known for her improvisational technique, scatting and other complex musical abilities that demonstrated her vocal talent and imaginative inte ...

from 1969 to 1971, and in the 1970s worked with

Kenny Burrell Kenneth Earl Burrell (born July 31, 1931) is an American jazz guitarist known for his work on numerous top jazz labels: Prestige, Blue Note, Verve, CTI, Muse, and Concord. His collaborations with Jimmy Smith were notable, and produced the 1965 ...

, George Coleman,

Andrew Cyrille Andrew Charles Cyrille (born November 10, 1939) is an American avant-garde jazz drummer. Throughout his career, he has performed both as a leader and a sideman in the bands of Walt Dickerson and Cecil Taylor, among others. AllMusic biographer ...

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 serv ...

Dizzy Gillespie John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie (; October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator and singer. He was a trumpet virtuoso and improviser, building on the virtuosic style of Roy Eldridge but a ...

, John Gordon,

Jon Hendricks John Carl Hendricks (September 16, 1921 – November 22, 2017), known professionally as Jon Hendricks, was an American jazz lyricist and singer. He is one of the originators of vocalese, which adds lyrics to existing instrumental songs and re ...

Helen Humes Helen Humes (June 23, 1913 – September 9, 1981) was an American singer. Humes was a teenage blues singer, a vocalist with Count Basie's band, a saucy R&B diva, and a mature interpreter of the classic popular song. Early life She was born on ...

Hank Jones Henry Jones Jr. (July 31, 1918 – May 16, 2010) was an American jazz pianist, bandleader, arranger, and composer. Critics and musicians described Jones as eloquent, lyrical, and impeccable. In 1989, The National Endowment for the Arts honored ...

, Wynton Kelly,

Howard McGhee Howard McGhee (March 6, 1918 – July 17, 1987) was one of the first American bebop jazz trumpeters, with Dizzy Gillespie, Fats Navarro and Idrees Sulieman. He was known for his fast fingering and high notes. He had an influence on younger beb ...

Horace Parlan Horace Parlan (January 19, 1931 – February 23, 2017) was an American pianist and composer known for working in the hard bop and post-bop styles of jazz. In addition to his work as a bandleader Parlan was known for his contributions to the Cha ...

Hazel Scott Hazel Dorothy Scott (June 11, 1920 – October 2, 1981) was a Trinidad-born American jazz and classical pianist and singer. She was an outspoken critic of racial discrimination and segregation. She used her influence to improve the representat ...

Norman Simmons Norman Simmons (1915–2004) was a DNA research pioneer."Obituaries". ''Harvard Dental Bulletin'' 10(4): 28. Fall 2004-Winter 2005. Simmons worked with Elkan Blout on proteins and polypeptides and was also recognized for isolating a structural ...

, Frank Strozier, Billy Taylor,

Clark Terry Clark Virgil Terry Jr. (December 14, 1920 – February 21, 2015) was an American swing and bebop trumpeter, a pioneer of the flugelhorn in jazz, and a composer and educator. He played with Charlie Barnet (1947), Count Basie (1948–51), Duk ...

Stanley Turrentine Stanley William Turrentine (April 5, 1934 – September 12, 2000) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. He began his career playing R&B for Earl Bostic and later soul jazz recording for the Blue Note label from 1960, touched on jazz fusion ...

, and

Richard Wyands Richard Francis Wyands (July 2, 1928 – September 25, 2019) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger, best known for his work as a side-man. Early life Wyands was born in Oakland, California Oakland is the largest city and the ...

. In 1983, Atkinson formed his own group, the Neo-Bass Ensemble, which included five bassists, together with

Paul H. Brown Paul Brown "PB" (March 6, 1934 – May 6, 2016), was an American jazz bassist. He was the founder of the Monday Night Jazz Series in Hartford, Connecticut, which was recognized by the Library of Congress as the oldest and longest-running free fe ...

, a pianist, and

Al Harewood Al Harewood (June 3, 1923 – March 13, 2014) was an American jazz drummer and teacher, born in Brooklyn. As a musician Harewood worked with many jazz musicians including the J.J. Johnson/ Kai Winding group, the Art Farmer/ Gigi Grice band, Da ...

on drums. In the 1980s Atkinson also played with

Benny Carter Bennett Lester Carter (August 8, 1907 – July 12, 2003) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. With Johnny Hodges, he was a pioneer on the alto saxophone. From the beginning of his career ...

Lee Konitz Leon Konitz (October 13, 1927 – April 15, 2020) was an American composer and alto saxophonist. He performed successfully in a wide range of jazz styles, including bebop, cool jazz, and avant-garde jazz. Konitz's association with the cool j ...

Grover Mitchell Grover Mitchell, born Grover Curry Mitchell (March 17, 1930 – August 6, 2003) was an American jazz trombonist who led the Count Basie Orchestra. Biography Mitchell was born in Whately, Alabama, but he moved with his parents to Pittsburgh, Pen ...

, Joe Newman, Dakota Staton, and Ernie Wilkins. Among his associations in the 1990s and 2000s were

Barry Harris Barry Doyle Harris (December 15, 1929 – December 8, 2021) was an American jazz pianist, bandleader, composer, arranger, and educator. He was an exponent of the bebop style. Life and career Harris was born in Detroit, Michigan, on December ...

Leroy Williams Leroy Williams (February 3, 1941 – June 1, 2022) was an American drummer, mostly known for his work in jazz. Williams first began playing drums as a teenager in the 1950s. From 1959 to the middle of the 1960s he played with singer Judy Roberts ...

, Jeanne Lee, and

Sir Charles Thompson Sir Charles Thompson, 1st Baronet (c.1740 – 17 March 1799) was a British naval officer. After long service in the Seven Years' War, American War of Independence and War of the First Coalition, he was John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent, Admir ...

Discography

As leader

* ''Bass Contra Bass'' (Storyville, 1978 979 with Karen Atkinson (flute),

(piano), Paul West (bass),

(drums)

As sideman

With Roni Ben-Hur * ''Sofia's Butterfly'' (TCB, 1998) With Joshua Breakstone * ''No One New'' (Capri, 2009) * ''With the Wind and the Rain'' (Capri, 2014) * ''2nd Avenue: The Return of the Cello Quartet'' (Capri, 2015) * ''88'' (Capri, 2016) With

* '' Prime: Live at the Downtown Room'' (HighNote, 1976 009 With

* ''More Cookin'' (Jazz Heritage, 1988) * '' Cookin' at Carlos I'' (MusicMasters, 1988

990 Year 990 ( CMXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Al-Mansur, ''de facto'' ruler of Al-Andalus, conquers the Castle of Montemor-o-Velho (mode ...

* ''

Harlem Renaissance The Harlem Renaissance was an intellectual and cultural revival of African American music, dance, art, fashion, literature, theater, politics and scholarship centered in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, spanning the 1920s and 1930s. At the t ...

'' (MusicMasters, 1992) With

* '' Finally, Betty Carter'' (Roulette, 1969 975 * '' Round Midnight'' (Roulette, 1969 975 * '' Betty Carter at the Village Vanguard'' (Bet-Car/Verve, 1970) With George Coleman * ''Revival'' (Catalyst, 1976) also released as ''Big George'' With

* ''

Junction Junction may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Junction'' (film), a 2012 American film * Jjunction, a 2002 Indian film * Junction (album), a 1976 album by Andrew Cyrille * Junction (EP), by Basement Jaxx, 2002 * Junction (manga), or ''Hot ...

'' (Whynot, 1976) * '' Wildflowers: The New York Loft Jazz Sessions'' (Douglas / Casablanca, 1976) one track * '' Good to Go, with a Tribute to Bu'' (Soul Note, 1997) * ''

Route de Frères ''Route de Frères'' is an album by drummer Andrew Cyrille. It was recorded in December 2005 at Clinton Studios in New York City, and was released by Tum Records in 2011. On the album, Cyrille is joined by members of the group known as Haitian Fasc ...

'' (TUM, 2011) With Albert Dailey * ''The Day After the Dawn'' (Columbia, 1972) With

Walt Dickerson Walter Roland Dickerson (April 16, 1928 – May 15, 2008) was an American jazz vibraphone player, most associated with the post-bop idiom. Biography Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, Walt Dickerson graduated from Morgan State U ...

* ''

Peace Peace is a concept of societal friendship and harmony in the absence of hostility and violence. In a social sense, peace is commonly used to mean a lack of conflict (such as war) and freedom from fear of violence between individuals or groups. ...

'' (SteepleChase, 1975) With Keno Duke * ''Sense of Values'' (Strata-East, 1974) * ''Crest of the Wave'' (Trident, 1975) With

Ryo Fukui was a Japanese jazz pianist based in Sapporo. He played regularly at the "Slowboat" jazz club in Sapporo, which he and his wife Yasuko owned. Fukui taught and performed internationally until his death in 2016. His work has seen a spike in popular ...

* ''Ryo Fukui in New York'' (Sapporo, 1999) With John Gordon * ''Step by Step'' (Strata-East, 1976) * ''Erotica Suite'' (Strata-East, 1978) With

* ''Helen Humes and the Muse All Stars'' (Muse, 1978

980 Year 980 ( CMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Peace is concluded between Emperor Otto II (the Red) and King Lothair III (or Lothair IV) a ...

With Jeanne Lee * ''Natural Affinities'' (Owl, 1992) With Shigeo Maruyama * ''Sweet Lorraine'' (Break Time, 1990) With

* ''Here Comes Freddy'' (Sonet, 1976) * ''Jazz Brothers'' (Jazzcraft, 1978) With

Danny Mixon Daniel Asbury Mixon (born August 19, 1949) is an American jazz pianist. Mixon was born in Harlem, New York City. He gained some attention in the 1970s and continues to record and play in New York and abroad. He started off as a tap dancer, attend ...

* ''Mixin' With Mixon'' (Cinderella, 1983) With The National Jazz Ensemble * ''National Jazz Ensemble Vol. 1'' (Chiaroscuro, 1976) With The New York Bass Violin Choir * ''The New York Bass Violin Choir'' (Strata-East, 1980) With

* '' Frank-ly Speaking'' (SteepleChase, 1977) With

* ''Midnight Creeper'' (Milljac, 1979) * ''I'm...The Blues'' (Milljac, 1981) * ''Synthesis'' (Savant, 2002) * ''In Private'' (Savant, 2004) With

* '' Nina Simone at Carnegie Hall'' (Phillips, 1963) * '' Nina Simone in Concert'' (Philips, 1964) * '' Broadway-Blues-Ballads'' (Philips, 1964) * ''

Pastel Blues ''Pastel Blues'' is a studio album by American singer Nina Simone, released in October 1965, by Philips Records. The album was recorded in 1964 and 1965 in New York City and peaked at number 139 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart, as well as number ...

'' (Philips, 1965) * ''

Let It All Out ''Let It All Out'' is an album by Nina Simone, released by Philips Records in February 1966. The song "Chauffeur" is an adaptation of Memphis Minnie's "Me and My Chauffeur Blues" (1941), which Simone first heard Big Mama Thornton sing. Thornton ...

'' (Philips, 1966) * ''

Wild Is the Wind ''Wild is the Wind'' is a 1957 film directed by George Cukor and starring Anna Magnani, Anthony Quinn, and Anthony Franciosa. It tells the story of an American rancher who, after his wife dies, goes to Italy to marry her sister, but finds that s ...

'' (Phillips, 1966) * ''Four Women: The Nina Simone Philips Recordings'' (compilation) (Verve, 2003) * ''Nina Simone's Finest Hour'' (compilation) (Verve, 2004) With Frank Strozier * '' Remember Me'' (SteepleChase, 1976) * ''Dance Dance'' (Trident, 1976) With

* ''Then, Here and Now'' (Storyville, 1978)

References

*Lara Pellegrinelli, "Lisle Atkinson". '' The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz''. 2nd edition, ed.

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 ...

. {{DEFAULTSORT:Atkinson, Lisle 1940 births 2019 deaths Musicians from New York City American jazz double-bassists Male double-bassists Manhattan School of Music alumni Jazz musicians from New York (state) 21st-century double-bassists 21st-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians