Harvey Call Cobbs Jr. (January 30, 1911 – September 21, 1971)''U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007'' was an American jazz pianist, electric harpsichordist, and organist. He is remembered for his work with saxophonist Albert Ayler in the mid- and late-1960s.

Early life

Cobbs was born in Urbana, Ohio, to Harvey Call Cobbs Sr. and Ethel Hill Cobbs. His father, known as Harry Cobbs, was a church janitor. In his youth, Cobbs served as companion and guide to the pianist Art Tatum and later accompanied Billie Holiday and replaced Hampton Hawes in the band of Wardell Gray.

Career

Cobbs worked and recorded with the alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges in 1954, when Hodges' band included John Coltrane. He studied the Schillinger System of musical composition. He is best remembered for his work with the free jazz saxophonist Albert Ayler from 1964 through 1970, playing piano,

rocksichord Rocky Mount Instruments (RMI) was a subsidiary of the Allen Organ Company, based in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, active from 1966 to 1982. The company was formed to produce portable musical instruments, and manufactured several electronic pianos ...

, and electronic organ in live performances and recordings. He also acted as Ayler's

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and

musical director A music(al) director or director of music is the person responsible for the musical aspects of a performance, production, or organization. This would include the artistic director and usually chief conductor of an orchestra or concert band, the ...

.Schwartz, Jeff. (1992) . Accessed July 2, 2007. When Ayler's body was found floating in the East River in New York City on November 25, 1970, Cobbs was called upon to identify the body.Morton, Brian. (November 4, 2004
Flowers for Albert: Albert Ayler
'' The Nation''. Accessed July 2, 2007.

Death

Cobbs was killed in a hit and run collision on September 21, 1971. He died at

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in The Bronx at the age of 60.

Discography

With Albert Ayler *''

Swing Low Sweet Spiritual ''Swing Low Sweet Spiritual'' is an album by American free jazz saxophonist Albert Ayler recorded in New York City at the same session that produced ''Spirits'' in 1964 and intended for release on the Danish Debut label but first released in 1981 ...

'' (Osmosis, 1964

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Spirits Rejoice ''Spirits Rejoice'' is a live album by American free jazz saxophonist Albert Ayler recorded in New York City in 1965 and first released on the ESP-Disk label.

'' (ESP-Disk, 1965) *''

Love Cry ''Love Cry'' is a 1968 album by jazz saxophonist Albert Ayler, released on Impulse! Records in 1968. It was originally reissued on CD by GRP with two previously unreleased alternate takes and one previously unreleased outtake. The cover claimed ...

'' (

Impulse! Impulse! Records (occasionally styled as "¡mpulse! Records" and "¡!") is an American jazz record company and label established by Creed Taylor in 1960. John Coltrane was among Impulse!'s earliest signings. Thanks to consistent sales and positiv ...

, 1967) *''

New Grass ''New Grass'' is a 1968 album by jazz saxophonist Albert Ayler released on Impulse! Records. The album mixed Ayler's familiar tenor saxophone playing with elements from R&B and other genres, including a soul horn section, backing singers, and r ...

'' (Impulse!, 1969) *'' Nuits de la Fondation Maeght Vols. 1 & 2'' (Shandar, 1970) *'' Holy Ghost: Rare & Unissued Recordings (1962–70)'' ( Revenant, 2004) *''

Live on the Riviera ''Live on the Riviera'' is a live album by the American jazz saxophonist Albert Ayler recorded on July 25, 1970 at the Maeght Foundation in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France, and originally released in 2005 on the ESP-Disk label. The album, which was ...

'' (ESP-Disk, 2005) With John Coltrane *''First Giant Steps''. Rare Live Recordings With Johnny Hodges *''

The Blues Blues is a music genre and musical form which originated in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues incorporated spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts, chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads from the African- ...

'' (Norgran, 1952–54, 955 *''

Used to Be Duke __NOTOC__ ''Used to Be Duke'' is a studio album by Johnny Hodges, accompanied by members of Duke Ellington's orchestra, released by Norgran Records in October 1956. Reception Scott Yanow on AllMusic gave the album four stars out of five, comment ...

'' (Norgran, 1954) With Jack McVea *''Two Timin' Baby'' (Juke Box Lil) With Jimmy Rushing *''1946–1953'' (Jazz Classics)

References

Sources

* Call Cobbs: Credits Allmusic. Accessed July 2, 2007. *"Final Bar." ''Downbeat'', November 11, 1971: p. 9. {{DEFAULTSORT:Cobbs, Call Jr. 1911 births 1971 deaths People from Urbana, Ohio African-American pianists American jazz organists American male organists American jazz pianists American male pianists American jazz keyboardists Road incident deaths in New York City Pedestrian road incident deaths 20th-century American pianists 20th-century organists Jazz musicians from Ohio 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians 20th-century African-American musicians