Kermit Driscoll

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James "Kermit" Driscoll [1] (born March 4, 1956) is an American jazz bassist. He is known for his long association with guitarist Bill Frisell in the 1980s and '90s. Driscoll has worked in many genres and music settings: Broadway, classical, jazz, folk, rock, film, and television. [2] He has taught at SUNY Purchase College and Sarah Lawrence College.

Contents

Biography

Driscoll was born in Kearney, Nebraska. He began playing piano at age five. Soon after, he added saxophone, and at age thirteen he picked up the bass guitar. He was soon was playing gigs around the midwest. When an offer to travel with a rock band came up, he dropped out of high school at age sixteen to go on tour.

He resumed high school at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan, then attended the University of Miami, where one of his teachers was Jaco Pastorius. [1] At Berklee College of Music in 1975 he became friends with guitarist Bill Frisell, and they often performed locally in Boston. Driscoll cites Pastorius and Frisell as two of the biggest influences on his life. Around 1976, he and his roommate, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, and Frisell found work in a band called the Boston Connection. According to Frisell, band members dressed in orange polyester suits and played disco. [2]

In May 1978, Driscoll traveled to Belgium to play with Stephan Houben who was working with Frisell. With this group he made his first recording, Mauve Traffic, with Frisell, Houben, Greg Badolato, Vinton Johnson, and Michel Herr. The album included a composition by Driscoll entitled "Doggone it". In January, 1980, he moved to New York City, and during the next year toured with Buddy Rich. [1]

From 1986 to 1996, [1] he was a member of Bill Frisell's quartet. From 1990 to 1995, [1] he was in the group New and Used with trumpeter Dave Douglas and saxophonist Andy Laster.

In 2005, he was diagnosed with advanced Lyme disease. Friends performed benefit concerts. Colauita helped gather donations and encouraged Driscoll to record. Reveille, his first album as a leader, was recorded with Colaiuta, Frisell, and pianist Kris Davis and released in 2010. [2] [3]

On January, 28th, 2019 Driscoll was accused of beating his wife and charged with aggravated assault, violating a restraining order, false imprisonment, hindering his arrest, obstruction and harassment. This was after being removed from a Cliffside Park, NJ home by the Bergen County Regional SWAT Team. [4]

Discography

As leader

With New and Used

As sideman

With Bill Frisell

With John Hollenbeck

With Joel Harrison

With Gerry Hemingway

With David Johansen

With Mick Rossi

With John Zorn

With others

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Smith, Steve. "Driscoll, Kermit". Grove Music Online. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Adler, David R. (1 April 2011). "Kermit Driscoll: A Resolution Realized". JazzTimes. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  3. ↑ Jisi, Chris (1 May 2011). "Kermit Driscoll's Wake-Up Call". BassPlayer.com. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  4. ↑ "Man Jailed In Five-Hour Cliffside Park SWAT Standoff Is Accomplished Jazz Bassist". Englewood Daily Voice. Retrieved 2019-01-29.
  5. ↑ "Kermit Driscoll | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
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