Scott LaFaro
| Scott LaFaro | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Rocco Scott LaFaro |
| Born |
April 3, 1936 Newark, New Jersey, United States |
| Died | July 6, 1961 (aged 25) Geneva, New York, United States |
| Genres | Jazz, bebop, cool jazz, modal jazz, free jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Double bass |
| Years active | 1955–1961 |
| Labels | Riverside, Atlantic |
| Associated acts |
Bill Evans Buddy Morrow Chet Baker Victor Feldman Stan Kenton Stan Getz Ornette Coleman Don Cherry Billy Higgins Ed Blackwell Eric Dolphy Ira Sullivan Barney Kessel Cal Tjader Benny Goodman Pat Moran McCoy |
| Website | http://scottlafaro.com/ |
Rocco Scott LaFaro (April 3, 1936 – July 6, 1961) was an American jazz double bassist, perhaps best known for his seminal work with the Bill Evans Trio.
Born in Irvington, New Jersey, LaFaro grew up in a musical family (his father played in many big bands). His family moved to his parents' hometown of Geneva, New York when Scott was five years old. He started on piano while in elementary school, began on the bass clarinet in junior high school, changing to tenor saxophone when he entered high school. He took up the double bass at 18, in the summer before he entered college, when he learned a string instrument was required for music education majors. About three months into his studies at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York, LaFaro decided to concentrate on bass. He often played in groups at the College Spa and Joe's Restaurant on State Street in downtown Ithaca.
LaFaro entered college to study music but left during the early weeks of his sophomore year, when he joined Buddy Morrow and his big band. He left that organization in Los Angeles after a cross-country tour and decided to try his luck in the Los Angeles music scene. There, he quickly found work and became known as one of the best of the young bassists. LaFaro was vigorously disciplined, spending most of his days practicing his instrument. He practiced using a clarinet book to improve his facility. Bassist Red Mitchell also taught LaFaro how to pluck the strings with both the index and middle fingers independently, which also furthered his development. LaFaro spent much of 1958 in pianist/percussionist Victor Feldman's band.
In 1959, after many gigs with such luminaries as Chet Baker, Stan Kenton, Cal Tjader, and Benny Goodman, LaFaro moved back east and joined Bill Evans, who had recently left the Miles Davis Sextet. It was with Evans and drummer Paul Motian that LaFaro developed and expanded the counter-melodic style that would come to characterize his playing. Evans, LaFaro, and Motian committed to the idea of three equal voices in the trio, collectively working together organically towards a singular musical idea, often without the time being explicitly stated. LaFaro's prodigious technique on bass made this concept possible.
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