Gary Peacock

An adventurous and explosive bassist, Gary Peacock has been a topflight player since the '60s. He worked with such different and dynamic personalities as Bill Evans, Jimmy Giuffre, George Russell and Albert Ayler as well as Miles Davis. His tone, time and skills have enabled Peacock to thrive in any situation. He began playing piano and drums at 13, then started on bass in 1956 while stationed in Germany during his time in the army. Peacock worked with such musicians as Bud Shank, Atilla Zoller, Bob Cooper and Albert Mangelsdorff after his discharge, then moved to Los Angeles in 1958. He played and recorded there with Barney Kessel, Clare Fischer, Don Ellis and Paul Bley. Peacock moved to New York in the early '60s, and joined Evans' trio in 1962. He played with him in '62 and '63, then rejoined Paul Bley for a time and also played with Giuffre and George Russell. Peacock toured and played with Davis and Ayler in 1964, and recorded frequently the remainder of the '60s with Ayler, while also working briefly again with Davis and recording with Bley in 1967 and 1970. Peacock moved to Japan in 1969, and recorded with Sadao Watanabe, Masabumi Kikuchi and various visiting American musicians. He came back to America in 1972, and studied biology at the University of Washington from 1972 to 1976. Peacock made a return visit to Japan in 1976 touring with Bley and Barry Altschul, then began recording as a leader in 1977. He did several dates for ECM, and in the '80s and '90s has been a prolific sideman. Peacock's been part of Keith Jarrett's regular trio throughout the '80s and '90s, and has recorded a number of sessions including 1993's Bye Bye Blackbird: A Tribute to Miles Davis. Peacock's also featured on recent CDs by Paul Bley and has a couple of his own dates available as well. ~ Ron Wynn and Michael G. Nastos