Lisle Atkinson
Lisle Arthur Atkinson (sometimes "Lysle") (born September 16, 1940, New York, NY; died March 25, 2019, New York, NY) was an American jazz 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, and after graduating worked as Nina Simone'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 from 1969 to 1971, and in the 1970s worked with Kenny Burrell, George Coleman, Andrew Cyrille, Maynard Ferguson, Dizzy Gillespie, John Gordon, Jon Hendricks, Helen Humes, Hank Jones, Wynton Kelly, Howard McGhee, Horace Parlan, Hazel Scott, Norman Simmons, Frank Strozier, Billy Taylor, Clark Terry, Stanley Turrentine, and Richard Wyands.
In 1983, Atkinson formed his own group, the Neo-Bass Ensemble, which included five bassists, together with Paul H. Brown, a pianist, and Al Harewood on drums. In the 1980s Atkinson also played with Benny Carter, Lee Konitz, Grover Mitchell, Joe Newman, Dakota Staton, and Ernie Wilkins. Among his associations in the 1990s and 2000s were Barry Harris, Leroy Williams, Jeanne Lee, and Sir Charles Thompson.
Discography
With Kenny Burrell
- Prime: Live at the Downtown Room (HighNote, 1976 [2009])
With Benny Carter
- Cookin' at Carlos I (MusicMasters, 1988 [1990])
- Harlem Renaissance (MusicMasters, 1992)
With Betty Carter
- Finally, Betty Carter (Roulette, 1969 [1975])
- Round Midnight (Roulette, 1969 [1975])
- Betty Carter at the Village Vanguard (Bet-Car/Verve, 1970)
With Walt Dickerson
- Peace (SteepleChase, 1975)
With Horace Parlan
- Frank-ly Speaking (SteepleChase, 1977)
With Nina Simone
- Nina Simone at Carnegie Hall (Phillips, 1963)
- Nina Simone in Concert (Philips, 1964)
- Broadway-Blues-Ballads (Philips, 1964)
- Pastel Blues (Philips, 1965)
- Let It All Out (Philips, 1966)
- Wild Is the Wind (Phillips, 1966)
With Frank Strozier
- Remember Me (SteepleChase, 1976)
References
- Lara Pellegrinelli, "Lisle Atkinson". The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. 2nd edition, ed. Barry Kernfeld.