Lorraine Geller

Lorraine Winifred Geller (née Walsh; September 11, 1928 – October 13, 1958) was an American jazz pianist.

Lorraine Geller
Born	Lorraine Winifred Walsh September 11, 1928 Portland, Oregon, United States
Died	October 13, 1958 (aged 30) Los Angeles, California
Occupation	Musician
Spouse(s)	Herb Geller (m. 1951-1958; her death)
Children	1

Geller was born in Portland, Oregon on September 11, 1928.[1] She started out with the all-female big band Sweethearts of Rhythm, based in New York.[2] She met saxophonist Herb Geller, and married him in 1951.[1] Together they moved to Los Angeles, where they played with many of the stalwarts of the West Coast jazz scene, such as Shorty Rogers, Zoot Sims, Stan Getz, and Red Mitchell; she also did sessions with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.[1] In 1957, she accompanied Kay Starr.[1] The following year, she concentrated on bringing up her daughter, so did not often perform,[2] but she did play at the first Monterey Jazz Festival.[1] On October 13, 1958, Lorraine Geller died in Los Angeles; this has been attributed to heart failure[1] or pulmonary infection.[2]

Discography

As leader/co-leader

• The Gellers, Mercury (EmArcy, 1955)[2]
• Lorraine Geller at the Piano, Dot

As sidewoman

with Maynard Ferguson

• Around the Horn with Maynard Ferguson (EmArcy, 1956)

with Herb Geller

• Herb Geller plays, Mercury (also Verve 1996, with Leroy Vinnegar bass, Larance Marable percussion)
• The Herb Geller Sextette, Mercury (with e.g. Conte Candoli, Red Mitchell, 1955)

with Red Mitchell

• Presenting Red Mitchell (Contemporary, 1957)[2]

with others

• Chet Baker, Miles Davis - Complete performances with Lighthouse All Stars, Jazz Factory 2004

References

1. Yanow, Scott. "Lorraine Geller". AllMusic. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
2. McCord, Kimberly; Kernfeld, Barry (2003), Geller [née Walsh], Lorraine (Winifred), Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.J165700