Celebrating Jimmie Blanton

Jimmie Blanton, 1939, Christian Bonnet Collection

Celebrating the birthday of bassist Jimmie Blanton (Oct. 5, 1918 – July 30, 1942) with a rarity from the Charles Mingus Collection: Mingus’ personal transcription of Blanton’s famous “Jack The Bear” solo, recorded with the Duke Ellington Orchestra in 1940.

“Jack The Bear” bass transcription, notated by Charles Mingus. Charles Mingus Collection, Library of Congress.

Although his time in the Ellington Orchestra was brief, Blanton’s role in this group was so influential that the era has been dubbed “the Blanton-Webster band” (tenor saxophonist Ben Webster being the other namesake). Blanton’s recordings are still studied and admired by aspiring bassists today for redefining the role of the bass.

Thirteen years after “Jack The Bear”, Mingus followed in Blanton’s footsteps by joining the Duke Ellington Orchestra.

LISTEN: Duke Ellington Orchestra (with Mingus on bass) performs “In A Mellow Tone” (a song debuted by the Blanton-Webster band in 1940). WMGM Radio Broadcast, Feb. 4, 1953, the Band Box, New York, NY.