Celebrating Oscar Pettiford (Sept. 30, 1922 – Sept. 8, 1960)

the new oscar pettiford sextet, Debut Records, recorded Dec. 29, 1953

Celebrating the great bassist, cellist, and composer Oscar Pettiford! Pettiford was born on today’s date, September 30, in the year 1922 in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. His mother was of Choctaw descent, and his father was of African American and Cherokee descent. Together with the other Pettiford siblings, they formed a family band and eventually settled in Minneapolis. Pettiford was proficient on the bass by age 14 and had impressed Milt Hinton. By Pettiford’s early 20s he was becoming a fixture on the New York scene, jamming with Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, and others at the famed Minton’s Playhouse. Pettiford is frequently cited as one of the founding figures of bebop, and one of the most influential bassists. Pettiford is also credited as a pioneer of the use of cello in modern jazz.

Charles Mingus, a fellow bassist and cellist, was among those impressed by Pettiford, and recorded with him in the early 1950s, first for Royal Roost records, then for Mingus’ Debut label. In both instances Mingus played bass while Pettiford played cello. After Pettiford’s untimely passing in 1960, Mingus dedicated a song to Pettiford’s son, Oscar Pettiford Junior, titled “O.P.” (sometimes called “O.P. O.P.,” or “O.P. Jr.”)

1: disc label, Oscar Pettiford, “Ah-Dee-Dong Blues”, single for Royal Roost records (featuring Charles Mingus on bass)
2: My Little Cello, Oscar Pettiford, Debut DEB-132
3: drum part, “O.P.” by Charles Mingus, unknown arranger, copyist, performance.
4: “Oscar Pettiford” aka “O.P.” by Charles Mingus, one of the movements of Epitaph.