Jimmy Wormworth facts for kids
James Edward Wormworth III, often called Jimmy Wormworth, is a talented American jazz drummer. He was born on August 14, 1937, in Utica, New York. A famous jazz writer, Leonard Feather, once said in 1960 that Jimmy was "one of the most promising young drummers" in New York. Jimmy is also the father of two other musicians: drummer James Wormworth and bassist Tracy Wormworth.
Contents
A Life in Jazz
Early Life and Music
Jimmy Wormworth grew up in Utica, New York. His father, James Wormworth II, was also a jazz drummer and pianist. Jimmy started learning drums in 1947 when he was just 10 years old. He began playing music professionally in upstate New York even before he was 20.
Touring and Collaborations
In 1956 and 1957, Jimmy traveled to Europe with American music groups. He then toured with singer Nellie Lutcher starting in 1958. He also worked with groups like Les Jazz Modes and famous musicians such as Lou Donaldson and Phineas Newborn from 1958 to 1959.
From January to May 1959, Jimmy played in the house band at a famous New York club called the Five Spot with Mal Waldron. In October 1959, he began touring with the well-known vocal group Lambert, Hendricks and Ross.
Later Career and Teaching
Jimmy Wormworth recorded many albums as a "sideman," which means he played drums for other artists' recordings. He played with Charlie Rouse, Julius Watkins, Lou Donaldson, Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, and Jon Hendricks in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Later, in the 1970s, he recorded with jazz legends like Al Haig, J. R. Monterose, Allen Eager, and Hod O'Brien. In the 2000s, he continued to record with artists such as Annie Ross, Tardo Hammer, Charles Davis, and Joe Haider.
Jimmy started working with pianist Al Haig in 1969 and played with him regularly until Haig passed away in 1982. In 2012, Jimmy taught special music classes and workshops at the Konservatorium Wien in Austria. He was also featured in a 2012 documentary film called No One but Me, which was about the jazz singer Annie Ross.
Selected Recordings
Jimmy Wormworth has played drums on many jazz albums. Here are some of the artists he recorded with:
- With Charlie Rouse and Julius Watkins on The Jazz Modes (1958)
- With Lou Donaldson on Light-Foot (1958)
- With Lambert, Hendricks & Ross on Lambert, Hendricks & Ross Sing Ellington (1960)
- With Al Haig on Serendipity (1977)
- With J. R. Monterose on Welcome Back, J.R! (1979)
- With Annie Ross on Let Me Sing (2005)
