Lonnie Plaxico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lonnie Plaxico
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Lonnie Luvell Plaxico |
| Born | September 4, 1960 Chicago, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Double bass |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Labels | Muse |
Lonnie Plaxico (born September 4, 1960) is an American jazz musician. He is famous for playing the double bass, which is a very large string instrument. Lonnie has played with many legendary jazz artists throughout his career.
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Lonnie Plaxico's Early Life and Music
Lonnie Plaxico was born in Chicago, a big city in the U.S. He grew up in a family that loved music. Lonnie started playing the bass when he was just twelve years old. By the time he was fourteen, he was already playing music professionally. He played both the double bass and the bass guitar.
His very first recording was with his own family's band. When he turned twenty, Lonnie moved to New York City. This city is a famous place for musicians. There, he played with many jazz legends. These included Chet Baker, Dexter Gordon, and Hank Jones. In 1978, Lonnie won the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award. This was a big honor for a young musician.
Lonnie's Rise to Jazz Fame
Lonnie Plaxico first became widely known in 1982. He joined a group led by the famous trumpet player Wynton Marsalis. Soon after, from 1983 to 1986, he became a regular member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. This was a very important jazz band. With them, Lonnie recorded twelve different albums. This helped him become a well-known name in jazz.
In the middle of the 1980s, Lonnie joined a group called the M-Base collective. This group was known for its new and different jazz sounds. He played on the first albums of Steve Coleman and Greg Osby. He also played on Cassandra Wilson's album, Point of View. Lonnie has worked with Cassandra Wilson for over 15 years. He is her band's musical director and main bassist.
In 1986, another famous drummer, Jack DeJohnette, started his band Special Edition again. Lonnie Plaxico joined this band as the bassist. The band made three albums together. Lonnie played with them until 1993.
Collaborations with Jazz Greats
Lonnie Plaxico has played and recorded with many other amazing artists. He has worked with Dizzy Gillespie, who was a trumpet genius. He also played with Alice Coltrane and Stanley Turrentine. Other artists include Andrew Hill, Joe Sample, and Abbey Lincoln. Lonnie has even performed with the famous comedian Bill Cosby. His collaborations show how talented and versatile he is.
Lonnie Plaxico's Albums
Lonnie Plaxico has released many albums as a band leader. This means he was in charge of the music. Here are some of his albums:
- 1989: Plaxico
- 1990: Iridescence
- 1992: Short Takes
- 1993: With All Your Heart
- 2000: Emergence
- 2001: Mélange
- 2002: Live at the 5:01 Jazz Bar
- 2003: Rhythm and Soul
- 2004: Live at Jazz Standard
- 2006: So Alive
- 2006: West Side Stories
- 2007: Live at the Zinc Bar NYC
- 2009: Ancestral Devotion
Lonnie Plaxico continues to be an active and important musician in the jazz world.
