Rocco Scott LaFaro (April 3, 1936 – July 6, 1961) was an influential American jazzdouble bassist, perhaps best known for his seminal work with the Bill Evans Trio.
Early life
Born in Irvington, New Jersey, LaFaro grew up in a musical family (his father played in many big bands). His family moved to his parents' hometown of Geneva, New York when Scott was five years old. He started on piano while in elementary school, began on the bass clarinet in junior high school, changing to tenor saxophone when he entered high school. He took up the double bass at 18, in the summer before he entered college, when he learned a string instrument was required for music education majors. About three months into his studies at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York, LaFaro decided to concentrate on bass. He often played in groups at the College Spa and Joe's Restaurant on State Street in downtown Ithaca.
Later life and career
LaFaro entered college to study music but left during the early weeks of his sophomore year, when he joined Buddy Morrow and his big band. He left that organization in Los Angeles after a cross-country tour and decided to try his luck in the Los Angeles music scene. There, he quickly found work and became known as one of the best of the young bassists. LaFaro was vigorously disciplined, spending most of his days practicing his instrument. He practiced using a clarinet book to improve his facility. Bassist Red Mitchell also taught LaFaro how to pluck the strings with both the index and middle fingers independently, which also furthered his development. LaFaro spent much of 1958 in pianist/percussionist Victor Feldman's band.
Scott LaFaro Live Performance Video 1958 - 2 Songs, Best Quality Sound
The only known live footage of jazz legend Scott LaFaro, performing with the Richie Kamuca Quintet on the KABC TV Show "Stars of Jazz," April 7 1958.
This footage includes significantly improved audio compared to other publicly available clips.
"The things LaFaro did in-between piano phrases and across the time were phenomenal and made a deep impression on me. It was a conceptual thing; he served as a melodic counter-voice to everything else that was happening. He wasn’t walking all the time in 4/4, yet he had a real groove with Bill and Paul Motian.
When they played ballads, the groove would go from first gear to second gear and back to first gear with an implication of double-time and other meters. He played with ideas that went over the bar line and obfuscated the one. His approach w...
published: 09 Nov 2019
Scott LaFaro - The Legendary Scott LaFaro - Blackeyed peas
A1 Making Whoopee 0:00 A2 In Your Own Sweet Way 5:32 A3 Onilisor 10:40 A4 Come Rain Or Shine 14:55 B1 Blackeyed Peas 20:37 B2 I Could Have Danced All Night 24:10 B3 Yesterdays 27:43 B4 Blues 32:18.
A1 Making Whoopee 0:00 A2 In Your Own Sweet Way 5:32 A3 Onilisor 10:40 A4 Come Rain Or Shine 14:55 B1 Blackeyed Peas 20:37 B2 I Could Have Danced . The recordings on this CD precede.
jazz.
Scott Lafaro Doublebass
Sasa Top.
published: 27 Dec 2017
Scott LaFaro's Melodic Genius Explained (On HIS Bass!!)
Thanks to the International Society of Bassists for lending me Scott LaFaro's bass and making this video possible. Additional s/o to Kolstein in Manhattan, NY for providing a home for this instrument.
In this video, I break down my favorite 3 examples of Scott LaFaro's bass playing, and his impact on the history of jazz bass.
01:08 Solar
10:20 Nardis
16:58 I Love You
https://www.patreon.com/coledavismusic
published: 19 Feb 2022
Scott LaFaro with the Bill Evans Trio at the Village Vanguard - My Man's Gone Now
Bill Evans Trio at the Village Vanguard - My Man's Gone Now
Scott LaFaro (April 3, 1936 – July 6, 1961) was the bass player in Bill Evans's first great trio. He died in an automobile accident just ten days after making this recording with the Bill Evans Trio at the Village Vanguard.
published: 03 Apr 2015
No.68 Walking Bass Transcription - My Foolish Heart / Scott LaFaro
Bill Evans Trio - Waltz For Debby
My Foolish Heart
Bill Evans – piano
Scott LaFaro – bass
Paul Motian – drums
モリタカ雪
https://www.mori-takayuki.com/general-5
Pick up Mic - MSP
Strings - Daddario Helicore zyex
Line Recording
published: 14 Oct 2023
Scott LaFaro - Gloria's Step (Take 1)
Commemorating 59 years since the death of Scott LaFaro.
Bass: Scott LaFaro
Piano: Bill Evans
Drums: Paul Motian
Composer: Scott LaFaro
Problems in the audio 1:07-1:08.
I highly recommend you to listen to the second take: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rARGPAkIcw4&feature=share
published: 07 Jul 2020
Bill Evans & Scott LaFaro Rehearsing My Foolish Heart 1960
A real rarity:
Bill & Scott rehearsing probably Autumn 1960. Playing & talking through some changes.
Bill Evans: piano
Scott LaFaro: bass
Also here's Scott playing at 400 BMP with Victor Feldman & Stan Levey:
https://youtu.be/Ih0QHvS1YoQ
Mind bogglingly BURNIN" !!!!
published: 08 Apr 2023
Scott Lafaro Bass Line & Solo Transcription / HIP (Bb Blues)
Full Chorus Transcription
HIP / Hampton Hawes
from album For Real! (1961)
Personnel
Hampton Hawes - piano
Harold Land - tenor saxophone
Scott LaFaro - bass
Frank Butler - drums
Recorded in 1958
PDF file
https://www.iidamasaharu.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/HIPBlues_Bb_ScottLaFaro.pdf
published: 24 May 2021
On Green Dolphin Street
Provided to YouTube by Xelon Entertainment
On Green Dolphin Street · Scott LaFaro
1961
℗ 2020 Down Home
Released on: 2020-11-20
Auto-generated by YouTube.
published: 22 Jun 2022
George Clabin interviews Bill Evans about Scott LaFaro in 1966
George Clabin interviews Bill Evans about Scott LaFaro in 1966
The only known live footage of jazz legend Scott LaFaro, performing with the Richie Kamuca Quintet on the KABC TV Show "Stars of Jazz," April 7 1958.
This foot...
The only known live footage of jazz legend Scott LaFaro, performing with the Richie Kamuca Quintet on the KABC TV Show "Stars of Jazz," April 7 1958.
This footage includes significantly improved audio compared to other publicly available clips.
"The things LaFaro did in-between piano phrases and across the time were phenomenal and made a deep impression on me. It was a conceptual thing; he served as a melodic counter-voice to everything else that was happening. He wasn’t walking all the time in 4/4, yet he had a real groove with Bill and Paul Motian.
When they played ballads, the groove would go from first gear to second gear and back to first gear with an implication of double-time and other meters. He played with ideas that went over the bar line and obfuscated the one. His approach was truly creative and beautiful.” - Marc Johnson (bassist with Bill Evans Trio 1978-1980)
"Hearing LaFaro improvise with the Bill Evans Trio makes clear what the bass has become through its second emancipation: a kind of super-dimensional, low-register “flamenco guitar,” whose sound has so many diverse possibilities as would have been thought impossible for the bass only a short time before, but which still (when there is demand for it) fulfills the traditional functions of the bass." - Joachim Berendt, The Jazz Book; from New Orleans to Rock and Free Jazz (1975)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_LaFaro
The only known live footage of jazz legend Scott LaFaro, performing with the Richie Kamuca Quintet on the KABC TV Show "Stars of Jazz," April 7 1958.
This footage includes significantly improved audio compared to other publicly available clips.
"The things LaFaro did in-between piano phrases and across the time were phenomenal and made a deep impression on me. It was a conceptual thing; he served as a melodic counter-voice to everything else that was happening. He wasn’t walking all the time in 4/4, yet he had a real groove with Bill and Paul Motian.
When they played ballads, the groove would go from first gear to second gear and back to first gear with an implication of double-time and other meters. He played with ideas that went over the bar line and obfuscated the one. His approach was truly creative and beautiful.” - Marc Johnson (bassist with Bill Evans Trio 1978-1980)
"Hearing LaFaro improvise with the Bill Evans Trio makes clear what the bass has become through its second emancipation: a kind of super-dimensional, low-register “flamenco guitar,” whose sound has so many diverse possibilities as would have been thought impossible for the bass only a short time before, but which still (when there is demand for it) fulfills the traditional functions of the bass." - Joachim Berendt, The Jazz Book; from New Orleans to Rock and Free Jazz (1975)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_LaFaro
A1 Making Whoopee 0:00 A2 In Your Own Sweet Way 5:32 A3 Onilisor 10:40 A4 Come Rain Or Shine 14:55 B1 Blackeyed Peas 20:37 B2 I Could Have Danced All Night 24:1...
A1 Making Whoopee 0:00 A2 In Your Own Sweet Way 5:32 A3 Onilisor 10:40 A4 Come Rain Or Shine 14:55 B1 Blackeyed Peas 20:37 B2 I Could Have Danced All Night 24:10 B3 Yesterdays 27:43 B4 Blues 32:18.
A1 Making Whoopee 0:00 A2 In Your Own Sweet Way 5:32 A3 Onilisor 10:40 A4 Come Rain Or Shine 14:55 B1 Blackeyed Peas 20:37 B2 I Could Have Danced . The recordings on this CD precede.
jazz.
Scott Lafaro Doublebass
Sasa Top.
A1 Making Whoopee 0:00 A2 In Your Own Sweet Way 5:32 A3 Onilisor 10:40 A4 Come Rain Or Shine 14:55 B1 Blackeyed Peas 20:37 B2 I Could Have Danced All Night 24:10 B3 Yesterdays 27:43 B4 Blues 32:18.
A1 Making Whoopee 0:00 A2 In Your Own Sweet Way 5:32 A3 Onilisor 10:40 A4 Come Rain Or Shine 14:55 B1 Blackeyed Peas 20:37 B2 I Could Have Danced . The recordings on this CD precede.
jazz.
Scott Lafaro Doublebass
Sasa Top.
Thanks to the International Society of Bassists for lending me Scott LaFaro's bass and making this video possible. Additional s/o to Kolstein in Manhattan, NY f...
Thanks to the International Society of Bassists for lending me Scott LaFaro's bass and making this video possible. Additional s/o to Kolstein in Manhattan, NY for providing a home for this instrument.
In this video, I break down my favorite 3 examples of Scott LaFaro's bass playing, and his impact on the history of jazz bass.
01:08 Solar
10:20 Nardis
16:58 I Love You
https://www.patreon.com/coledavismusic
Thanks to the International Society of Bassists for lending me Scott LaFaro's bass and making this video possible. Additional s/o to Kolstein in Manhattan, NY for providing a home for this instrument.
In this video, I break down my favorite 3 examples of Scott LaFaro's bass playing, and his impact on the history of jazz bass.
01:08 Solar
10:20 Nardis
16:58 I Love You
https://www.patreon.com/coledavismusic
Bill Evans Trio at the Village Vanguard - My Man's Gone Now
Scott LaFaro (April 3, 1936 – July 6, 1961) was the bass player in Bill Evans's first great tri...
Bill Evans Trio at the Village Vanguard - My Man's Gone Now
Scott LaFaro (April 3, 1936 – July 6, 1961) was the bass player in Bill Evans's first great trio. He died in an automobile accident just ten days after making this recording with the Bill Evans Trio at the Village Vanguard.
Bill Evans Trio at the Village Vanguard - My Man's Gone Now
Scott LaFaro (April 3, 1936 – July 6, 1961) was the bass player in Bill Evans's first great trio. He died in an automobile accident just ten days after making this recording with the Bill Evans Trio at the Village Vanguard.
Bill Evans Trio - Waltz For Debby
My Foolish Heart
Bill Evans – piano
Scott LaFaro – bass
Paul Motian – drums
モリタカ雪
https://www.mori-takayuki.com/general-5
Pi...
Bill Evans Trio - Waltz For Debby
My Foolish Heart
Bill Evans – piano
Scott LaFaro – bass
Paul Motian – drums
モリタカ雪
https://www.mori-takayuki.com/general-5
Pick up Mic - MSP
Strings - Daddario Helicore zyex
Line Recording
Bill Evans Trio - Waltz For Debby
My Foolish Heart
Bill Evans – piano
Scott LaFaro – bass
Paul Motian – drums
モリタカ雪
https://www.mori-takayuki.com/general-5
Pick up Mic - MSP
Strings - Daddario Helicore zyex
Line Recording
Commemorating 59 years since the death of Scott LaFaro.
Bass: Scott LaFaro
Piano: Bill Evans
Drums: Paul Motian
Composer: Scott LaFaro
Problems in the audio 1:0...
Commemorating 59 years since the death of Scott LaFaro.
Bass: Scott LaFaro
Piano: Bill Evans
Drums: Paul Motian
Composer: Scott LaFaro
Problems in the audio 1:07-1:08.
I highly recommend you to listen to the second take: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rARGPAkIcw4&feature=share
Commemorating 59 years since the death of Scott LaFaro.
Bass: Scott LaFaro
Piano: Bill Evans
Drums: Paul Motian
Composer: Scott LaFaro
Problems in the audio 1:07-1:08.
I highly recommend you to listen to the second take: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rARGPAkIcw4&feature=share
A real rarity:
Bill & Scott rehearsing probably Autumn 1960. Playing & talking through some changes.
Bill Evans: piano
Scott LaFaro: bass
Also here's Scott pla...
A real rarity:
Bill & Scott rehearsing probably Autumn 1960. Playing & talking through some changes.
Bill Evans: piano
Scott LaFaro: bass
Also here's Scott playing at 400 BMP with Victor Feldman & Stan Levey:
https://youtu.be/Ih0QHvS1YoQ
Mind bogglingly BURNIN" !!!!
A real rarity:
Bill & Scott rehearsing probably Autumn 1960. Playing & talking through some changes.
Bill Evans: piano
Scott LaFaro: bass
Also here's Scott playing at 400 BMP with Victor Feldman & Stan Levey:
https://youtu.be/Ih0QHvS1YoQ
Mind bogglingly BURNIN" !!!!
Full Chorus Transcription
HIP / Hampton Hawes
from album For Real! (1961)
Personnel
Hampton Hawes - piano
Harold Land - tenor saxophone
Scott LaFaro - bass
Fr...
Full Chorus Transcription
HIP / Hampton Hawes
from album For Real! (1961)
Personnel
Hampton Hawes - piano
Harold Land - tenor saxophone
Scott LaFaro - bass
Frank Butler - drums
Recorded in 1958
PDF file
https://www.iidamasaharu.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/HIPBlues_Bb_ScottLaFaro.pdf
Full Chorus Transcription
HIP / Hampton Hawes
from album For Real! (1961)
Personnel
Hampton Hawes - piano
Harold Land - tenor saxophone
Scott LaFaro - bass
Frank Butler - drums
Recorded in 1958
PDF file
https://www.iidamasaharu.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/HIPBlues_Bb_ScottLaFaro.pdf
Provided to YouTube by Xelon Entertainment
On Green Dolphin Street · Scott LaFaro
1961
℗ 2020 Down Home
Released on: 2020-11-20
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by Xelon Entertainment
On Green Dolphin Street · Scott LaFaro
1961
℗ 2020 Down Home
Released on: 2020-11-20
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by Xelon Entertainment
On Green Dolphin Street · Scott LaFaro
1961
℗ 2020 Down Home
Released on: 2020-11-20
Auto-generated by YouTube.
The only known live footage of jazz legend Scott LaFaro, performing with the Richie Kamuca Quintet on the KABC TV Show "Stars of Jazz," April 7 1958.
This footage includes significantly improved audio compared to other publicly available clips.
"The things LaFaro did in-between piano phrases and across the time were phenomenal and made a deep impression on me. It was a conceptual thing; he served as a melodic counter-voice to everything else that was happening. He wasn’t walking all the time in 4/4, yet he had a real groove with Bill and Paul Motian.
When they played ballads, the groove would go from first gear to second gear and back to first gear with an implication of double-time and other meters. He played with ideas that went over the bar line and obfuscated the one. His approach was truly creative and beautiful.” - Marc Johnson (bassist with Bill Evans Trio 1978-1980)
"Hearing LaFaro improvise with the Bill Evans Trio makes clear what the bass has become through its second emancipation: a kind of super-dimensional, low-register “flamenco guitar,” whose sound has so many diverse possibilities as would have been thought impossible for the bass only a short time before, but which still (when there is demand for it) fulfills the traditional functions of the bass." - Joachim Berendt, The Jazz Book; from New Orleans to Rock and Free Jazz (1975)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_LaFaro
A1 Making Whoopee 0:00 A2 In Your Own Sweet Way 5:32 A3 Onilisor 10:40 A4 Come Rain Or Shine 14:55 B1 Blackeyed Peas 20:37 B2 I Could Have Danced All Night 24:10 B3 Yesterdays 27:43 B4 Blues 32:18.
A1 Making Whoopee 0:00 A2 In Your Own Sweet Way 5:32 A3 Onilisor 10:40 A4 Come Rain Or Shine 14:55 B1 Blackeyed Peas 20:37 B2 I Could Have Danced . The recordings on this CD precede.
jazz.
Scott Lafaro Doublebass
Sasa Top.
Thanks to the International Society of Bassists for lending me Scott LaFaro's bass and making this video possible. Additional s/o to Kolstein in Manhattan, NY for providing a home for this instrument.
In this video, I break down my favorite 3 examples of Scott LaFaro's bass playing, and his impact on the history of jazz bass.
01:08 Solar
10:20 Nardis
16:58 I Love You
https://www.patreon.com/coledavismusic
Bill Evans Trio at the Village Vanguard - My Man's Gone Now
Scott LaFaro (April 3, 1936 – July 6, 1961) was the bass player in Bill Evans's first great trio. He died in an automobile accident just ten days after making this recording with the Bill Evans Trio at the Village Vanguard.
Bill Evans Trio - Waltz For Debby
My Foolish Heart
Bill Evans – piano
Scott LaFaro – bass
Paul Motian – drums
モリタカ雪
https://www.mori-takayuki.com/general-5
Pick up Mic - MSP
Strings - Daddario Helicore zyex
Line Recording
Commemorating 59 years since the death of Scott LaFaro.
Bass: Scott LaFaro
Piano: Bill Evans
Drums: Paul Motian
Composer: Scott LaFaro
Problems in the audio 1:07-1:08.
I highly recommend you to listen to the second take: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rARGPAkIcw4&feature=share
A real rarity:
Bill & Scott rehearsing probably Autumn 1960. Playing & talking through some changes.
Bill Evans: piano
Scott LaFaro: bass
Also here's Scott playing at 400 BMP with Victor Feldman & Stan Levey:
https://youtu.be/Ih0QHvS1YoQ
Mind bogglingly BURNIN" !!!!
Full Chorus Transcription
HIP / Hampton Hawes
from album For Real! (1961)
Personnel
Hampton Hawes - piano
Harold Land - tenor saxophone
Scott LaFaro - bass
Frank Butler - drums
Recorded in 1958
PDF file
https://www.iidamasaharu.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/HIPBlues_Bb_ScottLaFaro.pdf
Provided to YouTube by Xelon Entertainment
On Green Dolphin Street · Scott LaFaro
1961
℗ 2020 Down Home
Released on: 2020-11-20
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Rocco Scott LaFaro (April 3, 1936 – July 6, 1961) was an influential American jazzdouble bassist, perhaps best known for his seminal work with the Bill Evans Trio.
Early life
Born in Irvington, New Jersey, LaFaro grew up in a musical family (his father played in many big bands). His family moved to his parents' hometown of Geneva, New York when Scott was five years old. He started on piano while in elementary school, began on the bass clarinet in junior high school, changing to tenor saxophone when he entered high school. He took up the double bass at 18, in the summer before he entered college, when he learned a string instrument was required for music education majors. About three months into his studies at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York, LaFaro decided to concentrate on bass. He often played in groups at the College Spa and Joe's Restaurant on State Street in downtown Ithaca.
Later life and career
LaFaro entered college to study music but left during the early weeks of his sophomore year, when he joined Buddy Morrow and his big band. He left that organization in Los Angeles after a cross-country tour and decided to try his luck in the Los Angeles music scene. There, he quickly found work and became known as one of the best of the young bassists. LaFaro was vigorously disciplined, spending most of his days practicing his instrument. He practiced using a clarinet book to improve his facility. Bassist Red Mitchell also taught LaFaro how to pluck the strings with both the index and middle fingers independently, which also furthered his development. LaFaro spent much of 1958 in pianist/percussionist Victor Feldman's band.