Question

Which Swing Era bassist does this describe? Not a show-off player; led an important small group that prefigured the cool style of the 1950s that featured his wife and singer Maxine Sullivan.

a) Slam Stewart.
b) John Kirby.
c) Walter Page.
d) Israel Crosby.

Answer 1

The Swing Era bassist who led an important small group and wasn't a show-off player was John Kirby. His group, which included his wife Maxine Sullivan, prefigured the cool jazz style of the 1950s.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Swing Era bassist being described is John Kirby. Kirby was known for his refined and understated bass playing and for leading the John Kirby Sextet, an influential small group in the late 1930s and early 1940s. This group was significant because it played tightly arranged pieces that set the stage for the cooler styles of jazz that became popular in the 1950s, which was markedly different from the hot swing that was prevalent during his time. Indeed, Kirby's band featured his wife, the talented singer Maxine Sullivan, contributing to the unique sound of the group that combined classical precision with jazz swing, thus anticipating the cool jazz movement.