Essiet Essiet

Essiet Okon Essiet (born September 1, 1956) is an American jazz double bassist. He is the leader of the group "Intercontinental Bush Orchestra", founded in 1995.^[1]

Biography

Essiet's parents were Nigerian immigrants to the United States.^[2] Born in Omaha, Nebraska, he studied violin as a child, then learned both bass guitar and stand-up bass as a high schooler in Portland, Oregon. After attending Mount Hood Community College, he played briefly in Los Angeles before working in Europe during the early 1980s with fellow American jazz musician Famoudou Don Moye. In 1983 he moved to New York City, playing with Abdullah Ibrahim, Art Blakey, Marty Cook, and Ralph Peterson Jr.

Essiet Essiet has had many collaborations, including with George Adams, Ron Affif, Kenny Barron, the Blue Note All-Stars, Paul Bollenback, Donald Brown, Bruce Cox, Kurt Elling, Kenny Garrett, Benny Golson, Jim Hartog, David Hazeltine, Freddie Hubbard, Victor Jones, Joe Locke, Kevin Mahogany, Cedar Walton, and Bobby Watson.

Discography

With Bluesiana Triangle (Dr. John and David "Fathead" Newman)

• Bluesiana Triangle (Windham Hill, 1990)
• Bluesiana II (Windham Hill, 1991)

With George Cables

• My Muse (HighNote, 2012)
• In Good Company (HighNote, 2015)
• The George Cables Songbook (HighNote, 2016)

With Vincent Herring

• Ends and Means (HighNote, 2006)

With Frank Morgan

• Reflections (HighNote, 2006)

With Benny Powell

• Nextep (Origin, 2008)

References

1. "Official website of jazz bassist Essiet Okon Essiet". ESSIET OKON ESSIET, Jazz Bass. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
2. Lara Pellegrinelli, "Essiet Essiet". The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. 2nd edition, ed. Barry Kernfeld.