Lorraine Geller

Lorraine Winifred Geller (née Walsh; September 11, 1928 – October 13, 1958) was an American jazz pianist.

Lorraine Geller
Born	Lorraine Winifred Walsh September 11, 1928 Portland, Oregon, United States
Died	October 13, 1958(1958-10-13) (aged 30) Los Angeles, California
Occupation	Musician
Spouse	Herb Geller (m. 1951-1958; her death)
Children	1

Geller was born in Portland, Oregon on September 11, 1928.^[1] She started out with the all-female big band Sweethearts of Rhythm, based in New York.^[2] She met saxophonist Herb Geller, and married him in 1951.^[1] Together they moved to Los Angeles, where they played with many musicians on the West Coast jazz scene, such as Shorty Rogers, Zoot Sims, Stan Getz, and Red Mitchell; she also did sessions with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.^[1] In 1957, she accompanied Kay Starr.^[1] The following year, she concentrated on bringing up her daughter, so did not often perform,^[2] but she did play at the first Monterey Jazz Festival.^[1] On October 13, 1958, Lorraine Geller died in Los Angeles; this has been attributed to heart failure^[1] or pulmonary infection.^[2]

Discography

As leader/co-leader

• The Gellers (EmArcy, 1955)^[2]
• Lorraine Geller at the Piano (Dot, 1959, recorded 1954)

As sidewoman

With Maynard Ferguson

• Around the Horn with Maynard Ferguson (EmArcy, 1956)

With Herb Geller

• Herb Geller Plays (Emarcy, 1954) – with Leroy Vinnegar bass, Larance Marable percussion)
• The Herb Geller Sextette, Mercury (with e.g. Conte Candoli, Red Mitchell, 1955)

With Red Mitchell

• Presenting Red Mitchell (Contemporary, 1957)^[2]

With others

• Miles Davis At Last : Miles Davis And The Lighthouse All Stars (Contemporary, 1953 [1985])
• Chet Baker, Miles Davis Complete performances with Lighthouse All Stars (Jazz Factory, 2004) – Lorraine Geller only present on the Miles Davis tracks

References

1. Yanow, Scott. "Lorraine Geller". AllMusic. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
2. McCord, Kimberly; Kernfeld, Barry (2003), Geller [née Walsh], Lorraine (Winifred), Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.J165700