Eddie Gomez

A super bassist, Eddie Gomez's brillant upper register displays, amazing lines and runs, as well as his melodic adventurousness have been featured in many bands, notably the 11 years he backed Bill Evans. Although born in Puerto Rico, Gomez's family came to New York early in his childhood. He started on bass at 12, and joined The Newport Jazz Festival Band at 14. Gomez attended the High School of Music and Art, then studied with Fred Zimmerman at Juilliard and was in Marshall Brown's International Youth Band. Gomez played with Gary McFarland, Jim Hall, Giuseppi Logan, Rufus Jones, Marian McPartland, Paul Bley, Jeremy Steig and Gerry Mulligan in the early '60s. The year-long stint with Bley was especially critical; Gomez expanded his ideas about the range and style of his playing, which helped prepare him for the decade-plus experience of working with Evans. He joined Steps Ahead after leaving Evans, and played and recorded with Benny Wallace in the late '70s and Jack DeJohnette, Hank Jones and Joanne Brackeen in the '80s. He's recorded as a co-leader with Lee Konitz for Milestone, and with Evans for Fantasy. Gomez has also done a session as sole leader for Denon. It's the only date featuring him available on CD, though he can also be heard on CD reissues by Evans and more recent dates from Wallace, Jones, Brackeen and Steps Ahead.