Walter Bishop Jr.

Walter Bishop Jr. (October 4, 1927 – January 24, 1998) was an American jazz pianist.

Early life

Bishop was born in New York City on October 4, 1927. He had at least two sisters, Marian and Beverly. His father was composer Walter Bishop Sr. In his teens, Bishop Jr.'s friends included future jazz musicians Kenny Drew, Sonny Rollins, and Art Taylor. He was brought up in Harlem. He left high school to play in dance bands in the area. In 1945–47 he was in the Army Air Corps. During his military service in 1947 Bishop was based near St Louis and met touring bebop musicians.

Later life and career

Later in 1947, he returned to New York. That year (or 1949) he was part of drummer Art Blakey's band for 14 weeks and recorded with them. Bishop developed his bebop playing in part by playing in jam sessions at Minton's Playhouse.

He recorded with Milt Jackson and Stan Getz in 1949, then played with Charlie Parker (1951–54), Oscar Pettiford, Kai Winding, and Miles Davis (1951–53). At this time he was also a drug addict, which led to imprisonment and the withdrawal of his New York City Cabaret Card. In 1956, he recorded with Hank Mobley. "At some point he became a Muslim and took the name Ibrahim ibn Ismail, but he did not use this publicly." In the early 1960s he also led his own trio with Jimmy Garrison and G. T. Hogan.

After studying at The Juilliard School with Hall Overton in the late 1960s, Bishop taught music theory at colleges in Los Angeles in the 1970s. At some point prior to moving from New York to Los Angeles, Bishop met and married the former Valerie Isabel Paul. They then moved to Los Angeles. According to an only son, Jay Blotcher, whom Mrs. Valerie Bishop gave up for adoption (not the son of Walter Bishop, Jr) after divorcing Bishop in the mid-70s, Valerie Bishop worked as an assistant for Ike and Tina Turner in California. Valerie Bishop is the person who is cited in the Tina Turner memoir "I, Tina" as the person who inspired Tina Turner to pursue Buddhism.

In the 1980s Bishop taught at the University of Hartford. By this time, he made frequent appearances at clubs and festivals in New York. He also wrote a book, A Study in Fourths, about jazz improvisation based on cycles of fourths and fifths. His debut recording as a leader was in the 1960s. He continued performing into the 1990s.

Death

Bishop died of a heart attack at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Manhattan on January 24, 1998. He was survived by his wife, Keiko, his mother, and two sisters.

Playing style

Bishop was influenced at an early stage by Bud Powell. Later, Bishop was "known for holding back on the beat, a device that added tension to the music."

Discography

As leader

Compilation

• 1965 The Walter Bishop Jr. Trio / 1965 (Prestige), compiles A Pair of "Naturals" and Summertime

As sideman

With Gene Ammons

• Up Tight! (Prestige, 1961)
• Boss Soul! (Prestige, 1961)

With Art Blakey

• Blakey (EmArcy, 1954)
• Art Blakey Big Band (Bethlehem, 1957)

With Rocky Boyd

• Ease It (Jazztime, 1961)

With Miles Davis

• Dig (Prestige, 1951)
• Collectors' Items (Prestige, 1956)

With Kenny Dorham

• Kenny Dorham Quintet (Debut, 1953)
• Inta Somethin' (Pacific Jazz, 1961)

With Curtis Fuller

• Boss of the Soul-Stream Trombone (Warwick, 1960)
• The Magnificent Trombone of Curtis Fuller (Epic, 1961)
• Fire and Filigree (Bee Hive, 1978)

With John Handy

• Jazz (Roulette, 1962)

With Bill Hardman

• Focus (Muse, 1980 [1984])
• Politely (Muse, 1981 [1982])

With Milt Jackson

• Meet Milt Jackson (Savoy, 1949)

With Ken McIntyre

• Looking Ahead (New Jazz, 1960)

With Jackie McLean

• Swing, Swang, Swingin' (Blue Note, 1959)
• Capuchin Swing (Blue Note, 1961)

With Blue Mitchell

• Blue Mitchell (Mainstream, 1971)
• Vital Blue (Mainstream, 1971)

With Hank Mobley

• Mobley's 2nd Message (Prestige, 1956)

With Charlie Parker

• Swedish Schnapps (Verve 1951) side 2
• Fiesta (Verve 1952)
• Charlie Parker Plays Cole Porter (Verve 1954)

With Oscar Pettiford

• The New Oscar Pettiford Sextet (Debut, 1953)

With Dizzy Reece

• Soundin' Off (Blue Note, 1960)

With Charlie Rouse

• Takin' Care of Business (Jazzland, 1960)

With Archie Shepp

• On Green Dolphin Street (Denon, 1978)

With Sonny Stitt

• Broadway Soul (Colpix, 1965)

With Harold Vick

• Commitment (Muse, 1967 [1974])

With Stan Getz Zoot Sims etc

• The Brothers (Prestige, 1949)