Ed Bickert R.I.P.

[jdgm]

Alas, it has finally happened:

 

The death has been announced on February 28th of Ed Bickert, Canada's finest jazz guitarist. He was 86 and had retired some years ago.

 

This guy was up there with Joe Pass, Ted Greene, Cal Collins as a jazz chord melody specialist; I actually think some of his stuff is better....

He was for a long time in a trio which became the house band at the Bourbon Street Club in Toronto (actually on Queen Street West) with Don Thompson (bass and piano) and Terry Clarke (drums), both tremendous musicians who had played in John Handy's band and are on his famous Monterey recording.

Jim Hall was so impressed he borrowed Clarke and Thompson for his masterly 'Jim Hall Live' LP on A&M Horizon, and recommended Bickert to saxist Paul Desmond who used him on "Pure Desmond".

You need to hear the 1st track of this recording to understand the impact that Bickert had at that time:

 

 

Desmond also cut a live album with the trio (Jerry Fuller on drums), as did trombonist Frank Rosolino and a few more. Bickert had some very fine albums of his own on PM records, then Concord and the Sackville label.

 

And notably...he played a standard rosewood neck Tele with a humbucker in the neck position.

Ed Bickert knew so many jazz standards - including really obscure ones - that you wonder how he did it. How could someone know so much?

 

A giant, an absolute GIANT of the jazz guitar.

 

R.I.P.

[jaxson50]

RIP Mr. Bickert,

[zigzag]

Played jazz on a Tele. Not only loved his style, but his choice of material.

[G Mac]

Thanks for the post jdgm! I never heard of this guy before today. He was really great! Not many jazz guys playing a Tele...Mike Stern and Ted Greene are the only ones that come to mind. Oh, and Jimmy Herring! Anyway, I digress. Thanks again!

[tx-ogre]

Thanks for the post. I'd heard of him, but never took the time to look up any of his material before. He was a serious talent.