Henry Grimes 03/11/35 – 17/04/20

As legends fall on a heartbreakingly regular basis in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic we would do well to stay immune to ‘tragedy fatigue’. This is particularly important in the case of double bassist-violinist Henry Grimes, who has died from coronavirus complications at the age of 84, first and foremost because his name is not as well known as some of the other musicians to have been mercilessly cut down in these dark days of a sun-soaked spring.

Grimes is nonetheless an entirely significant accompanist of the post-war period in jazz who made a telling contribution to the music of illustrious leaders such as Thelonious Monk, McCoy Tyner, Gerry Mulligan and Sonny Rollins. When working with all of the above, Grimes, who was born in Philadelphia in 1935 and came from a family of musicians, displayed a superlative rhythmic feel, but his punchy, potent tone was a real thing of beauty. When he became more active on New York’s ‘New music’ scene that last attribute proved invaluable. His work with pioneers such as pianist Cecil Taylor and above all saxophonist Albert Ayler, both of whom pulled away from a bop-stamped chord changes model, is outstanding. In the early ‘60s Grimes was also part of an ace collective quartet - with fellow Monk alumnus Steve Lacy, drummer Dennis Charles and trombonist Roswell Rudd - that played ‘in and out’ to great effect.

Then Grimes disappeared at the end of the 60s. He fell into financial difficulties after a trip to the west coast and it was some three decades later that he was brought back to the music scene, with William Parker supplying a bass. In the 2000s and 2010s Grimes enjoyed a fabulous second lease of life, forming fine groups with Bill McHenry and Andrew Cyrille, and also becoming a member of Parker’s bass quartet.

His star turn came as a member of guitarist Marc Ribot’s Spiritual Unity, a band that revisited the music of Ayler with a combustible new energy. As Grimes showed he had lost none of his dynamic range and attack, and he remained a revered figure among players and listeners alike who hailed an unbowed warrior-survivor.