Cecil McBee

Cecil McBee (born May 19, 1935) is an American jazz bassist.

In 1959, he played with Dinah Washington, and in 1962 he moved to Detroit, Michigan, where he worked with Paul Winter's folk-rock ensemble between 1963 and 1964.

His jazz career began to take off in the mid-1960s, after he moved to New York, when he began playing and recording with a number of significant musicians including Miles Davis, Andrew Hill, Sam Rivers, Jackie McLean (1964), Wayne Shorter (1965–66), Charles Lloyd (1966), Yusef Lateef (1967–69), Keith Jarrett, Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw (1986), and Alice Coltrane (1969–72).

He has recorded as a leader only a handful of times since the 1970s, but has contributed as a sideman to a number of jazz albums.

McBee was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States.

He studied clarinet at school, but switched to bass at the age of 17, and began playing in local nightclubs.

After gaining a music degree from Ohio Central State University, McBee spent two years in the U.S. Army, during which time he conducted the band at Fort Knox.

In the 2000s, McBee unsuccessfully sued a Japanese company that opened a chain of stores under his name.

He was an artist in residence at Harvard from 2010 to 2011.

He teaches at the New England Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts.

With Almanac (Mike Nock, Bennie Maupin, McBee, Eddie Marshall)

With George Adams

With Ray Anderson

With Chet Baker

With Bill Barron

With Kenny Barron

With the Bob Thiele Collective

With Joanne Brackeen

With Dollar Brand

With Anthony Braxton

With Roy Brooks

With Joe Chambers

With Alice Coltrane

With Junior Cook

With Stanley Cowell

With Ted Curson

With Ricky Ford

With Chico Freeman

With Hal Galper

With Johnny Griffin

With Louis Hayes

With Roy Haynes

With Andrew Hill

With Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw

With Elvin Jones

With Clifford Jordan

With John Klemmer

With Prince Lasha

With Yusef Lateef

With The Leaders