Jimmy Woode II Dies

Jazz bassist Jimmy Woode II, whose career included stints with Duke Ellington and Charlie Parker, died of a heart attack April 23rd at his New Jersey home.

Woode, 78, started his career as the house bassist at George Wein’s Storyville club in Boston where he performed with Ellington, Parker, Sarah Vaughan and others. In 1955, he accepted a two-week gig with Ellington’s band that lasted more than five years.

The Philadelphia native left Ellington’s band in 1960 and emigrated to Europe, where he lived until 2001.

Woode toured into his later years and performed with a quintet in 1998 that included his daughter, singer Shawnn Monteiro.

He was also a founding member of the Kenny Clarke / Francy Boland Big Band.