1940s

Pianist. Elsworth Furman Gibson born November 11, 1929 in Washington, D.C.; died August 21, 2006.

Attended Armstrong High School. Served in U.S. Army during the Korean War, earning the rank of sergeant. He concluded his service as a member of the 56th Army Band.

Drummer. James Wilbur Cobb born January 20, 1929 in Washington, D.C.; died May 24, 2020 in New York City.

Cobb attended Armstrong High School and briefly studied percussion with Jack Dennett of the National Symphony Orchestra. He played locally with Charlie Rouse at Republic Gardens and with Buck Hill and Ellsworth Gibson.

Trumpeter, bassist. Born 1927?; died August 21, 2003 in Washington, D.C.

Attended Linton Hall Military School in Manassas, Virginia and Western High School. Served in U.S. Army.

Led Dixieland bands at Jazzland and The Bayou starting in the early 1950s. Member of many ensembles including the Bicentennial Jazz Band, the Washington Monumental Jazz Band, and the Not So Modern Jazz Quartet.

Bassist and vocalist. Perry VanNess Vedder born October 12, 1916 in Gloversville, New York; died April 26, 1997 in Columbia, Maryland.

Began playing bass in 1940, after studying violin and dabbling with guitar. Served in U.S. Army (1942-1945) alongside Mercer Ellington and John Collins.

Bassist. Born March 1, 1929 in New York City; died May 31, 1997 in West Hartford, Connecticut.

Best known for his decade with Count Basie (1953-1962). Eddie Jones grew up in Basie’s home town of Red Bank, New Jersey and attended Howard University alongside Basie trombonist Bill Hughes.

Bassist and tubist. William Anderson Taylor, Sr. born April 3, 1905 [according to death certificate] in Washington, D.C.; died September 1, 1986 in Fairfax, Virginia.

Father of bassist Billy Taylor, Jr. No relation to pianist Dr. Billy Taylor. For much of his career he was known simply as Billy Taylor.