Henry Grimes Returns to NYC

Henry Grimes, the long lost, avant-garde jazz bassist presumed to have been dead but who was found living in L.A. late last year by social Marshall Marrotte (See Jazz News 1/31/03) will be feted and will perform at the Vision Festival in New York City next week.

Bassist William Parker gave Grimes a bass upon his discovery, a green tinted upright named Olive Oil. Grimes, who hadn’t played for over 30 years, took to practicing the instrument nearly around the clock and has since played concerts with Nels and Alex Cline at the Jazz Bakery in L.A., Billy Higgins’ World Stage and the Howling Monk. He has also been teaching improvisation part-time at a local high school.

Grimes will perform on Memorial Day, May 26 as a special guest in William Parker’s Jeanne Lee Project. The show will be at Old St. Patrick’s Youth Center, 268 Mulberry St., between Prince and Houston Streets at Lafayette St. (the number 6 train to Bleecker St. stops right at the corner). It’s $25, call (212) 226-0513 or visit www.visionfestival.org for more info or reservations.

To further celebrate Grimes’ return to New York, Columbia University’s radio station, WKCR-FM 89.9, will broadcast Henry Grimes Radio Festival from noon on May 28 to 7 p.m. on June 1. Grimes and his musical cohorts will be on air from time to time. The radio festival will also be Webcast at www.wkcr.org. For those who wish to learn from the master, Grimes is holding a bass clinic on May 28 at David Gage’s String Instrument shop at 36 Walker St. from 6-7:30 p.m. The clinic costs $20 (students $15) and reservations are required, call (212) 274-1322.

In the works for summer ’03 is a benefit concert for Grimes which will reunite him with many of his old friends and band members.

Originally Published May 21, 2003