Curtis Counce, a highly-respected session bassist, was one of the first African Americans to be heavily involved in West Coast jazz in the 1940s. After studying violin and tuba, he moved to Omaha to work with the Nat Towles Band. In 1945, he moved to Los Angeles and took a job at the Club Alabam with Johnny Otis. He made his recording debut the next year with Lester Young. Before forming his famed quintet in 1956, he recorded prolifically as a sideman (Shelly Manne and Lyle Murphy), Teddy Charles, Clifford Brown, and Teddy Charles. Jazz was tragically lost when Counce died prematurely from a heart attack. Counce’s Contemporary dates, which he performed as a leader, have all been reissued. Also, Exploring the Future has been reissued. The 1989 CD Sonority also featured previously unreleased Contemporary masters. Allmusic
