Republished – The last published Jimmy Cobb Interview

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Jimmy Cobb passed away on Sunday 24 May 2020. The end of an iconic era – RIP Jimmy Cobb.

On 30 January 2020. We published what we believe from Jimmy’s family to be his last Jazz magazine published interview, conducted by Scott Thompson, titled: Jimmy Cobb, Still Hitting Hard…

Drummer Jimmy Cobb is a 90-year old NEA Jazz Master that is still playing hard and keeping the groove with his trio consisting of Tadataka Unno on piano and Paolo Benedettini on drums. “Remembering U” was released in August 2019 and features the late, great Roy Hargrove on trumpet/flugelhorn and Javon Jackson on tenor saxophone.

Cobb is also the last surviving member of the sessions that created the 1959 Miles Davis jazz masterpiece “Kind of Blue,” the most acclaimed and best-selling jazz album of all time. Born on January 20, 1929, in Washington D.C., Jimmy was mostly self-taught and formed a cornerstone to works by Miles, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley and many more. He also played on Miles’ “Sketches of Spain”, “Someday My Prince Will Come”, “Live at Carnegie Hall”, “Live at the Blackhawk”, “Porgy and Bess” and many other Miles Davis recordings. Cobb played extensively with Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday, Pearl Bailey, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Cannonball Adderley, Wes Montgomery, Sarah Vaughan, Freddie Hubbard…you name it!

To read the abridged interview click HERE;

Footnote from Editor: Please consider supporting Jimmy Cobb’s GoFundme account to help cover the cost of medical etc that will now be borne by his immediate family.

Scott shared this recent message that he received in a letter from Jimmy, which very much showed the kindness and the professionalism that Jimmy afforded to everyone he interacted with.

“Scott was a pleasure to work with. He’s the ultimate professional and his genuine love for the music shows. One of the best in the business.” – Jimmy Cobb

Last modified: May 26, 2020