John Ore: 1933-2014

[Justin V]

For those who haven't read the Ethan Iverson piece on John Ore and Frankie Dunlop, John Ore passed away on August 22nd, 2014. Here is a link to the Facebook announcement by Phil Schaap. Although I've only heard a couple of the albums that Ore recorded with Monk, I've long appreciated his rock-solid playing and the seamless way he hooked up with the rest of the band, particularly the drummer. Thank you for the music, Mr. Ore, and rest in peace.

[jazzbo]

RIP Mr. Ore. Sorry to hear you've gone.

[mjzee]

Saw him once in a band led by Billy Higgins at the Jazz Standard in NYC around 2000. Billy was rallying at that point, and put together a band with Curtis Fuller and (I think) Don Sickler. The bass player was unannounced, but at the end of the show, Billy introduced each musician (by where they live in Brooklyn!). I was surprised to hear John Ore on bass. RIP.

[jazzbo]

Talk about a resume! Take a look at this from wiki:

n the 1950s he worked with Tiny Grimes, George Wallington, Lester Young, Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, Elmo Hope, Bud Powell and Freddie Redd. From 1960 to 1963 he played in Thelonious Monk's quartet, and then with the Les Double Six of Paris in 1964. Later in the 1960s he played again with Powell and also recorded with Teddy Wilson. In the 1970s he worked with Earl Hines. He was with the Sun Ra Arkestra in 1982.

[l p]

he's on a lot of sun ra concerts from 1987-1992, some of which are listed at

http://wayback.archive.org/web/20070209075233/http://www.dpo.uab.edu/~moudry/tape_d.htm
http://wayback.archive.org/web/20070209080004/http://www.dpo.uab.edu/~moudry/tape_e.htm

http://wayback.archive.org/web/20080630031306/http://www.dpo.uab.edu/~moudry/tape_f.htm

when i first started listening to late period sun ra, i was surprised that the same guy who i was familiar with from monk recordings was so at home with sun ra's music. i even thought that maybe it's a different john ore. but there he was on the videos, in full arkestra getup with the spacey clothes and hats.

Edited January 6, 2015 by l p

[Carl Baugher]

A life of significance and art.

[Chuck Nessa]

He also played with Charles Tyler and does double bass duty with Ronnie Boykins on Saga of the Outlaws. He was an interesting and kind man.

[clifford_thornton]

Sorry to hear this! RIP.

[sidewinder]

Saw him on one occasion with Sun Ra, back in 1989. RIP - sorry to hear this.

Edited January 6, 2015 by sidewinder

[paul secor]

A solid bassist.

Thank you for the music you gave us, Mr. Ore.

[AllenLowe]

john was a crusty guy; got to know him in the '7os at the West End where he used to play with Dickey Wells. Very much in command of the time.

[Rooster_Ties]

  On 1/6/2015 at 7:28 PM, sidewinder said:

Saw him on one occasion with Sun Ra, back in 1989. RIP - sorry to hear this.

Pretty sure I saw him with Sun Ra too, back in 1990 (at the Cubby Bear in Chicago).

[soulpope]

Thank you for the music RIP

[felser]

Dicky Wells to Sun Ra is quite a range. I appreciated his work with Monk.

[mikeweil]

RIP - will have to pull out some of the Monk records he plays on.

I always had a hard time to decide whom I liked better with Frankie Dunlop, John Ore or Butch Warren. I think his time was a bit more solid than Warren's.

[Chuck Nessa]

  On 1/6/2015 at 7:58 PM, AllenLowe said:

john was a crusty guy; got to know him in the '7os at the West End where he used to play with Dickey Wells. Very much in command of the time.

Maybe "crusty" but he sent a thank note for paying him and a Christmas card.

[Cyril]

R.I.P.

And.... Frankie Dunlop passed away July 7, 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zUulKnCTf0

[Hardbopjazz]

RIP Mr. Ore. Thanks for bring the music.

[Gheorghe]

to me, he was one of the "unsung" heros of the bass, like Tommy Potter and Curly Russel before. Hard work to make it swing every night for many hours. And those bass players still had learned to play without amps and pickups, they got to cut through the horns, the drummers, that´s why they sound different......

Ore was a great bassist and he played the bass fiddle the way I like it most, just swingin hard.....