Edgar Gómez (born October 4, 1944) is a Puerto Rican jazz double bassist, known for his work with the Bill Evans Trio from 1966 to 1977.
Biography
Gómez moved with his family from Puerto Rico at a young age to New York, where he was raised. He started on double bass in the New York City school system at the age of eleven and at age thirteen went to the New York City High School of Music & Art. He played in the Newport Festival Youth Band (led by Marshall Brown) from 1959 to 1961, and graduated from Juilliard in 1963.
He has played with musicians such as Gerry Mulligan, Marian McPartland, Paul Bley, Tania Maria, Steps Ahead, and Chick Corea. He spent a total of eleven years with the Bill Evans Trio, which included performances in the United States, Europe and Asia, as well as dozens of recordings.
His career mainly consists of working as an accompanist, a position suited for his quick reflexes and flexibility. In addition to working as a studio musician for many famous jazz musicians, he has recorded as a leader for Columbia Records, Projazz and Stretch. Many of his recent recordings as a leader are co-led by the jazz pianist Mark Kramer.
In May 2013, Gómez was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music in Valencia, Spain. This was the first honorary doctorate granted at the college's new international campus in Spain.
Discography
As leader/co-leader
As sideman
With John Abercrombie
Structures (Chesky, 2006)
With Warren Bernhardt
Blue Montreux (Arista, 1978) Blue Montreux II (Arista, 1979) Warren Bernhardt Trio (DMP, 1983)
With Paul Bley
Barrage (ESP-Disk, 1965)
With Joanne Brackeen
Prism (Choice, 1978) Keyed In (Tappan Zee, 1979) Ancient Dynasty (Tappan Zee, 1980) Special Identity (Antilles, 1981) Breath of Brazil (Concord Picante, 1991) Where Legends Dwell (Ken Music, 1992) Take a Chance (Concord Picante, 1993)
With Randy Brecker
Score (Solid State, 1969)
With Bill Bruford and Ralph Towner
If Summer Had Its Ghosts (DGM, 1997)
With Frank Caruso and Bob Rummage
Chosen (CD Baby, 2017)
With Joe Chambers
Isla Verde (Paddle Wheel, 1995)
With Santos Chillemi
Trinidad (Maracatu, 1991) Au Gre Du Temps (Frémeaux & Associés, 2004)
With Billy Cobham
Drum 'n' Voice - All That Groove (Sony Music, 2001)
With Chick Corea
The Leprechaun (Polydor, 1976) The Mad Hatter (Polydor, 1978) Friends (Polydor, 1978) Three Quartets (Warner Bros. Records, 1981) The Boston Three Party (Stretch Records, 2007) From Miles (Stretch Records, 2007) Further Explorations (Concord Jazz, 2012)
With Jack DeJohnette
The DeJohnette Complex (Milestone, 1969) New Directions (ECM, 1978) New Directions in Europe (ECM Records, 1980)
With Armen Donelian
Stargazer (Atlas Records, 1981)
With Eliane Elias
Illusions (Denon, 1986) Cross Currents (Denon, 1987) Eliane Elias Plays Jobim (Blue Note, 1990) Fantasia (Blue Note, 1992) Paulistana (Blue Note, 1993) Music from Man of La Mancha (Concord, 2017)
With Peter Erskine
Peter Erskine (Contemporary, 1982)