This week’s episode features an interview with and music from jazz bassist Lynn Seaton. Lynn teaches at the University of North Texas, and he maintains an active performing career. He was a member of the Woody Herman Band and Count Basie Orchestra, and he played extended tours with Tony Bennett and George Shearing, as well a wide array of many other jazz luminaries. We also feature music from the Lynn Seaton Trio with Bill Mays on piano and Tim Froncek on drums, plus listener feedback, shout-outs to members of the Facebook group, and a link of the week. Enjoy!
About Lynn Seaton:
Lynn Seaton has had a stellar career as a jazz bassist. Born in Oklahoma in 1957, he started playing the bass at age 9. By the late 70’s he was performing around the state. From 1980 until 1984 he was the house bassist at the Blue Wisp Jazz Club in Cincinnati, accompanying big name guest soloists every week. In 1984, he joined Woody Herman and in 1985 he played with the Count Basie Orchestra. After a two-year engagement with the Basie Band, he did extended tours with Tony Bennett and George Shearing. Most of 1991 and 1992 was spent touring with Monty Alexander. Lynn spent a lot of time on the road as a member of the Jeff Hamilton Trio from 1995-1999. Since 1993, Lynn has also had a busy career free-lancing with many of the great jazz musicians from many generations, including: Toshiko Akiyoshi, Monty Alexander, Ernestine Anderson, Buck Clayton, Al Cohn, Kenny Drew Jr., Blossom Dearie, Bob Dorough, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Herb Ellis, John Fedchock, Frank Foster, Freddy Green, Tim Hagans, Jeff Hamilton, Scott Hamilton, Wynard Harper, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Marian McPartland, Jay McShann, Mark Murphy, Ken Peplowski, Bucky Pizzarelli, Jimmy Raney, Emily Remler, Diane Schuur, Maria Schneider, Bud Shank, Carol Sloane, Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Maxine Sullivan, Mel Torme, Frank Wess, Joe Williams, Nancy Wilson, Steve Wilson, Mark Vinci, and Teddy Wilson. He lived in NY from 1986 until 1998. That year, he accepted an offer to teach at the world famous University of North Texas, home to one of the largest jazz programs in the world. He has performed at festivals world wide including Bern, Concord, JVC, Kool, Kyoto, Newport, North Sea, Perugia and Pori. Lynn has performed in 49 of the 50 United States and 35 foreign countries. He has performed on over 100 recordings, including the Grammy winning “Diane Schuur and the Count Basie Orchestra”, and two Grammy nominees, John Fedchock “No Nonsense” and Woody Herman “50th Anniversary”. He has three recordings as a leader, “Bassman’s Basement”, “Solo Flights”, and “Puttin’ on the Ritz”.
Learn more about Lynn at his website lynnseaton.com, and learn more about the UNT jazz program at jazz.unt.edu.
Musical Selections:
- Strike Up the Band
- The Patrician Commission
Both tracks are from ‘The Lynn Seaton Trio LIVE!!!’, which was donated to the International Society of Bassists. Proceeds from this album benefit the ISB, and if you’re interested in ordering a copy (and I’d be surprised if you weren’t interested after hearing it!), you can send a check for $15 (add $5 for first class shipping or $8 for international airmail) to:
CD Lynn Seaton Live
ISB
14070 Proton Rd. Suite 100, LB 9
Dallas, TX 75244
You can also listen to other tracks from Lynn (and place orders for many of his albums) at Lynn’s website here.
Link of the Week:
Music Provided by:
- Lynn Seaton – www.lynnseaton.com
- Eric Hochberg – www.erichochberg.com