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Tiny Grimes

Tiny Grimes began his musical career playing drums and piano. In 1938 he took up the guitar choosing the unusual electric 4-string tenor guitar.

In 1940 he joined the Cats And A Fiddle as guitarist and singer. In 1943 he joined the Art Tatum Trio as guitarist and made a number of recordings with Tatum. The early Tatum Trio recordings made for the Asch and Comet recording labels are some of the more interesting early examples of Tiny Grimes’ guitar work.

After leaving Tatum, Grimes recorded with his own groups in New York and he recorded with a long list of leading musicians; Ike Quebec, Cozy Cole, Leonard Feather and Buck Clayton, among others. He was also selected to record with the famous Metronome All Star Band and appears on the recording “Look Out,” on which he shared the guitar duties with Billy Bauer.

During this time he made four recordings with Charlie Parker that are considered excellent examples of early bebop jazz; “Tiny’s Tempo,” “Red Cross,” “Romance Without Finance,” and “I’ll Always Love You.”

Tiny Grimes continued to lead his own groups into the later 1970’s and he recorded with Coleman Hawkins, Illinois Jacquet and Roy Eldridge.

Some of the key recordings from the later years of his career are: “Callin’ The Blues,” “Blues Groove” and “Some Groovy Fours” made in France on the Black and Blue Label. Source: Classic Jazz Guitar

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Tiny Grimes on Prestige

Tiny Grimes on Prestige

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

In the 1950s, musicians who could play jazz, blues and R&B increased their income considerably. Guitarist Tiny Grimes was one of those who could switch around depending on the recording and touring opportunity. For much of the early and mid-1950s, Grimes was on the road extensively fronting an R&B group called Tiny Grimes and His Rocking Highlanders. In 1957 and '58, the blues went through a revival of sorts as rock 'n' roll grew increasingly popular. In '58, Chuck Berry, ...

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Interview

Tiny Grimes with Coleman Hawkins

Tiny Grimes with Coleman Hawkins

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins and guitarist Tiny Grimes recorded together six times over their long careers. Both musicians were showmen at heart--Hawkins as an imposing and chameleon-like improviser and Grimes as a blues master and r&b showboater. Their first two sessions were in 1944. A third came backing Billie Holiday during a Jazz at the Philharmonic concert in 1946. Then there were two Prestige dates in 1958 and 1959. The last session in 1961 was with the Swingville All Stars, ...

Joe Wittman
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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Classic Don Byas...

Mosaic Records
2024

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Tiny In Swingville

Jazz Cuisine Recordings
1992

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Rockin' And Sockin'

Jazz Cuisine Recordings
1985

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One Is Never Too...

Jazz Cuisine Recordings
1977

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Profoundly Blue

Jazz Cuisine Recordings
1973

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