Charles Edward Haden (August 6, 1937 – July 11, 2014) was an American jazz double bass player, bandleader, composer and educator whose career spanned more than fifty years. Haden helped to revolutionize the harmonic concept of bass playing in jazz, evolving a style that sometimes complemented the soloist, and other times moved independently, liberating bassists from a strictly accompanying role.
In the late 1950s, he was an original member of the ground-breaking Ornette Coleman Quartet. In 1969, he formed his first band, the Liberation Music Orchestra, featuring arrangements by the pianist Carla Bley. In the late 1960s, he became a member of the pianist Keith Jarrett's trio, quartet and quintet. In the 1980s, he formed his own band, Quartet West. Haden also often recorded and performed in a duo setting, with musicians including the guitarist Pat Metheny and the pianists Hank Jones and Kenny Barron.
The German musicologist Joachim-Ernst Berendt wrote that Haden's "ability to create serendipitous harmonies by improvising melodic responses to Ornette Coleman's free jazz solos (rather than sticking to predetermined harmonies) was both radical and mesmerizing. His virtuosity lies (...) in an incredible ability to make the double bass 'sound out'. Haden cultivated the instrument's gravity as no one else in jazz. He is a master of simplicity which is one of the most difficult things to achieve."
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In this “From the Bottom” episode, Paul Thompson honors the late, great jazz bassist Charlie Haden on the 10th anniversary of his passing.
If you’re looking for some inspiring bass material to watch during your quarantine, director Reto Caduff has you covered. His 2009 documentary, “Charlie Haden: Rambling Boy,” is available for free streaming via Vimeo until April 5th.
Jazz great Charlie Haden passed away four years ago, but we’re fortunate enough to be able to continue enjoying his music. Besides his incredible catalog released during his life, there are new posthumous releases of previously unheard recordings. That’s the case for the new duo album of with pianist Brad Mehldau entitled Long Ago and Far Away. The album captured...
The late, great jazz bassist Charlie Haden and pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba have long been known for the work they did together. Although Haden died in July 2014, there’s still music to be hear from the pair via the album Tokyo Adagio, which captures the best of their 2005 performances at Blue Note Tokyo. The sound is classic. Just listen to...
Charlie Haden had an incredible life full of triumph, tragedy, and – most of all – beautiful music that he shared with the world. His passing earlier this year rocked the jazz community, who remembered his legacy with an outpouring of anecdotes on his impact on their lives. Now everyone is invited to honor Haden’s memory with a special concert...
