Gerald Cannon

Gerald Cannon is a jazz double bassist known for anchoring some of the most storied bands in modern jazz, having served as bassist and musical director of the McCoy Tyner Trio for nearly fourteen years. Born in 1958 in Racine, Wisconsin, he studied at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music before moving to New York City, where he worked with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Cedar Walton, Dexter Gordon, and Stanley Turrentine. He spent seven years touring the world's major festivals as a member of trumpeter Roy Hargrove's band, and held the bass chair in drummer Elvin Jones's group until Jones's death in 2004. Alongside his performing career he leads his own recordings and teaches jazz bass at The Juilliard School and Oberlin College and Conservatory.