Lisle Atkinson
- September 16, 1940
- March 25, 2019
- 78 years
About Lisle Atkinson
Lisle Atkinson, 78, American jazz double bassist.
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Full Biography
|Lisle Arthur Atkinson (sometimes Lysle, September 16, 1940 – March 25, 2019) was an American jazz double-bassist.
Life and career
Lisle Atkinson was born in New York City on September 16, 1940. He played violin from the age of four and switched to stand-up bass at 12 years of age. He attended the Manhattan School of Music, and after graduating worked as Nina Simone's bassist from 1962 to 1966. He also worked with the New York Bass Choir and Les Spann during this time. Atkinson played with Betty Carter from 1969 to 1971, and in the 1970s worked with Kenny Burrell, George Coleman, Andrew Cyrille, Maynard Ferguson, Dizzy Gillespie, John Gordon, Jon Hendricks, Helen Humes, Hank Jones, Wynton Kelly, Howard McGhee, Horace Parlan, Hazel Scott, Norman Simmons, Frank Strozier, Billy Taylor, Clark Terry, Stanley Turrentine, and Richard Wyands.
In 1983, Atkinson formed his own group, the Neo-Bass Ensemble, which included five bassists, together with Paul H. Brown, a pianist, and Al Harewood on drums. In the 1980s Atkinson also played with Benny Carter, Lee Konitz, Grover Mitchell, Joe Newman, Dakota Staton, and Ernie Wilkins. Among his associations in the 1990s and 2000s were Barry Harris, Leroy Williams, Jeanne Lee, and Sir Charles Thompson. During the 90s, Atkinson was one of the faculty teaching at Jazzmobile on Saturdays in Harlem.
Atkinson died in New York City on March 25, 2019, at the age of 78.
Discography
As leader
- Bass Contra Bass (Storyville, 1978 [1979]) with Karen Atkinson (flute), Richard Wyands (piano), Paul West (bass), Al Harewood (drums)
As sideman
With Roni Ben-Hur
- Backyard (TCB, 1995)
- Sofia's Butterfly (TCB, 1998)
With Joshua Breakstone
- No One New (Capri, 2009)
- With the Wind and the Rain (Capri, 2014)
- 2nd Avenue: The Return of the Cello Quartet (Capri, 2015)
- 88 (Capri, 2016)
With Kenny Burrell
- Prime: Live at the Downtown Room (HighNote, 1976 [2009])
With Benny Carter
- More Cookin (Jazz Heritage, 1988)
- Cookin' at Carlos I (MusicMasters, 1988 [1990])
- Harlem Renaissance (MusicMasters, 1992)
With Betty Carter
- Finally, Betty Carter (Roulette, 1969 [1975])
- Round Midnight (Roulette, 1969 [1975])
- Betty Carter at the Village Vanguard (Bet-Car/Verve, 1970)
- The Music Never Stops (Blue Engine, 1992 [2019])
With George Coleman
- Revival (Catalyst, 1976) also released as Big George
With Andrew Cyrille
- Junction (Whynot, 1976)
- Wildflowers: The New York Loft Jazz Sessions (Douglas / Casablanca, 1976) one track
- Good to Go, with a Tribute to Bu (Soul Note, 1997)
- Route de Frères (TUM, 2011)
With Albert Dailey
- The Day After the Dawn (Columbia, 1972)
With Walt Dickerson
- Peace (SteepleChase, 1975)
With Keno Duke
- Sense of Values (Strata-East, 1974)
- Crest of the Wave (Trident, 1975)
With Ryo Fukui
- Ryo Fukui in New York (Sapporo, 1999)
With John Gordon
- Step by Step (Strata-East, 1976)
- Erotica Suite (Strata-East, 1978)
With Helen Humes
- Helen Humes and the Muse All Stars (Muse, 1978 [1980])
With Jeanne Lee
- Natural Affinities (Owl, 1992)
With Shigeo Maruyama
- Sweet Lorraine (Break Time, 1990)
With Howard McGhee
- Here Comes Freddy (Sonet, 1976)
- Jazz Brothers (Jazzcraft, 1978)
With Danny Mixon
- Mixin' With Mixon (Cinderella, 1983)
With The National Jazz Ensemble
- National Jazz Ensemble Vol. 1 (Chiaroscuro, 1976)
With The New York Bass Violin Choir
- The New York Bass Violin Choir (Strata-East, 1980)
With Horace Parlan
- Frank-ly Speaking (SteepleChase, 1977)
With Norman Simmons
- Midnight Creeper (Milljac, 1979)
- I'm...The Blues (Milljac, 1981)
- Synthesis (Savant, 2002)
- In Private (Savant, 2004)
With Nina Simone
- Nina Simone at Carnegie Hall (Phillips, 1963)
- Nina Simone in Concert (Philips, 1964)
- Broadway-Blues-Ballads (Philips, 1964)
- Pastel Blues (Philips, 1965)
- Let It All Out (Philips, 1966)
- Wild Is the Wind (Phillips, 1966)
- Four Women: The Nina Simone Philips Recordings (compilation) (Verve, 2003)
- Nina Simone's Finest Hour (compilation) (Verve, 2004)
With Frank Strozier
- Remember Me (SteepleChase, 1976)
- Dance Dance (Trident, 1976)
With Richard Wyands
- Then, Here and Now (Storyville, 1978)
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
14 Verified Trivia Questions About Lisle Atkinson
Every question below is stored in the archive and checked against Lisle Atkinson's record and biography. The correct answer and the reasoning behind it are given with each question.
1.In what city was Lisle Atkinson born?
- A.Los Angeles
- B.New York CityCorrect
- C.New Orleans
- D.Chicago
Lisle Atkinson was born in New York City on September 16, 1940.
Source: Life and career section
2.Which educational institution did Lisle Atkinson attend?
- A.Juilliard School
- B.Berklee College of Music
- C.New England Conservatory
- D.Manhattan School of MusicCorrect
Lisle Atkinson attended the Manhattan School of Music.
Source: Life and career section
3.For which artist did Lisle Atkinson work as a bassist from 1962 to 1966?
- A.Nina SimoneCorrect
- B.Dakota Staton
- C.Hazel Scott
- D.Betty Carter
After graduating, Lisle Atkinson worked as Nina Simone's bassist from 1962 to 1966.
Source: Life and career section
4.In what year did Lisle Atkinson form his own group, the Neo-Bass Ensemble?
- A.1978
- B.1985
- C.1983Correct
- D.1990
In 1983, Lisle Atkinson formed his own group, the Neo-Bass Ensemble.
Source: Life and career section
5.On which day of the week did Lisle Atkinson teach at Jazzmobile during the 1990s?
- A.SaturdaysCorrect
- B.Mondays
- C.Wednesdays
- D.Fridays
During the 90s, Lisle Atkinson was one of the faculty teaching at Jazzmobile on Saturdays in Harlem.
Source: Life and career section
6.What is the name of the album Lisle Atkinson released as a leader in 1978/1979?
- A.The Neo-Bass Ensemble
- B.New York Bass
- C.Stand-up Sessions
- D.Bass Contra BassCorrect
Lisle Atkinson released the album Bass Contra Bass as a leader in 1978.
Source: Discography section
7.Who played piano in the group Neo-Bass Ensemble formed by Lisle Atkinson?
- A.Richard Wyands
- B.Sir Charles Thompson
- C.Barry Harris
- D.Paul H. BrownCorrect
The Neo-Bass Ensemble included five bassists, together with Paul H. Brown, a pianist, and Al Harewood on drums.
Source: Life and career section
8.In what city did Lisle Atkinson pass away?
- A.Washington D.C.
- B.Philadelphia
- C.Boston
- D.New York CityCorrect
Lisle Atkinson died in New York City on March 25, 2019.
Source: Life and career section
9.What instrument did Lisle Atkinson play starting at the age of four?
- A.ViolinCorrect
- B.Bass
- C.Piano
- D.Cello
Lisle Atkinson played violin from the age of four.
Source: Life and career section
10.Which of these musicians did Lisle Atkinson work with during the 1980s?
- A.Andrew Cyrille
- B.Benny CarterCorrect
- C.Maynard Ferguson
- D.Kenny Burrell
In the 1980s Lisle Atkinson played with Benny Carter, Lee Konitz, Grover Mitchell, Joe Newman, Dakota Staton, and Ernie Wilkins.
Source: Life and career section
11.How old was Lisle Atkinson when he died?
- A.75
- B.81
- C.78Correct
- D.72
Lisle Atkinson died in New York City on March 25, 2019, at the age of 78.
Source: Life and career section
12.Who was the drummer in Lisle Atkinson's Neo-Bass Ensemble?
- A.Al HarewoodCorrect
- B.Billy Taylor
- C.Andrew Cyrille
- D.Leroy Williams
The Neo-Bass Ensemble featured Al Harewood on drums.
Source: Life and career section
13.With which musician did Lisle Atkinson record the album 'Natural Affinities' in 1992?
- A.Helen Humes
- B.Jeanne LeeCorrect
- C.Betty Carter
- D.Nina Simone
Lisle Atkinson is listed as a sideman on the album Natural Affinities by Jeanne Lee.
Source: Discography section
14.What is the alternate spelling of Lisle Atkinson's first name mentioned in the biography?
- A.Lysele
- B.LysleCorrect
- C.Lyle
- D.Lilsle
Lisle Arthur Atkinson's name is sometimes spelled Lysle.
Source: Introduction
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisle_Atkinson
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 21, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
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