Jimmy Garrison’s Legacy Celebrated with Stanley Clarke, Reggie Workman, John Patitucci, and More
This year marks 100 years since John Coltrane’s birth. ShapeShifter Lab in Brooklyn, New York is celebrating the occasion by recognizing his longtime bassist and compatriot, Jimmy Garrison, with two days of performances and talks on the late bassist’s legacy. Garrison’s son Matt Garrison, a world-class bassist in his own right, will be hosting the event on September 16th and 17th.
The 16th kicks off with a concert by Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra with Winnie Dahlgren, Aaron Goldberg, Ravi Coltrane, Marcus Gilmore, and Garrison himself. Afterwards, bass legends Reggie Workman, Stanley Clarke, and John Patitucci will speak about Jimmy Garrison and perform a short solo piece.
“What he and [drummer Elvin Jones] created was so powerful that Coltrane was able to get to new places,” reflects Patitucci.
Further talks on Coltrane, his wife Alice, and Garrison will continue with Yasuhiro “Fuji” Fujioka, followed by performances by Fat Cats and the ShapeShifter Lab Ensemble and guests to close out night one.
On the 17th, Garrison will perform with Ravi Coltrane and Marcus Gilmore before giving a solo performance. Hadrien Feraud and Steve Bailey will also give talks and solos. After another roundtable by Fujioka, Garrison and Gilmore will perform with to-be-announced special guests.
Jazz fans should attend just to see Garrison’s own upright bass, which was used on “A Love Supreme” and other groundbreaking works. Watch Matt Garrison play the bass and introduce the concerts:
Tickets for John Coltrane Centennial 2026: Celebrating Jimmy Garrison are available now for $45 per day or $85 for a two-day pass. A VIP pass is available for access to early entry, artist connect, the green room, and more. Visit the ShapeShifter Lab website for more details.
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
