Jimmy Gourley: American in Paris

Jazz guitarist Jimmy Gourley spent much of his career in France, creating the impression for many jazz fans that he was French. He wasn't. He was born in St. Louis and was a high school bandmate of alto saxophonist Lee Konitz. After Gourley's father bought him a guitar, Gourley picked up the basics by playing along to the radio.

Discharged from the Navy in 1946, Gourley met guitarist Jimmy Raney in Chicago. Hearing him play, Gourley decided he'd become a professional guitarist. He worked at Chicago clubs accompanying vocalists including Anita O'Day and Jackie and Roy, as well as instrumentalists such as Sonny Stitt and Gene Ammons.

In April 1951, Gourley headed to Paris for an extended stay. By 1957, he relocated to the city for the remainder of his life, playing with French jazz musicians and working behind touring American jazz artists and expatriates, including Lester Young and the Lou Bennett Quartet, featuring Kenny Clarke. Gourley died in 2008.

For more on Gourley, see Steve Cerra's post at Jazz Profiles here.

Here are six videos of Jimmy Gourley in action:

Here's Clarisse's Blues in 1960...

Here's Satin Doll and Tiny Kahn's Flywheel...

Here's It All Comes Back to Me Now and Charlie Parker's Red Cross in 1962...

Here's a blues in 1972...

Here's Wes Montgomery's Four on Six and Summertime...

Here's Autumn Leaves...