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Wilbur Ware
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| Birth name | Wilbur Bernard Ware |
| Born | (1923-09-08)September 8, 1923 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | September 9, 1979(1979-09-09) (aged 56) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Double bass |
Wilbur Bernard Ware (September 8, 1923 – September 9, 1979) was an American jazz double bassist.[1] He was a regular bassist for the Riverside record label in the 1950s, and recorded regularly in that decade with Johnny Griffin, Kenny Dorham, Kenny Drew, and Thelonious Monk. He also appeared on records released by J.R. Monterose, Toots Thielemans, Sonny Clark, Tina Brooks, Zoot Sims, and Grant Green, among others.
Ware grew up in Chicago where he taught himself to play drums, banjo, bass while playing at church. In the 1940s, he worked with Stuff Smith, Sonny Stitt, and Roy Eldridge.[2] He recorded with Sun Ra in the early 1950s.[1] Later in the 1950s, settling in New York City, Ware played with Eddie Vinson, Art Blakey, and Buddy DeFranco.[2] His only album recorded as a leader and released during his lifetime was The Chicago Sound, from 1957 when he worked for Riverside.[2] He made jazz instructional albums for Music Minus One. In 1958, Ware was one of 57 jazz musicians to appear in the photograph A Great Day in Harlem.[3]
Ware was a member of the Thelonious Monk quartet from 1957 to 1958. He also performed and recorded in 1957 with the Sonny Rollins Trio at the Village Vanguard. Largely self taught, Ware had an unorthodox but highly unique and percussive approach to the bass.
Ware's addiction to narcotics resulted in his return to Chicago in 1963, and then to a period of incarceration. He was inactive musically for about six years.[1] In 1969, Ware played with Clifford Jordan, Elvin Jones and Sonny Rollins.[2] He died from emphysemainPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1979.[2]
With Art Blakey
With Tina Brooks
With Sonny Clark
With Walt Dickerson
With Kenny Dorham
With Kenny Drew
With Matthew Gee
With Grant Green
With Johnny Griffin
With Ernie Henry
With Clifford Jordan
With Herbie Mann
With Blue Mitchell
With Hank Mobley
With Charles Moffett
With Thelonious Monk
With J. R. Monterose
With Lee Morgan
With Cecil Payne
With Rita Reys
With Sonny Rollins
With Zoot Sims
With Toots Thielemans
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