Denzil Best

Best was born in New York City, into a musical West Indian family originally from Barbados.[1] Trained on piano, trumpet, and bass, he concentrated on the drums starting in 1943. Between 1943 and 1944 he worked with Ben Webster, and subsequently with Coleman Hawkins (1944–45), Illinois Jacquet (1946) and Chubby Jackson. The drummer was known to sit in at Minton's Playhouse.[2] He took part in a recording with George Shearing in 1948 and was a founding member of his Quartet, remaining there until 1952. In 1949 he played on a recording with Lennie Tristano and also recorded later with Lee Konitz.

In a 1953 car accident he fractured both legs and was forced into temporary retirement[3] until 1954, when he played with Artie Shaw, and then in a trio with Erroll Garner (1955–57). Best subsequently played with Phineas Newborn, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday and Tyree Glenn, and in 1962 appeared on the first release by Sheila Jordan. He suffered from paralysis after this and was no longer able to play; he died aged 48 in 1965, after falling down a staircase in a New York City Subway station.

Best composed several well-known bebop tunes, including "Move" (which was featured in an arrangement by John Lewis on the seminal 1949 & 1950 recordings released in 1957 on the Miles Davis Capitol Records album, Birth of the Cool), "Wee", "Nothing but D. Best", and "Dee Dee's Dance", and with Thelonious Monk, "Bemsha Swing".[4] Best's composition "45 Degree Angle" was recorded by Herbie Nichols and Mary Lou Williams.

Unlike many bebop percussionists, who loaded the musical space with accents against the prevailing meter and thus created rhythmic intensity, Best resumed the legato development of Jo Jones. He played on the beat and rarely used loud accents. Playing in this way he was not only a model for cool jazz but also influenced countless bar combos. Best was renowned for his brush work: fellow drummer Jake Hanna said that he "might be the best brush player of all drummers",[5]^:117 and Elvin Jones listed Best in his top three.[5]^:123 He was the drummer on the very popular Erroll Garner Concert by the Sea recording, along with bassist Eddie Calhoun.

With Erroll Garner

• Concert by the Sea (Columbia, 1955)

With Sheila Jordan

• Portrait of Sheila (Blue Note, 1962)

With Lee Konitz

• Subconscious-Lee (Prestige, 1950)

With Phineas Newborn, Jr.

• Fabulous Phineas (RCA Victor, 1958)

With Seldon Powell

• We Paid Our Dues! (Epic, 1961)

With Lennie Tristano

• Crosscurrents (Capitol, 1949 [1972])