David Izenzon

• Born: May 17, 1932, Pittsburgh, PA
• Died: October 08, 1979, New York, NY
• Active: '60s
• Genres: Jazz
• Instrument: Bass

Biography

A brilliant bassist who was an expert with the bow, David Izenzon's playing with the mid-'60s Ornette Coleman Trio was outstanding. He did not start playing bass until he was already 24. Izenzon worked locally in Pittsburgh until moving to New York in 1961. He played with Paul Bley, Archie Shepp, Sonny Rollins, and Bill Dixon, and first joined Coleman's group in October 1961. Izenzon freelanced after Coleman's 1962 Town Hall concert, and then played regularly with the innovative altoist during 1965-1968. He taught at Bronx Community College (1968-1971), played with Perry Robinson and Paul Motian, gained a PhD in psychotherapy (1973), and worked again with Coleman and Motian in 1977, before his early death. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide