Chuck Israels

Chuck Israels remains most widely recognized for his tenure in the Bill Evans Trio from 1961 to 1966, even as he has served as a key educator from the 1970s onward. Known for his tasteful and supportive approach on bass, Israels made his recording debut during the 1958 encounter of John Coltrane with Cecil Taylor. He performed in George Russell’s sextet between 1959 and 1961, spent a short period in Eric Dolphy’s group, and subsequently entered Bill Evans’s band. While with Evans, Israels also contributed to sessions fronted by J.J. Johnson, Herbie Hancock, Gary Burton, and Stan Getz. In 1973 he established the National Jazz Ensemble, which he directed until 1978; this leading repertory orchestra produced two albums on the Chiaroscuro label. In the years that followed, Israels performed less frequently yet still appeared on dates with the Kronos String Quartet in 1984 and Rosemary Clooney in 1985, as well as leading a little-known date for Anima in 1991.