George Cables

An engaging jazz pianist, George Cables ranks among the era’s most in-demand accompanists, celebrated for his harmonically supple touch and assured post-bop command. Emerging in New York during the 1960s, he quickly built his name alongside such forward-looking figures as Woody Shaw, Bobby Hutcherson, and Joe Henderson. After relocating to the Bay Area in the 1970s, he remained equally sought after, appearing frequently with Freddie Hubbard, Dexter Gordon, and Art Pepper. Though best recognized for his contributions as a sideman, he has released his own well-regarded recordings, among them the 1979 album Cables’ Vision, the 1985 date Phantom of the City, and the 2008 set My Muse. Equally at home in varied contexts, Cables belongs to the all-star collective the Cookers and continues to front his own trio, which issued the 2019 recording I’m All Smiles and the 2021 album Too Close for Comfort.

Born in New York City in 1944, Cables received classical piano instruction as a child and first encountered jazz while enrolled at the High School of Performing Arts. Although he concentrated on piano, the work of Miles Davis and John Coltrane most strongly shaped his musical outlook. Following graduation, he spent two years at Mannes College of Music, yet by 1964 he had already turned professional, leading the Jazz Samaritans, a group that featured future notables drummers Billy Cobham and Lenny White, saxophonist Steve Grossman, and bassist Clint Houston. During this period he made his first recorded appearance, playing on saxophonist Paul Jeffrey’s 1968 release Electrifying Sounds of the Paul Jeffrey Quintet. Additional sessions with Woody Shaw, Frank Foster, and Bobby Hutcherson preceded a brief tenure with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers in 1969.

Also in 1969, Cables toured with saxophonist Sonny Rollins, a position that took him to the West Coast for the first time. He chose to remain, settling first in Los Angeles and later in San Francisco. Over the ensuing decade he established himself as one of jazz’s most valued sidemen, earning admiration for his supportive comping and fluidly inventive solos. During these years, performing on both acoustic piano and electric keyboard, he participated in numerous acclaimed sessions, including Woody Shaw’s Blackstone Legacy, Joe Henderson’s In Pursuit of Blackness, Freddie Hubbard’s Keep Your Soul Together, and Bobby Hutcherson’s Montara.

As a leader, Cables introduced himself with the 1975 trio album Why Not, recorded with bassist Tony Dumas and drummer Carl Burnett. Further sideman work followed, notably a sustained and productive partnership with saxophonist Art Pepper that yielded several Contemporary and Galaxy releases, among them the 1976 album The Trip, the 1977 set No Limit, and the 1979 recording Landscape. He also spent two years closely associated with saxophonist Dexter Gordon, returning to acoustic jazz on such albums as the 1978 date Great Encounters and the 1979 release Sophisticated Giant.

In 1979 the pianist delivered his second leader date, Cables’ Vision, which featured trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, tenor saxophonist Ernie Watts, vibraphonist Hutcherson, bassist Dumas, drummer Peter Erskine, and percussionist Vince Charles. That same year he collaborated with saxophonist/flutist Joe Farrell, bassist Rufus Reid, and drummer Eddie Gladden on the album Circle. Cables subsequently recorded several trio projects for the Atlas label, including the 1980 release Some of My Favorite Things with Dumas and drummer Billy Higgins. He maintained his association with saxophonist Pepper, appearing on the 1981 album So in Love and the 1982 duet recording Going Home. Additional sessions took place with Hutcherson, Hubbard, Bud Shank, Harold Land, and others. He concluded the decade with further leader albums for the Contemporary label, among them the 1985 trio date Phantom of the City, recorded with bassist John Heard and drummer Tony Williams, the 1986 duet album Double Image with saxophonist Frank Morgan, and the 1987 George Gershwin tribute By George.

In 1991 Cables joined bassist Cecil McBee and drummer Billy Hart for the trio album Night and Day. He then forged a productive affiliation with the Steeplechase label, issuing a succession of swinging acoustic trio recordings that included the 1993 album I Mean You, the 1995 set Cables’ Fables, and the 1997 release Dark Side Light Side. Throughout the 1990s he also recorded with guitarist Doug Raney, saxophonist Frank Morgan, bassist Richard Davis, trumpeter Eddie Henderson, and others. His own output gained momentum during the 2000s with such releases as the 2001 trio date One for My Baby, featuring bassist Jim Anderson and drummer Yoron Israel, the 2002 album Shared Secrets, and the 2006 recording A Letter to Dexter, which reunited him with fellow Dexter Gordon sidemen bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Victor Lewis.

In 2007, several months after completing the album You Don’t Know Me, Cables underwent a simultaneous liver and kidney transplant and stepped back from performing for a time. He eventually resumed regular activity. In 2009, however, his longtime partner Helen Wray received a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and later died. In 2012 he honored Wray with My Muse, a trio album recorded with bassist Essiet Essiet and drummer Victor Lewis that included a new version of his composition “Helen’s Song,” originally written for her. In 2014 he paid tribute to several admired pianists—Bill Evans, Mulgrew Miller, Dave Brubeck, and Duke Ellington—on the album Icons & Influences. The trio recording In Good Company, again with Essiet and Lewis, appeared in 2015.

Since 2010 Cables has performed with the all-star jazz ensemble the Cookers alongside saxophonists Billy Harper and Craig Handy, trumpeters Eddie Henderson and David Weiss, bassist Cecil McBee, and drummer Billy Hart. With the group he has appeared on such albums as the 2010 release Warriors, the 2012 recording I Believe, and the 2016 double album The Call of the Wild and Peaceful Heart. In 2019 the pianist reunited with bassist Essiet and drummer Lewis for I’m All Smiles, which reached number 18 on the Jazz Albums chart. A further trio session, Too Close for Comfort, followed in 2021.