John Jenkins

Resembling Jackie McLean in tonal approach, John Jenkins reached peak activity during 1957 before withdrawing entirely from music by the mid-1960s. Chicago engagements in 1955 found him alongside Art Farmer, directing his own ensemble, and taking freelance work across the city. After settling in New York in 1957 he performed with Charles Mingus, released two leader albums on New Jazz and Blue Note, and appeared as sideman on dates by Donald Byrd, Hank Mobley, Paul Quinichette, Clifford Jordan, Sahib Shihab, and Wilbur Ware. Little has been heard from him in the decades since.