Avery Sharpe

Avery Sharpe (born August 23, 1954) is an American jazz double-bassist, electric bassist, composer, educator and founder of the artist-owned record label, JKNM Records.

Sharpe has a distinguished percussive and rhythmic approach on double bass. He incorporates the Hum-a-long (vocal scatting with the bowed bass) bass technique, popularised by Leroy "Slam" Stewart and Major "Mule" Holly, into his playing.

Sharpe was first brought to prominence by tenor saxophonist Archie Shepp and drummer Art Blakey, but is best known for his longtime association with pianist McCoy Tyner from 1980 to 2003. He recorded more than 20 records with Tyner.
 

Early life

Sharpe's first instrument was the piano, which he started playing at eight years old. His mother, Evelyn, was a pianist and choir director in the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), and she gave lessons to Sharpe, as well as to his seven other siblings. Sharpe also studied the accordion in his youth and ultimately the electric bass. While attending the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Sharpe studied double bass with Reggie Workman, and also studied with Max Roach, Archie Shepp, Horace Boyer and Fred Tillis. He played the double and electric bass in gospel, funk, rock groups, jazz bands, and orchestra.

Biography

He played as a sideman with Yusef Lateef, Ricky Ford, and Joe Ford, among others. As a leader, he has released on Sunnyside Records and several albums on his own label, JKNM. Avery Sharpe has multiple roles at Williams College, as an Artist Associate and Jazz Coach. He serves in additional roles at Williams College as Faculty Advisor for the Williams Gospel Choir and as affiliation with the Africana Studies department.
 

Personal life

Sharpe's parents, James and Evelyn (Green) Sharpe, had eight children, of whom Avery was the sixth-born.

He married his high school sweetheart Cheryl (née Scott) after college, and they have four children. He is a health enthusiast and has promoted vegan/plant based lifestyle and physical training since 1977.

Compositions

In 1989, he wrote and conducted the soundtrack for the movie An Unremarkable Life. In the 1990s, Sharpe was commissioned by Fideleo to write three extended works.