Wilbur Ware was one of the leading bassists of his time. He was essentially the studio bass player for Riverside Records through much of the 1950s and was heard on recordings by Kenny Dorham, Thelonious Monk, and Kenny Drew. Wilbur Ware was born on September 8, 1923, in Chicago.

Growing up in his hometown, Ware learned to play multiple instruments at his church including banjo and drums. By the 1940s he had settled on the double bass as his instrument of choice and was becoming known for the percussive nature of his playing. During the decade he performed and recorded with Stuff Smith, Sonny Stitt and Roy Eldridge during those early years of his career.

Ware’s most productive decade was the 1950s where he recorded with Sonny Clark, Zoot Sims, Art Blakey, Sun Ra, Herbie Mann, Lee Morgan and Buddy DeFranco while living in New York City. His one record as leader was “The Chicago Sound” with saxophonist Johnny Griffin, which was made in 1957. That same year he spent time as a member of Monk’s quartet and also played with Sonny Rollins at the Village Vanguard.

In the early 1960s Ware was battling drug addiction and returned to Chicago. He was subsequently arrested and jailed. He remained off the scene for a number of years but returned to music at the end of the decade performing with Clifford Jordan and Elvin Hayes.

During his life Ware was one of the most sought-after bassists in jazz and a significant contributor to many important jazz recordings. He died of emphysema in 1979.

Here is a link to a cut from Wilbur Ware’s 1957 record “The Chicago Sound:”

"LULLABY OF THE LEAVES"