A subtle but adventurous bassist,
Gary Peacock's flexibility and consistently creative ideas have been an asset to several important groups. He was originally a pianist, playing in an Army band while stationed in Germany in the late '50s.
Peacock switched to bass in 1956, staying on in Germany after his discharge to play with
Hans Koller,
Attila Zoller,
Tony Scott, and
Bud Shank. In 1958 he moved to Los Angeles where he performed with
Barney Kessel,
Don Ellis,
Terry Gibbs,
Shorty Rogers, and (most importantly)
Paul Bley, among others. After moving to New York in 1962,
Peacock worked with
Bill Evans (1962-1963), the
Paul Bley trio,
Jimmy Giuffre,
Roland Kirk, and
George Russell. In 1964, after a brief stint with
Miles Davis,
Peacock started an association with
Albert Ayler in Europe, also playing with
Roswell Rudd and
Steve Lacy.
Peacock alternated between
Ayler and
Paul Bley for a time and returned briefly to
Miles Davis in the late '60s. After a period in Japan (1969-1972),
Peacock studied biology (1972-1976), worked with
Bley, and off and on from the late '70s has played (and recorded) in a trio with
Keith Jarrett and
Jack DeJohnette.
–
Scott Yanow, Rovi