Donald Garrett

Donald Rafael Garrett (February 28, 1932, El Dorado, Arkansas – August 14, 1989, Champaign, Illinois) was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist who played double-bass, clarinet, and flute.

[1] Garrett, who preferred to be called Rafael,[2] was raised in Chicago, where, along with musicians like John Gilmore and Clifford Jordan,[3] he attended DuSable High School, studying music with "Captain" Walter Dyett.

[4] He initially started playing clarinet and saxophone, but later began studying bass after meeting Wilbur Ware.

[4] In the 1980s Garrett also recorded with Joseph Jarman (Earth Passage – Density) and Kahil El'Zabar's Ritual Trio (Sacred Love).

However, the authors of The John Coltrane Reference, who occasionally present updates to the book on their website (http://wildmusic-jazz.com/jcr_index.htm),[17] provided an update dated 2008 which states that Dutch musician Cornelis Hazevoet sent the following information via an email to author Yasuhiro Fujioka: "Over the years, in liners, books and lists, Don Garrett has been attributed with playing bass clarinet.

"[18] With John Coltrane With Kahil El'Zabar's Ritual Trio With Kali Fasteau With Dexter Gordon With Eddie Harris With Joseph Jarman With The Jazz Doctors (Billy Bang, Frank Lowe, Dennis Charles) With Rahsaan Roland Kirk With Dewey Redman With The Sea Ensemble With Paul Serrano With Archie Shepp With Ira Sullivan