Cecil McBee

Cecil McBee is a Professor in the Jazz Studies department at The New School (College). A renowned double bassist, he gained international acclaim in the 1960s performing with Charles Lloyd, Pharoah Sanders, Elvin Jones, and Miles Davis. His compositions have been recorded by iconic jazz artists, and he is currently working on a book about string bass improvisation technique.

Education:

• BS in Music, Central State University

Cecil McBee's career spans decades of innovation in jazz performance and composition. His research interests focus on advancing improvisational techniques for double bass, blending pedagogical rigor with creative practice. While no recent publications are listed, his work has been documented on labels including Blue Note and Atlantic.

Scientific Awards:

• Grammy Award for Blues for Coltrane (1988)
• Two National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) composition grants
• Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame Induction (1991)