Jamil Nasser (1932-2010), a firm, confident bassist....

Reprinted from http://jazzwax.com/
Used with permission by Marc Myers

Jamil Nasser (1932-2010), a firm, confident bassist whose thick, strident style was a favorite of jazz pianists Red Garland, Randy Weston, Ahmad Jamal and Al Haig, died on February 13th. He was 77.

Nasser can be heard on John Coltrane's Interplay, Phineas Newborn's While My Lady Sleeps, Herbie Mann's Just Wailin' and Lester Young in Paris as well as many other small-group recordings. Nasser changed his name from George Joyner in the late 1950s following his conversion to Islam. In interviews, Nasser had said that his playing style evolved as a result of his period with Lester Young and Jo Jones in the late 1950s. Nasser was responsible for helping an ill Young return to the U.S. from France just before the saxophonist's death in 1959. For a fine obit of Nasser, go to All About Jazz here.

Here's a clip of Nasser (Joyner) with Lou Donaldson...