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John Shifflett

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John Shifflett
John Shifflett playing Double Bass at the Cafe Stritch in San Jose, California
John Shifflett playing Double Bass at the Cafe Stritch in San Jose, California
Background information
Born(1953-03-22)March 22, 1953
Dubuque, Iowa
DiedApril 27, 2017(2017-04-27) (aged 64)
San Jose, California
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician, arranger, educator
Instrument(s)Double bass, Bass guitar
Years active1970's-2017
LabelsOA2 Records

John M Shifflett (March 22, 1953 – April 27, 2017) was an American jazz musician, player of the double bass, and an arranger, composer, and educator. His last teaching job was at San Jose State University.[1]

Shifflett was born in Dubuque, Iowa,[2] attended high school at Dubuque where he played trombone and began playing bass (see at Sing Out Dubuque, John Shifflett playing his own composition on bass, January 8th 1971), and graduated in 1976 with a BS degree from Iowa State University.[3] While at the University of Iowa, where he was working on a master's degree, Shifflett was its big band and jazz combo bass player, appearing at festivals such as the Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festivals in April 1979[4] and March 1980.[5]

Shifflett moved to San Jose in 1987, as his wife Bethany was offered a tenure-track position at San Jose State University.[2]

Shifflett played in several notable acts, including[6] Frankie Avalon, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, the American Musical Theatre of San Jose, Dinah Shore, Mel Torme, Jerry Lewis, Dionne Warwick and the Smothers Brothers.

Discography

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With Jim Norton Collective

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  • 2013: TIME REMEMBERED: COMPOSITIONS OF BILL EVANS (Double bass)
  • 2011: Places (Double Bass)

With Aaron Lington Quintet

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  • 2010: BILLY COLLINS PROJECT: ELEVEN ON TURNING TEN (Double bass)

With Thomas G. Leslie/ UNLV Wind Orchestra

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References

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  1. ^ "John Shifflett". San Jose State University. Archived from the original on 1 May 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  2. ^ a b Gilbert, Andrew (1 May 2017). "John Shifflett, popular San Jose jazz musician and teacher, dies at age 64". The Mercury News. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  3. ^ "Iowa State Music Alumni". Iowa State University.
  4. ^ "Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival Program, 1979" (PDF). University of Notre Dame.
  5. ^ "Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival Program, 1980" (PDF). University of Notre Dame.
  6. ^ "OA2 ARTIST JOHN SHIFFLETT". OA2 Records. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
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