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Obituary: Bobby Boswell / 'Old school' jazz bassist played with big names for more than 4 decades
Wednesday, June 13, 2001 Post-Gazette Staff Writer
By Nate Guidry
Sometimes Bobby Boswell generated an almost Zen-like feeling on his bass, hushing an audience with throbbing, aching notes.
The way he executed a walking bass line, the unerring sense of time-keeping and the tone he demonstrated -- whether it was propelled from a bow or his fingers -- helped to contribute to what some described as the "ultimate harmonic pitch."
Mr. Boswell, who grew up in the Hill District, died Monday of pancreatic cancer. He was 73 and had been living with a daughter, Cheryl Ann Scheer, in Washington, D.C.
"He was old school," said guitarist Joe Negri, who hired Mr. Boswell as a sideman more than 30 years ago and was with him at his last performance Dec. 23.
"He didn't believe in modern amplifiers," said Negri. "And when jazz gave way to fusion, he remained loyal to the upright bass. He kept great time and played wonderful solos. There wasn't a song he didn't know."
Mr. Boswell graduated with fellow bassist Ray Brown from Schenley High School in 1944. He originally wanted to be a trumpet player, but the instructor told him there were enough of those.
After high school, he entered the Army Air Corps and was stationed at Lockbourne Air Force Base in Ohio, where he served as a member of the Air Corps band. After his discharge in 1947, he returned to Pittsburgh and for a time performed in groups around the area.
He later joined the Chick Webb Orchestra, which featured the young Billie Holiday. The group toured the South. After leaving Webb's band, he teamed with saxophonist Louis Jordan's band and later performed with Stan Kenton, Marian McPartland and others.
In 1956, as a member of drummer Max Roach's band, he recorded "Max Roach Plus Four." The band also featured Pittsburgh trumpeter Tommy Turrentine and his younger brother, Stanley. Later that year, the group also recorded "Duel of Buddy Rich and Max Roach."
The band toured Europe, but Mr. Boswell left the group and returned to Pittsburgh.
"He never liked being on the road," said his younger brother, Carlton Boswell. "He was very much in demand, but it was always important for him to be at home."
He continued to play music locally, occasionally taking short trips to perform with the Count Basie Orchestra and other groups.
In addition to his daughter and brother, he is survived by a son, Robert Jr. of Hampton, Va.; another daughter, Carolyn Adams of Pittsburgh; and sisters Lyda Jo B. Trower of Pittsburgh and Barbara Ricketts of St. Louis.
Visitation will be tomorrow and Friday at Jones Funeral Home on Wylie Avenue in the Hill District.
The funeral will be held at noon Saturday in Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, Mossfield Street, Stanton Heights. Burial will follow in Allegheny Cemetery.
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