Legendary Bassist Cleveland Eaton joins the ancestors on high.

[Dr. Nelson Harrison]

Scotty Barnhart

StsSpSJuloyfn sso6rrehd · 

It's with great sadness that I got the news of the passing of Cleveland Eaton on yesterday morning. Cleve was one of the greatest bassists in the history of Jazz music and just music in general. His early career break came in the mid 1960s as the bassist for The Ramsey Lewis Trio that also included the late drummer and founder of Earth, Wind, and Fire, Maurice White. Cleve went on to record and produce several solo albums and his next major career highlight was being hired by Count Basie and his orchestra. Cleve spent 15 years there and was still on bass when I joined in 1993. I will always remember that first night with CBO as I was so mesmerized by his bass lines that I would sometimes forget to play my own part! It is a rare thing to have a bassist that can not only swing you and groove you to incredible heights of euphoria, but one who can do so while constructing the most intellectually profound and fundamentally clear bass lines with the perfect note choices. Whenever I want a potential CBO bassist or young bass student to learn how to really walk in the Count Basie style, I burn him or her a CD with the bass lines of Cleve Eaton to study. I was so curious as to how he knew exactly what to play that one day while we were in Thailand, I asked him how did he learn how to choose the notes he chose to play with Basie. He said that Mr. Basie made him setup so that he could see his (Basie's) left hand and that whenever he played certain notes that weren't quite right, Basie would literally play the notes for him so that he could see exactly the sound he wanted. In order to really describe Cleve, I just have to say that he was one of a kind. He was the funniest cat in the orchestra by far and I still remember my first night in the orchestra after the concert on the bus back to the hotel how he had the entire bus in stitches with something that happened. I also remember the time we were on a flight sitting together and he asked for my number so that he could call me for a gig. Jokingly, I gave him the number to The White House switchboard lol!!!! He actually called and when we got back on tour he told me how much money I lost lolololol!!! He had my correct number from then on lol! Cleve could have you crying laughing with just two or three words. And just like the late bassist Ray Brown, he could say Mutha*&^%%^& unlike anyone else on the planet and have you dying of laughter just from where he put the emphasis on the syllable. I'm sure Samuel L. Jackson had to have heard both Ray and Cleve at some point lol!! I knew Cleve was recovering from an illness when I had my first Florida Jazz and Blues Festival, but I called him and asked him to be a featured soloist and he readily agreed. He drove over from Birmingham and I opened up our rehearsal for all of our FSU students and those from FAMU as well so that they could meet and hear up close this legendary master of the bass. Cleve spent every available minute he had with the students telling them stories, giving them advice, listening to and answering every question, and simply giving back all that he had learned over his 60 year career. I also had him join us (CBO) on our set during the festival and to be leading the orchestra with him as our guest was one of the highlights of my life because of my deep love and respect for this gentleman. Fortunately for us also, I was able to have Cleve join us on my second Basie Zoom event this past Mother's Day. Many of the current and former members of CBO had not seen or talked to him in decades and even with failing health, Cleve took part in the discussion and gave us all a thrill to hear him and see him again. He was back in the hospital just days afterwards and he left us yesterday. I can tell you this much for sure: Basie now has one of his most important and swingingest bassists to his left again and I can imagine the level of swing they are getting to now. Rest on, brother Cleve. You left an incredible legacy that will continue to uplift and inspire millions. Those of us that knew you well will always remember the times you had us laughing all over the world on the bus, on the plane, backstage, onstage, at dinner, and wherever we went. You were one of a kind. We'll always love you, my brother. Rest In Peace.

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