Título: Bobby Timmons
Seção: 1954 to spring 1961
Background: Timmons was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of a minister. He had a sister, Eleanor. Both of his parents, and several aunts and uncles, played the piano. From an early age Timmons studied music with an uncle, Robert Habershaw, who also taught McCoy Tyner.

Conteúdo: Timmons moved to New York in 1954. He played with Kenny Dorham in 1956, making his recording debut with the trumpeter in a live set in May of that year. He went on to play and record with Chet Baker in 1956-57 (bassist Scott LaFaro was part of this band for a time), Sonny Stitt in 1957, and Maynard Ferguson in 1957-58. He also recorded as a sideman with hornmen Curtis Fuller, Hank Mobley, and Lee Morgan, all for Blue Note Records in 1957.  Timmons became best known as a member of Art Blakey's band the Jazz Messengers, which he was first part of from July 1958 to September 1959, including for a tour of Europe. He was recruited for the Messengers by saxophonist Benny Golson, who said that "He was inventive, [...] He could play bebop and he could play funky - he could play a lot of things, and I thought it was the element that Art needed. He hadn't had anybody quite like Bobby, who could go here or go there, rather than walking in a single corridor." By late 1958 Timmons was sharing bandmate Morgan's East Sixth Street apartment and the pair had bought a piano, allowing Timmons to practice and Morgan to work on composing. From around the time he joined Blakey, Timmons, along with some of his fellow band members, was a heroin user. After leaving Blakey, Timmons joined Cannonball Adderley's band, in October 1959.  Timmons was also known as a composer during this period: The Encyclopedia of Jazz states that his compositions "Moanin'" (from the 1958 album of the same title), "This He

user: What happened in 1954?

assistant: Timmons moved to New York in 1954.

user: What did he do in New York?

assistant: He played with Kenny Dorham in 1956, making his recording debut with the trumpeter in a live set in May of that year.

user: Did he play with anyone else?

assistant: play and record with Chet Baker in 1956-57 (bassist Scott LaFaro was part of this band for a time), Sonny Stitt in 1957, and Maynard Ferguson in 1957-58.

user: Did he record any albums at that time?

assistant: his compositions "Moanin'" (from the 1958 album of the same title),

user: What else was notable about this time period?

assistant: Timmons became best known as a member of Art Blakey's band the Jazz Messengers, which he was first part of from July 1958 to September 1959,

user: Where did they tour?

assistant: including for a tour of Europe.

user: Was the band successful?

assistant: CANNOTANSWER

user: Who else did he play with at that time?

assistant: After leaving Blakey, Timmons joined Cannonball Adderley's band, in October 1959.

user: How long did he play with them?

assistant: was enticed in February 1960 into leaving Adderley and returning to Blakey's band by the offer of more pay.

user: Where did the band play?

assistant: they discovered its popularity only when they arrived back in New York and found crowds outside the Village Gate, where they were due to play.

user: What else was he known for?

assistant: Timmons was also known as a composer during this period: