American drummerMusical artist

Frank Gant (born May 26, 1931- July 19, 2021) was an american jazz drummer.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Gant recorded with Donald Byrd, Sonny S*t, and extensively with Yusef Lateef in the late 1950s and then Red Garland before becoming a member of Ahmad Jamal's trio (1966-1976).

His first gigs were with Billy Mitchell and Pepper Adams, and after working with Little John Wilson and his Merry Men at the Madison Ballroom, including four days backing Billie Holiday, he went on to join Alvin Jackson's house band at the Blue Bird.

As the house drummer at Detroit's Club 12, with Jackson's band, he backed Thelonious Monk and Charlie Rouse in September 1959.

In the 1970s, he accompanied Jamil N*er and Harold Mabern as the rhythm section for workshops run by Cobi Narita.

Discography

As sideman

With Sonny S*t

• 1958: Sonny S*t
• 1960: Burnin' (recorded 1958)

With Yusef Lateef

• 1958: Lateef at Cranbrook
• 1959: The Dreamer
• 1959: The Fabric of Jazz
• 1960: Cry! - Tender

With Red Garland

• 1962: The Nearness of You
• 1962: Solar

With Ahmad Jamal

• 1966: Heat Wave
• 1968: Tranquility
• 1970: The Awakening
• 1971: Freeflight
• 1971: Outertimeinnerspace
• 1976: Recorded Live at Oil Can Harry's

With Al Haig

• 1977: Manhattan Memories (Sea Breeze, re. 1983)

With others

• 1955: Byrd Jazz – Donald Byrd
• 1958: Breakin' It Up – Barry Harris
• 1964: Proof Positive – J. J. Johnson (Impulse!)
• 1979: Monty Alexander in Tokyo – Monty Alexander with Gant and Andy Simpkins
• 1986: Moonray – Adam Makowicz with Gant, Jamil N*er, Deborah Henson-Conant and Ed Saindon

References