George Cables

One of the most accomplished pianists of his generation, George Cables recently received a liver and kidney transplant. Now recuperating at home in New York, Cables will be unable to perform for at least six months. On January 25-26, a benefit will be held for Cables at Sweet Rhythm in Manhattan, featuring a long list of his friends and colleagues on the bandstand. A similar event was held on the west coast last month at Yoshi’s in Oakland.

Native New Yorker George Cables attended the “Fame” high school (High School of the Performing Arts) in Manhattan as a classically trained pianist. But he was soon inspired by such pianists at Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea, as well as by the giants of the time, Miles Davis and John Coltrane. He attended the Manhattan School of Music for two years, but soon was busy gigging around New York, including brief stints with Max Roach and Art Blakey. He landed on the West Coast touring with Sonny Rollins and soon was a fixture on the LA jazz scene. His reputation grew as he worked with Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, and Bobby Hutcherson, as well as Rollins. In the late 70s and beyond, Cables worked extensively with Dexter Gordon and Art Pepper. Most recently, Cables has worked on a tribute to Dexter Gordon with Victor Lewis and Rufus Reid, performed with Frank Morgan’s Quartet, and with his current quartet project with Gary Bartz, Eric Revis and Jeff Watts.