Vivien Garry was a talented jazz bassist. Her quintet included Edna Williams of the International Sweethearts of Rhythm on trumpet and Ginger Smock on violin. The Vivien Garry Trio included Arv Garrison on guitar and Wini Beatty on piano.
The author of “New York City Jazz”, Elizabeth Dodd Brinkofski, writes that, Vivien’s groups frequently appeared in Manhattan’s renowned jazz clubs in the 1940s. She goes on to mention that this was the start of women becoming recognized as jazz musicians. Even so, it may be difficult to believe given the limited information readily available on Vivien Garry and the musicians with whom she recorded, such as Ginger Smock, Edna Williams, Dody Jeschke, and Winnie Beatty. Additionally, Brinkofski writes that “Viven Garry was the only female bass player on Fifty-Second Street.”
Check out these rare vintage photos to see Vivien Garry as a child in the 1940s.
