Saxophonist Carlos Garnett, despite being blind in his later years, was an integral part of Miles Davis’ nonet. His pivotal roles extended beyond live performances to studio work during the “On the Corner” era in 1972. Though he was born in a community of laborers who worked for the Panama Canal Company, his talent and work ethic led him to perform with some of the world’s most notable musicians. Garnett’s upbringing had influences from various cultures, including Jamaica, Trinidad, and Barbados, which informed his later musical fusions.
This autobiography traces Carlos Garnett’s journey from his native, segregated town of Red Tank, now erased from modern maps. After establishing himself as a prominent musician in his homeland, Garnett left for Brooklyn, NY. There, he worked with Art Blakey, Freddie Hubbard, Charles Mingus, Andrew Hill, Mtume James, Norman Connors and of course, Miles Davis. Garnett’s original albums for Muse Records showcased his musical fusions, highlighting his talents as a composer, arranger, and instrumentalist.

The late Carlos Garnett was a Panamanian-born jazz saxophonist, a gifted soloist, composer and bandleader.
Jaime J. Ortiz is a Panamanian record collector, musician and writer. A big fan of Carlos Garnett since his teens, he produced Carlos’ final live jazz performance, and they became close friends ever since. He then convinced Carlos to start documenting his life works and is now considered his official biographer.

Carlos Garnett with Jaime J. Ortiz
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages:
Bibliographic Info: ca. 35 photos, index
Copyright Date: 2024
pISBN: 978-1-4766-9024-7
Imprint: McFarland

• “I always admired how Carlos Garnett would take famous jazz melodies like Maiden Voyage and Giant Steps and with his Panamanian/latin rhythms make them his own. I look forward to reading his bio and finding out his secrets!”—Ron Carter, Grammy award winning jazz double bassist

• “Carlos Garnett was a musical visionary, an amazing musician who thought outside the box. My times with him were always culturally enriching as he traveled in international circles unknown to me at the time that we met in New York in the early 1970s. We socialized often at his Brooklyn apartment, where I remember rehearsing the vocals for the track ‘Banks of the Nile’ from his 1974 album ‘Black Love’, as well as being a part of his group ‘The Universal Black Force’. Carlos was warm, open, engaging, always soft spoken…he treated me, and all the women he interacted with, with the utmost respect. Carlos was a spiritual and nurturing soul and those characteristics were always reflected in his music.”—Dee Dee Bridgewater, American jazz singer and actress