Kermit Driscoll

Kermit Driscoll (born March 4, 1956) is a New York City jazz bassist perhaps best known for his long association with guitarist Bill Frisell. He was born in Kearney, Nebraska.

Kermit began playing piano at age 5. Soon after he added saxophone and, at age 13, picked up the electric bass. Almost immediately he was playing gigs around the midwest. When an offer to travel with a rock band came up, he dropped out of high school at age 16 to go on tour. Later he resumed high school at Interlochen Center for the Arts where he played in the Studio Orchestra.

In 1974, he enrolled at the University of Miami, where he studied with Jaco Pastorius. In 1975, Driscoll went to the Berklee College of Music, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1978.

In May 1978, Kermit traveled to Belgium to play with Stephan Houben who at the time was working with Bill Frisell. It was with this group that he made his first recording "Mauve Traffic" with Bill Frisell, Stephan Houben, Greg Badolato, Vinton Johnson and Michel Herr which included an original composition by Driscoll entitled "Doggone it".

In January, 1980, he moved to New York City, and in November 1981 got the bass chair, and toured with, Buddy Rich's band. Kermit also co-led the group New & Used with trumpet player Dave Douglas and saxophonist Andy Laster from 1989 thru 1992.

In 1987, Bill Frisell formed his famous quartet, of which Kermit was a member until 1996.

A veteran of over 50 Broadway shows and numerous film scores and TV commercials, he is currently affiliate faculty at Sarah Lawrence College. He formerly taught at SUNY Purchase College.

Kermit Driscoll has recorded and performed with: The American Composers Orchestra, Patti Austin, Chet Baker, Bang-on-a-Can All Stars, Don Byron, John Cale, Dave Douglas, Robert Dick, Buddy Emmons, Michael Feinstein, Erik Friedlander, Bill Frisell (a band member from 1987 to 1996), George Garzone, Elliot Goldenthal, Michael Gordon, Gerry Hemingway, John Hollenbeck, Wayne Horvitz, Stephan Houben, David Johansen, Russ Johnson, Ben E. King, Tony Malaby, Ben Monder, The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, The New York Philharmonic under Kurt Masur, Philharmonia Virtuosi, The Pointer Sisters, Buddy Rich (bass chair 1981), Mick Rossi, Elliott Sharp, Keely Smith, Phoebe Snow, Soldier String Quartet, Toots Thielmans, Mel Torme, Tony Trischka, Emil Viklicky, Kenny Werner and John Zorn.