Bebop drummer Jimmy Lovelace was born in Kansas City on February 6, 1940. A regular collaborator of guitarists Wes Montgomery and George Benson, pianist Junior Mance, and clarinetist Tony Scott, he lent his subtle, nuanced accompaniment to records including The George Benson Cookbook but remained little-known outside of the most devout jazz enthusiasts. In 1995 Lovelace settled in at the West Village jazz club Smalls, playing with the Frank Hewitt Trio and Quintet and later leading his own group, Across 7 Street, with saxophonist Chris Byars, trombonist John Mosca, bassist Ari Roland, and drummer Sacha Perry. In 2004 the group issued its lone album, The Eternal Pyramid. On October 29 of that year, Lovelace lost a long bout with cancer at the age of 64. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi