Eric Von Essen

Eric Von Essen (June 30, 1954 – August 14, 1997) was an American jazz bassist, pianist, and composer active on the West Coast jazz scene of the 1970s, 80s, and 90s.

Von Essen played in the Young Musicians Foundation Debut Orchestra in 1978, where he met Jeff Gauthier and began working with him. Together with twin brothers Alex and Nels Cline, the four formed an ensemble called Quartet Music, which played together until 1990. While working with Quartet Music, Essen studied tablas in India.

In 1989, Quartet Music was commissioned by the Milwaukee Symphony to write music for a performance. Von Essen wrote "Prayer for James Pt. 1 and Pt. 2" and orchestrated three of the group's existing pieces to fulfill the commission.

In 1992, Von Essen became the bassist of the Lighthouse All-Stars at the Lighthouse Cafe in Hermosa Beach, alongwide Shorty Rogers and Bud Shank; he replaced Monty Budwig as the group's bassist. Among the other musicians Von Essen played with are Frank Morgan, Jimmy Rowles, Vinny Golia, and Mike Campbell. He directed the Jazz Tap Ensemble for seven years.

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Essen family

Essen or von Essen is the surname of a Baltic German and Swedish noble family.

History

The first known ancestor was Thomas Von Essen (d. 1615–1627) who was from Lääne län in Estonia. His son Alexander von Essen received Swedish nobility, but was not introduced in the Swedish House of Nobility. His descendants, Reinhold Wilhelm von Essen (1669–1732) and Hans Henrik von Essen (1674–1729), were elevated to Baron in 1717 and 1719 with the number 158.

Another notable family member was Hans Henric von Essen, Swedish field marshal. Another was Ivan Essen (1759–1813), a Russian lieutenant general and military governor of Riga. Count Nikolai Essen hailed from the Livonian branch of the family, but not Count Peter Kirillovich Essen who was born a commoner.