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Wardell Gray

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Wardell Gray was born in Oklahoma City in 1921 and grew up in Detroit. He started on clarinet but switched to tenor saxophone after hearing Lester Young with Count Basie's orchestra. At the end of 1943 he joined Earl Hines's orchestra, at first on alto saxophone. Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker had played in that orchestra before him. At the end of 1946 he settled in Los Angeles and recorded his first session under his own name there, with Dodo Marmarosa on piano.

Music and breakthrough

In the clubs on Central Avenue Gray fought tenor duels with Dexter Gordon. The label boss Ross Russell had them record one such duel as The Chase, Gray's first nationally known recording, which has also been called one of the most exciting musical contests in jazz. After that he played with Benny Goodman and with Count Basie, including in his septet of 1950 and 1951. He wrote Twisted, on which Annie Ross later based a successful vocalese version. His playing was fluid and clear, full of ideas.

Influence

Gray got involved with drugs in the 1950s, recorded less and played with less fire. In May 1955, after a performance in Las Vegas, he was found dead in the desert, aged 34. The cause of death was an overdose. He is regarded, after Dexter Gordon, as one of the finest tenor saxophonists of the bop era, influenced by Lester Young and a forerunner of Stan Getz. Jack Kerouac mentions him in On the Road.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to The Chase by Wardell Gray and Dexter Gordon and notice how the two tenor saxophonists trade phrases and try to outdo each other. Who plays when, and can you hear the difference in tone?

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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Categories: Artists