Wardell Gray

Wardell Gray (1921-1955) was one of the foremost jazz tenor saxophone players of his generation.

He possessed a highly fertile imagination which enabled him to produce an unceasing flow of ideas, expressed with a beautifu

Wardell Gray (1921-1955) was one of the foremost jazz tenor saxophone players of his generation.

He possessed a highly fertile imagination which enabled him to produce an unceasing flow of ideas, expressed with a beautiful light tone; his relaxed style generated enormous swing. He straddled both the swing and the bebop eras and, while heavily influenced by Lester Young, was able to absorb the influence of Charlie Parker without fundamentally altering his style. At his best in a jam session context where he was able to stretch out in extended solos, his finest recordings were made in California in the late 1940s. In addition, he read widely and had many interests beyond jazz; because of the maturity of his outlook and the sound advice he was able to give, he was greatly respected by his fellow musicians. Wardell was a marvellous musician who, although definitely not forgotten, has been unduly neglected as a result of his early death in 1955 at the age of only 34.