Wardell Gray
Wardell Gray was one of the top tenors to emerge during the bop era (along with Dexter Gordon and Teddy Edwards). His Lester Young-influenced tone made his playing attractive to swing musicians as well as younger modernists. He grew up in Detroit, playing in local bands as a teenager. Gray was with Earl Hines during 1943-1945, recording with him (1945). That same year, he moved to Los Angeles and he became a major part of the Central Avenue scene, having nightly tenor battles with Dexter Gordon; their recording of "The Chase" was popular. Gray recorded with Charlie Parker in 1947 and yet his style appealed to Benny Goodman, with whom he played the following year. Among his own sessions, his solos on "Twisted" (1949) and "Farmer's Market" (1952) were turned into memorable vocalese by Annie Ross a few years later. Back in New York, Gray played and recorded with Tadd Dameron and the Count Basie septet and big band (1950-1951); "Little Pony," his showcase with the Basie orchestra, is a classic. Gray was featured on some Norman Granz jam sessions ("Apple Jam" has a particularly heated solo) and recorded with Louie Bellson (1952-1953). Ironically, Wardell Gray, who in the late '40s was an inspiration to some younger musicians due to his opposition to drug use, himself became involved in drugs and died mysteriously in Las Vegas on May 25, 1955, when he was just 34.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
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BD Music & Cabu Present Wardell Gray
Bebop - Erschienen bei BDMUSIC am 10.10.2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wardell Gray Memorial, Vol. 1
Jazz - Erschienen bei Original Jazz Classics am 20.02.1953
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Way out Wardell (Live)
Bebop - Erschienen bei ACE RECORDS am 01.01.1956
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
One For Prez (Wardell Gray)
Jazz - Erschienen bei 1201 MUSIC am 14.09.1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Benny's Bop
Benny Goodman, Wardell Gray, Stan Hasselgard
Bebop - Erschienen bei Hep Records am 25.04.1987
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live at the Haig 1952
Jazz - Erschienen bei Fresh Sound Records am 01.12.2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Small Combos 1946-1949 (Jazz Archives No. 170)
Jazz - Erschienen bei EPM am 06.02.2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Chase And The Steeplechase (Live)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Verve Reissues am 01.01.1952
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Four Classic Albums Plus (The Chase & the Steeplechase / Way out Wardell / Memorial Album Vol 1 / Memorial Album Vol 2) (Digitally Remastered)
Jazz - Erschienen bei AVID Jazz am 01.01.1952
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Very Best Of
Bebop - Erschienen bei Master Classics Records am 01.03.2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Wardell Gray Story
Jazz - Erschienen bei Proper Box am 03.03.2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Complete Jazz Series 1946 - 1950
Jazz - Erschienen bei Complete Jazz Series am 09.02.2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Farmer's Market
Jazz - Erschienen bei Black Sheep Music am 25.07.2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Complete Late Fourties Masters (Bonus Track Version)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Jazz Moon am 15.03.2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wardell Gray & Hampton Hawes: Live at the Haig 1952
Jazz - Erschienen bei Blue Velvet am 18.06.2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Wardell Gray Vol. 2 (1948-49)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Documents am 01.09.2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ultimate Hits
Jazz - Erschienen bei Master Series, Inc. am 25.10.2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wardell Gray Vol. 1 (1945-46)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Documents am 01.09.2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo