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 - Released by BDMUSIC on 10 Oct 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wardell Gray Memorial, Vol. 1
Jazz - Released by Original Jazz Classics on 20 Feb 1953
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Way out Wardell (Live)
Bebop - Released by ACE RECORDS on 1 Jan 1956
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
One For Prez (Wardell Gray)
Jazz - Released by 1201 MUSIC on 14 Sep 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Benny's Bop
Benny Goodman, Wardell Gray, Stan Hasselgard
Bebop - Released by Hep Records on 25 Apr 1987
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live at the Haig 1952
Jazz - Released by Fresh Sound Records on 1 Dec 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Small Combos 1946-1949 (Jazz Archives No. 170)
Jazz - Released by EPM on 6 Feb 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Chase And The Steeplechase (Live)
Jazz - Released by Verve Reissues on 1 Jan 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 - Released by AVID Jazz on 1 Jan 1952
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Very Best Of
Bebop - Released by Master Classics Records on 1 Mar 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Wardell Gray Story
Jazz - Released by Proper Box on 3 Mar 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Complete Jazz Series 1946 - 1950
Jazz - Released by Complete Jazz Series on 9 Feb 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Farmer's Market
Jazz - Released by Black Sheep Music on 25 Jul 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Complete Late Fourties Masters (Bonus Track Version)
Jazz - Released by Jazz Moon on 15 Mar 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wardell Gray & Hampton Hawes: Live at the Haig 1952
Jazz - Released by Blue Velvet on 18 Jun 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Easy Swing, Vol. 1
Bebop - Released by Top Tracks on 30 Oct 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Wardell Gray Vol. 2 (1948-49)
Jazz - Released by Documents on 1 Sep 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wardell Gray Vol. 1 (1945-46)
Jazz - Released by Documents on 1 Sep 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo