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