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
-
BD Music & Cabu Present Wardell Gray
Bebop - Lançado por BDMUSIC em 10/10/2007
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wardell Gray Memorial, Vol. 1
Jazz - Lançado por Original Jazz Classics em 20/02/1953
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Way out Wardell (Live)
Bebop - Lançado por ACE RECORDS em 23/02/2009
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
One For Prez (Wardell Gray)
Jazz - Lançado por 1201 MUSIC em 14/09/1997
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Benny's Bop
Benny Goodman, Wardell Gray, Stan Hasselgard
Bebop - Lançado por Hep Records em 25/04/1987
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live at the Haig 1952
Jazz - Lançado por Fresh Sound Records em 01/12/2011
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Small Combos 1946-1949 (Jazz Archives No. 170)
Jazz - Lançado por EPM em 06/02/2001
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Chase And The Steeplechase (Live)
Jazz - Lançado por Verve Reissues em 01/01/1952
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 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 - Lançado por AVID Jazz em 01/01/1952
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Light Gray
Jazz - Lançado por Cool & Blue em 18/04/1995
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Very Best Of
Bebop - Lançado por Master Classics Records em 01/03/2009
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Wardell Gray Story
Jazz - Lançado por Proper Box em 03/03/2013
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Complete Jazz Series 1946 - 1950
Jazz - Lançado por Complete Jazz Series em 09/02/2009
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Farmer's Market
Jazz - Lançado por Black Sheep Music em 25/07/2006
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Chase
Jazz - Lançado por Black Sheep Music em 22/03/2013
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Complete Late Fourties Masters (Bonus Track Version)
Jazz - Lançado por Jazz Moon em 15/03/2016
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wardell Gray & Hampton Hawes: Live at the Haig 1952
Jazz - Lançado por Blue Velvet em 18/06/2021
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Twisted
Jazz - Lançado por Black Sheep Music em 22/03/2013
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wardell Gray Vol. 2 (1948-49)
Jazz - Lançado por Documents em 01/09/2008
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ultimate Hits
Jazz - Lançado por Master Series, Inc. em 25/10/2011
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wardell Gray Vol. 1 (1945-46)
Jazz - Lançado por Documents em 01/09/2008
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo