Wardell Gray
As a youngster, Wardell Gray studied clarinet and alto saxophone, then began
playing in local Cleveland orchestras at the age of 10. In 1943, when he was
hired by pianist Earl Hines, he was still playing alto saxophone, which he
abandoned for good when he moved to Los Angeles, opting instead for tenor
saxophone. Norman Granz, a concert promoter and organizer, noticed Wardell Gray
and set up a meeting with tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon. The fruit of their
many collaborations was the 1947 and 1952 recordings of two versions of the
theme "The Chase". In 1947, he also had the oppor...
