Al Grey (June 6, 1925 – March 24, 2000) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

trombonist who was a member of the

Count Basie William James "Count" Basie (; August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and the ...

orchestra. He was known for his

plunger mute A mute is a device attached to a musical instrument which changes the instrument's tone quality (timbre) or lowers its volume. Mutes are commonly used on string and brass instruments, especially the trumpet and trombone, and are occasionally ...

technique and wrote an instructional book in 1987 called ''Plunger Techniques''.

Career

Al Grey was born in

Aldie, Virginia Aldie is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located between Chantilly and Middleburg in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. The historic village of Aldie is located on the John Mosby Highway ( U.S. Route 50) in a ...

, United States, and grew up in

Pottstown, Pennsylvania Pottstown is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Pottstown was laid out in 1752–53 and named Pottsgrove in honor of its founder, John Potts. The old name was abandoned at the time of the incorporation as a borough in 1815. In 1888 ...

. He was introduced to the trombone at the age of four, playing in a band called the Goodwill Boys, which was led by his father. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

he served in the U.S. Navy, where he continued to play the trombone. Soon after his discharge, he joined

Benny Carter Bennett Lester Carter (August 8, 1907 – July 12, 2003) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. With Johnny Hodges, he was a pioneer on the alto saxophone. From the beginning of his career ...

's band, then the bands of

Jimmie Lunceford James Melvin Lunceford (June 6, 1902 – July 12, 1947) was an American jazz alto saxophonist and bandleader in the swing era. Early life Lunceford was born on a farm in the Evergreen community, west of the Tombigbee River, near Fulton, Mi ...

, Lucky Millinder, and

Lionel Hampton Lionel Leo Hampton (April 20, 1908 – August 31, 2002) was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, and bandleader. Hampton worked with jazz musicians from Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman, and Buddy Rich, to Charlie Parker, Charles ...

. In the 1950s, he was a member of the big bands of

Dizzy Gillespie John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie (; October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator and singer. He was a trumpet virtuoso and improviser, building on the virtuosic style of Roy Eldridge but a ...

and

. He led bands in the 1960s with

Billy Mitchell William Lendrum Mitchell (December 29, 1879 – February 19, 1936) was a United States Army officer who is regarded as the father of the United States Air Force. Mitchell served in France during World War I and, by the conflict's end, command ...

and

Jimmy Forrest James, Jim or Jimmy Forrest may refer to: Sports * James Forrest (rugby union) (born 1907), Scotland international rugby union player * James Forrest (baseball) (1897–1977), American baseball player * James Forrest (basketball) (born 1972), Am ...

. Later in life he recorded with

Clark Terry Clark Virgil Terry Jr. (December 14, 1920 – February 21, 2015) was an American swing and bebop trumpeter, a pioneer of the flugelhorn in jazz, and a composer and educator. He played with Charlie Barnet (1947), Count Basie (1948–51), Duk ...

and

J. J. Johnson J.J. Johnson (January 22, 1924 – February 4, 2001), born James Louis Johnson and also known as Jay Jay Johnson, was an American jazz trombonist, composer and arranger. Johnson was one of the earliest trombonists to embrace bebop. Biograph ...

. He made thirty recordings under his own name and another seventy with bands. Grey's early trombone style was inspired by Trummy Young. He developed a wild, strong, and full sound. Solos often consisted of short, pronounced phrases with precisely timed

syncopation In music, syncopation is a variety of rhythms played together to make a piece of music, making part or all of a tune or piece of music off-beat. More simply, syncopation is "a disturbance or interruption of the regular flow of rhythm": a "place ...

. However, when playing with the plunger, he would produce the most mellow fill-ins and shape melodic answers to the lead voice. This aspect of his playing can be heard to great effect in response to

Bing Crosby Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, musician and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwide. He was a ...

's vocals on the 1972 album, ''

Bing 'n' Basie ''Bing 'n' Basie'' is a 1972 vinyl album recorded for Daybreak Records by Bing Crosby, accompanied by Count Basie and his Orchestra. The orchestral tracks were laid down over three days at the end of February and the beginning of March, 1972 at A ...

''. He died in

Scottsdale, Arizona , settlement_type = City , named_for = Winfield Scott , image_skyline = , image_seal = Seal of Scottsdale (Arizona).svg , image_blank_emblem = City of Scottsdale Script Logo.svg , nic ...

at the age of 74 after suffering from several ailments, including diabetes.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

* ''

Dizzy Atmosphere ''Dizzy Atmosphere'' is a jazz standard by Dizzy Gillespie originally recorded in 1945 with Charlie Parker. Harmonically, it is based on the chord progression found in George Gershwin's I Got Rhythm, or "rhythm changes Rhythm changes are a comm ...

'' ( Specialty, 1957) * '' The Last of the Big Plungers'' (

Argo In Greek mythology the ''Argo'' (; in Greek: ) was a ship built with the help of the gods that Jason and the Argonauts sailed from Iolcos to Colchis to retrieve the Golden Fleece. The ship has gone on to be used as a motif in a variety of ...

1960) * '' The Thinking Man's Trombone'' (Argo, 1961) * '' The Al Grey - Billy Mitchell Sextet'' (Argo, 1962) * '' Snap Your Fingers'' (Argo, 1962) * ''

Having a Ball ''Having a Ball'' is an album by trombonist Al Grey released in 1963 on the Argo label.Boss Bone ''Boss Bone'' is an album by trombonist Al Grey recorded in late 1963 and released on the Argo label.Night Song'' (Argo, 1963) * ''

Shades of Grey Variations of gray or grey include achromatic grayscale shades, which lie exactly between white and black, and nearby colors with low colorfulness. A selection of a number of these various colors is shown below. Chart of computer web color ...

'' (

Tangerine The tangerine is a type of citrus fruit that is orange in color. Its scientific name varies. It has been treated as a separate species under the name ''Citrus tangerina'' or ''Citrus'' × ''tangerina'', or treated as a variety of '' Citrus reti ...

, 1965) * '' Grey's Mood'' (Black and Blue, 1979) * ''Get It Together'' (Pizza Express, 1979) * ''O.D. (Out 'Dere)'' with

(Greyforrest, 1980) * ''

Struttin' and Shoutin' ''Struttin' and Shoutin is an album by trombonist Al Grey recorded in 1976 but not released on Columbia Records until 1983.

'' (

Columbia Columbia may refer to: * Columbia (personification), the historical female national personification of the United States, and a poetic name for America Places North America Natural features * Columbia Plateau, a geologic and geographic region i ...

, 1983) * ''Things Are Getting Better All the Time'' with

(Pablo, 1984) * ''

Just Jazz ''Just Jazz'', is an album by saxophonist Buddy Tate and trombonist Al Grey, which was recorded in 1984 and released by the Uptown label. The album was reissued on CD with two alternate takes by Reservoir in 1989.Buddy Tate George Holmes "Buddy" Tate (February 22, 1913 – February 10, 2001) was an American jazz saxophonist and clarinetist. Biography Tate was born in Sherman, Texas, United States, and first played the alto saxophone. According to the website All A ...

(Uptown, 1984) * ''Al Grey & Jesper Thilo Quintet'' (Storyville, 1986) * ''Al Grey Featuring Arnett Cobb and Jimmy Forrest'' (Black and Blue, 1987) * ''

The New Al Grey Quintet ''The New Al Grey Quintet'' is an album by trombonist Al Grey which was recorded and released on the Chiaroscuro label in 1988.Frankling, K.UPI Archives: Trombonist Al Grey and his musical sonsaccessed October 26, 2018 Reception The AllMusic re ...

'' (

Chiaroscuro Chiaroscuro ( , ; ), in art, is the use of strong contrasts between light and dark, usually bold contrasts affecting a whole composition. It is also a technical term used by artists and art historians for the use of contrasts of light to achi ...

, 1988) * ''Al Grey Fab'' (Capri, 1990) * ''Live at the Floating Jazz Festival'' (Chiaroscuro, 1991) * ''Christmas Stockin' Stuffer'' (Capri, 1992) * ''Truly Wonderful'' with Jimmy Forrest (Stash, 1992) * ''Centerpiece: Live at the Blue Note'' (Telarc, 1995) * ''Me 'n' Jack'' (Pullen Music, 1996) * ''Matzoh and Grits'' (

Arbors Records Arbors Records is a record company and independent record label in Clearwater, Florida. It was founded by Mat and Rachel Domber in 1989 and was initially devoted to the recordings of their friend, Rick Fay. Arbors became known in the 1990s for sw ...

, 1998)

As sideman

With

* ''

The Atomic Mr. Basie ''The Atomic Mr. Basie'' (originally called ''Basie'', also known as ''E=MC2'' and reissued in 1994 as ''The Complete Atomic Basie'') is a 1958 album by Count Basie and his orchestra. Allmusic gave it 5 stars, reviewer Bruce Eder saying: "it to ...

'' (

Roulette Roulette is a casino game named after the French word meaning ''little wheel'' which was likely developed from the Italian game Biribi''.'' In the game, a player may choose to place a bet on a single number, various groupings of numbers, the ...

, 1957) * ''

Basie Plays Hefti ''Basie Plays Hefti'' is an album released by pianist, composer and bandleader Count Basie performing the compositions and arrangements of Neal Hefti recorded in 1958 and originally released on the Roulette label.Kitora, R.Count Basie Discography ...

'' (Roulette, 1958) * ''Basie'' (Roulette, 1958) * ''

Breakfast Dance and Barbecue ''Breakfast Dance and Barbecue'' is a live album by pianist, composer and bandleader Count Basie and his Orchestra with vocalist Joe Williams featuring tracks recorded at a Disc Jockey convention in Florida in 1959 and originally released on the ...

'' (Roulette, 1959) * ''

Basie One More Time ''Basie One More Time'' (subtitled ''Music from the Pen of Quincy Jones'') is an album by pianist and bandleader Count Basie performing the compositions and arrangements of Quincy Jones recorded in late 1958 and early 1959 and originally released ...

'' (Roulette, 1959) * ''Chairman of the Board'' (Roulette, 1959) * ''Strike Up the Band'' (Roulette, 1959) * ''

Dance Along with Basie ''Dance Along with Basie'' is an album released by pianist, composer and bandleader Count Basie featuring tracks recorded in late 1959 and originally released on the Roulette label. Reception The album won the Best Performance by a Band for Dan ...

'' (Roulette, 1959) * ''

Kansas City Suite ''Kansas City Suite'' (subtitled ''The Music of Benny Carter'') is an album by pianist, composer and bandleader Count Basie featuring tracks recorded in 1960 and originally released on the Roulette label.Kitora, R.Count Basie Discography - 1960-1 ...

'' (Roulette, 1961) * ''Count Basie/Sarah Vaughan'' (Roulette, 1961) * ''Easin' It'' (Roulette, 1963) * ''Basie Picks the Winners'' (Verve, 1965) * ''

Pop Goes the Basie ''Pop Goes the Basie'' is an album by pianist and bandleader Count Basie featuring jazz versions of contemporary hits recorded in 1964 and originally released on the Reprise label.Kitora, R.Count Basie Discography accessed November 15, 2015 Recep ...

'' (

Reprise In music, a reprise ( , ; from the verb 'to resume') is the repetition or reiteration of the opening material later in a composition as occurs in the recapitulation of sonata form, though—originally in the 18th century—was simply any repe ...

, 1965) * ''Big Band Scene '65'' (Roulette, 1965) * ''

Basie Swingin' Voices Singin' 'Basie Swingin' Voices Singin' is a 1966 album by Count Basie with the Alan Copeland singers. It was issued in UK on His Master's Voice label. The single release "Happiness Is" reached #28 on Billboard's "Easy Listening" survey. Track listin ...

'' (

ABC-Paramount ABC Records was an American record label founded in New York City in 1955. It originated as the main popular music label operated by the Am-Par Record Corporation. Am-Par also created the Impulse! jazz label in 1960. It acquired many labels befo ...

, 1966) * ''

Basie Meets Bond ''Basie Meets Bond'' is a 1966 album by Count Basie and his orchestra. The album is a collection of musical pieces originating from the first four James Bond films; '' Dr No'', '' From Russia with Love'', '' Goldfinger'' and '' Thunderball''. The ...

'' (

United Artists United Artists Corporation (UA), currently doing business as United Artists Digital Studios, is an American digital production company. Founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, the stu ...

, 1966) * ''Arthur Prysock/Count Basie'' (Verve, 1966) * ''Broadway Basie's...Way'' (Command, 1966) * ''Have a Nice Day'' (Daybreak, 1971) * ''Bing 'n' Basie'' (20th Century Fox, 1972) * ''Count Basie Plays Quincy Jones & Neal Hefti'' (Roulette, 1975) * ''Basie Big Band'' (Pablo, 1975) * ''I Told You So'' (Pablo, 1976) * ''Montreux '77'' (Pablo, 1977) * ''Prime Time'' (Pablo, 1977) * ''Basie Jam #2'' (Pablo, 1977) * ''Basie/Eckstine Incorporated'' (Roulette, 1979) * ''Basie Jam #3'' (Pablo, 1979) * ''Count On the Coast'' (Phontastic, 1983) * ''Count On the Coast Vol. II'' (Phontastic, 1984) * ''Autumn in Paris'' (Magic, 1984) * ''Count On the Coast '58'' (Polydor, 1985) * ''Live in Stockholm'' (Magic, 1985) * ''Loose Walk'' (Pablo, 1988) * ''Basie in Europe'' (LRC, 1985) With

Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown (April 18, 1924 – September 10, 2005) was an American singer and multi-instrumentalist from Louisiana. He won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album in 1983 for his album, ''Alright Again!''. Early life B ...

* ''San Antonio Ballbuster'' (Red Lightnin', 1974) * ''Atomic Energy'' (Blues Boy, 1983) * ''More Stuff'' (Black and Blue, 1985) * ''Pressure Cooker'' (Alligator, 1985) With

Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...

* ''The Genius of Ray Charles'' (Atlantic, 1959) * ''Genius + Soul = Jazz'' (Impulse!, 1961) * ''At the Club'' (Philips, 1966) With

* ''

Dizzy Gillespie at Newport ''Dizzy Gillespie at Newport'' is a 1957 live album by Dizzy Gillespie, featuring his big band, recorded at the 1957 Newport Jazz Festival. Reception The AllMusic review states: "This brilliant CD captures one of the high points of Dizzy Gillespi ...

'' (Verve, 1957) * ''

Dizzy in Greece ''Dizzy in Greece'' is an album by trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, recorded in 1956 and 1957 and released on the Verve label.

'' (Verve, 1957) * ''

Birks' Works ''Birks' Works'' is an album by trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie recorded in 1957 and released on the Verve label.

'' (Verve, 1958) With

* ''Newport Uproar!'' (RCA Victor, 1968) * ''Hamp's Big Band Live!'' (Glad-Hamp, 1979) * ''Live at the Blue Note'' (Telarc, 1991) With

Jon Hendricks John Carl Hendricks (September 16, 1921 – November 22, 2017), known professionally as Jon Hendricks, was an American jazz lyricist and singer. He is one of the originators of vocalese, which adds lyrics to existing instrumental songs and re ...

* ''Fast Livin' Blues'' (Columbia, 1962) * ''Freddie Freeloader'' (Denon, 1990) * ''Boppin' at the Blue Note'' (Telarc, 1995) With

Quincy Jones Quincy Delight Jones Jr. (born March 14, 1933) is an American record producer, musician, songwriter, composer, arranger, and film and television producer. His career spans 70 years in the entertainment industry with a record of 80 Grammy Award n ...

* '' Golden Boy'' (Mercury, 1964) * ''Gula Matari'' (A&M, 1970) * ''I Heard That!!'' (A&M, 1976) * ''Quincy Jones Talkin' Verve'' (Verve, 2001) With

Oscar Pettiford Oscar Pettiford (September 30, 1922 – September 8, 1960) was an American jazz double bassist, cellist and composer. He was one of the earliest musicians to work in the bebop idiom. Biography Pettiford was born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, United ...

* ''

The Oscar Pettiford Orchestra in Hi-Fi Volume Two ''The Oscar Pettiford Orchestra in Hi-Fi Volume Two'' (also referred to as ''O.P.'s Jazz Men'') is an album by bassist/cellist and composer Oscar Pettiford that was recorded in 1957 and first issued on the ABC-Paramount label.Clark Terry Clark Virgil Terry Jr. (December 14, 1920 – February 21, 2015) was an American swing and bebop trumpeter, a pioneer of the flugelhorn in jazz, and a composer and educator. He played with Charlie Barnet (1947), Count Basie (1948–51), Duk ...

* '' Squeeze Me!'' (Chiaroscuro, 1989) * ''What a Wonderful World'' (Red Baron, 1993) * ''Shades of Blues'' (Challenge, 1994) With others *

Lorez Alexandria Lorez Alexandria (born Dolorez Alexandria Turner; August 14, 1929 – May 22, 2001). was an American jazz singer, described as "one of the most gifted and underrated jazz singers of the twentieth century". She became established in the midwest b ...

, '' Early in the Morning'' (Argo, 1960) *

Ernestine Anderson Ernestine Anderson (November 11, 1928 – March 10, 2016) was an American jazz and blues singer. In a career spanning more than six decades, she recorded over 30 albums. She was nominated four times for a Grammy Award. She sang at Carnegie Hall, ...

, ''Moanin' '' (Mercury, 1960) *

Louis Armstrong Louis Daniel Armstrong (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971), nicknamed "Satchmo", "Satch", and "Pops", was an American trumpeter and Singing, vocalist. He was among the most influential figures in jazz. His career spanned five decades and se ...

, ''

Louis Armstrong and His Friends ''Louis Armstrong and His Friends'' is an album by the Louis Armstrong recorded in 1970 and originally released by Flying Dutchman on their Amsterdam subsidiary label.Minn. MThe Louis Armstrong Discography: Twilight (1963 - 1971) accessed Novembe ...

'' (Flying Dutchman, 1970) *

Tony Bennett Anthony Dominick Benedetto (born August 3, 1926), known professionally as Tony Bennett, is an American retired singer of traditional pop standards, big band, show tunes, and jazz. Bennett is also a painter, having created works under his birt ...

, ''Sings Ellington Hot & Cool,'' (Columbia, 1999) * Ray Brown, ''Don't Forget the Blues'' (Concord Jazz, 1986) *

Ray Bryant Raphael Homer "Ray" Bryant (December 24, 1931 – June 2, 2011) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. Early life Bryant was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on December 24, 1931. His mother was an ordained minister who had tau ...

, '' Madison Time'' (Columbia, 1960) * Dave Burns, ''Warming Up!'' (Vanguard, 1964) * Joe Bushkin, ''Play It Again Joe'' (United Artists, 1977) *

Arnett Cobb Arnett Cleophus Cobb (August 10, 1918 – March 24, 1989)
accessed July 2010. was an American tenor saxophonist, somet ...

, '' Keep On Pushin''' (Bee Hive, 1984) *

Nat King Cole Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965), known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American singer, jazz pianist, and actor. Cole's music career began after he dropped out of school at the age of 15, and continued f ...

, ''Welcome to the Club'' (Capitol, 1959) *

Chris Connor Mary Jean Loutsenhizer, known professionally as Chris Connor (November 8, 1927 – August 29, 2009) was an American jazz singer. Biography Chris Connor was born Mary Loutsenhizer in Kansas City, Missouri, to Clyde Loutsenhizer and Mabel Shir ...

, ''Sings Ballads of the Sad Cafe'' (Atlantic, 1959) *

Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Edward F. Davis (March 2, 1922 – November 3, 1986), known professionally as Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. It is unclear how he acquired the moniker "Lockjaw" (later shortened in "Jaws"): it is either said that ...

, ''Jazz at the Philharmonic 1983'' (Pablo, 1983) * Sammy Davis Jr., ''I Gotta Right to Swing'' (Brunswick, 1960) *

Buddy DeFranco Boniface Ferdinand Leonard "Buddy" DeFranco (February 17, 1923 – December 24, 2014) was an Italian-American jazz clarinetist. In addition to his work as a bandleader, DeFranco led the Glenn Miller Orchestra for almost a decade in the 1960s and ...

, ''Born to Swing! Star'' (Satelite, 1988) *

Billy Eckstine William Clarence Eckstine (July 8, 1914 – March 8, 1993) was an American jazz and pop singer and a bandleader during the swing and bebop eras. He was noted for his rich, almost operatic bass-baritone voice. In 2019, Eckstine was posthumously ...

, ''Mr. B'' (Audio Lab, 1960) *

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was bas ...

, ''Digital Duke'' (GRP, 1987) *

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, in ...

, ''Sweet and Hot'' (Decca, 1955) * Ella Fitzgerald, ''Newport Jazz Festival Live at Carnegie Hall July 5, 1973'' (CBS, 1973) *

Dexter Gordon Dexter Gordon (February 27, 1923 – April 25, 1990) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, bandleader, and actor. He was among the most influential early bebop musicians, which included other greats such as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gi ...

, ''Settin' the Pace'' (Proper, 2001) *

Dave Grusin Robert David "Dave" Grusin (born June 26, 1934) is an American composer, arranger, producer, jazz pianist, and band leader. He has composed many scores for feature films and television, and has won numerous awards for his soundtrack and record w ...

, ''The Fabulous Baker Boys'' (GRP, 1989) *

John Hicks Sir John Richards Hicks (8 April 1904 – 20 May 1989) was a British economist. He is considered one of the most important and influential economists of the twentieth century. The most familiar of his many contributions in the field of economic ...

, ''

Friends Old and New ''Friends Old and New'' is an album led by pianist John Hicks, recorded in 1992.Johnny Hodges Cornelius "Johnny" Hodges (July 25, 1907 – May 11, 1970) was an American alto saxophonist, best known for solo work with Duke Ellington's big band. He played lead alto in the saxophone section for many years. Hodges was also featured on soprano ...

, ''

3 Shades of Blue ''3 Shades of Blue'' is the final album recorded as leader by American jazz saxophonist Johnny Hodges featuring performances recorded in 1970 with vocalist Leon Thomas and composer/arranger Oliver Nelson and first released on the Flying Dutchman ...

'' (

Flying Dutchman The ''Flying Dutchman'' ( nl, De Vliegende Hollander) is a legendary ghost ship, allegedly never able to make port, but doomed to sail the seven seas forever. The myth is likely to have originated from the 17th-century Golden Age of the Du ...

, 1970) *

Bobby Hutcherson Robert Hutcherson (January 27, 1941 – August 15, 2016) was an American jazz vibraphone and marimba player. "Little B's Poem", from the 1966 Blue Note album ''Components'', is one of his best-known compositions.Huey, Steve. "Components – Bob ...

, ''The Al Grey & Dave Burns Sessions'' (Lone Hill Jazz, 2004) *

, ''Things Are Getting Better All the Time'' (Pablo, 1984) * Leiber-Stoller Big Band, ''Yakety Yak'' (Atlantic, 1960) *

Melba Liston Melba Doretta Liston (January 13, 1926 – April 23, 1999) was an American jazz trombonist, arranger, and composer. Other than those playing in all-female bands she was the first woman trombonist to play in big bands during the 1940s and 1960s, ...

, ''

Melba Liston and Her 'Bones ''Melba Liston and Her 'Bones'' is the sole album led by trombonist, arranger and composer Melba Liston, recorded for the MetroJazz label in 1958.Fitzgerald, MMelba Liston Leader Entry accessed March 6, 2018 Reception The All About Jazz revie ...

'' (MetroJazz, 1959) *

Jimmy McGriff James Harrell McGriff (April 3, 1936 – May 24, 2008) was an American hard bop and soul-jazz organist and organ trio bandleader. Biography Early years and influences Born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, United States, McGriff started playing pi ...

, '' Blue to the 'Bone'' (Milestone, 1988) *

Jay McShann James Columbus "Jay" McShann (January 12, 1916 – December 7, 2006) was an American jazz pianist, vocalist, composer, and bandleader. He led bands in Kansas City, Missouri, that included Charlie Parker, Bernard Anderson, Walter Brown, and B ...

, ''

Some Blues ''Some Blues'' is an album by jazz pianist Jay McShann recorded in 1990 and 1992 and released on the Chiaroscuro label in 1993.Lee Morgan Edward Lee Morgan (July 10, 1938 – February 19, 1972) was an American jazz trumpeter and composer. One of the key hard bop musicians of the 1960s, Morgan came to prominence in his late teens, recording on John Coltrane's '' Blue Train'' ...

/Thad Jones, ''Minor Strain'' (Roulette/Capitol, 1990) *

Barbara Morrison Barbara Morrison (September 10, 1949 – March 16, 2022) was an American jazz singer. Biography Born in Ypsilanti, Michigan on September 10, 1949, and raised in Romulus, Michigan, Barbara Morrison recorded her first appearance for radio in Detr ...

, ''I Know How to Do It'' (Chartmaker, 1996) * Joe Newman, ''

Counting Five in Sweden ''Counting Five in Sweden'' is a live album by trumpeter Joe Newman with Count Basie's All Stars recorded in Sweden in 1958 for the Swedish Metronome label and also released in the US on World Pacific.Metronome A metronome, from ancient Greek μέτρον (''métron'', "measure") and νομός (nomós, "custom", "melody") is a device that produces an audible click or other sound at a regular interval that can be set by the user, typically in beats pe ...

, 1958) *

Johnny Pate John William Pate (born December 5, 1923) is an American former jazz bassist who became a producer, arranger, and leading figure in Chicago soul, pop, and rhythm and blues. He learned piano and tuba as a child and later picked up the bass guitar ...

, ''Outrageous'' (MGM, 1970) *

Pony Poindexter Norwood "Pony" Poindexter (February 8, 1926, New Orleans, Louisiana – April 14, 1988, Oakland, California) was an American jazz saxophonist. Poindexter began on clarinet and switched to playing alto and tenor sax. In 1940 he studied unde ...

, ''

Gumbo! ''Gumbo!'' is an album by saxophonists Pony Poindexter and Booker Ervin which was released on the Prestige label in 1963. The 1999 CD reissue added eight unreleased selections from earlier sessions, three led by Poindexter and five by Ervin. Rec ...

'' (Prestige, 1963) * Paul Quinichette, ''

Like Basie! ''Like Basie!'', (also released as ''Like Who?'' and ''Paul Quinichette''), is an album by American jazz saxophonist Paul Quinichette featuring tracks recorded in 1959 and released on the United Artists label.Dianne Reeves, ''The Grand Encounter'' (Blue Note, 1996) *

Annie Ross Annabelle McCauley Allan Short (25 July 193021 July 2020), known professionally as Annie Ross, was a British-American singer and actress, best known as a member of the jazz vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks & Ross. Early life Ross was born in Surr ...

, ''Music Is Forever'' (DRG, 1996) *

Buddy Tate George Holmes "Buddy" Tate (February 22, 1913 – February 10, 2001) was an American jazz saxophonist and clarinetist. Biography Tate was born in Sherman, Texas, United States, and first played the alto saxophone. According to the website All A ...

, Al Grey, ''Just Jazz'' (Reservoir, 1989) *

Leon Thomas Amos Leon Thomas Jr. (October 4, 1937 – May 8, 1999), known professionally as Leon Thomas, was an American jazz and blues vocalist, born in East St. Louis, Illinois, and known for his bellowing glottal-stop style of free jazz singing in the ...

, ''Facets'' (Flying Dutchman, 1973) *

Mel Torme Mel, Mels or MEL may refer to: Biology * Mouse erythroleukemia cell line (MEL) * National Herbarium of Victoria, a herbarium with the Index Herbariorum code MEL People * Mel (given name), the abbreviated version of several given names (including ...

, ''Night at the Concord Pavilion'' (Concord, 1990) * Robert Trowers, ''Point of View'' (Concord, 1995) *

Sarah Vaughan Sarah Lois Vaughan (March 27, 1924 – April 3, 1990) was an American jazz singer. Nicknamed "Sassy" and " The Divine One", she won two Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, and was nominated for a total of nine Grammy Award ...

, ''No Count Sarah'' (Mercury, 1959) *

Eddie Cleanhead Vinson Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson (born Edward L. Vinson Jr.; December 18, 1917 – July 2, 1988) was an American jump blues, jazz, bebop and R&B alto saxophonist and blues shouter. He was nicknamed Cleanhead after an incident in which his hair was a ...

, ''Kidney Stew'' (Black and Blue, 1996) *

George Wein George Wein (October 3, 1925 – September 13, 2021) was an American jazz promoter, pianist, and producer.

, ''Swing That Music'' (Columbia, 1993) *

Frank Wess Frank Wellington Wess (January 4, 1922 – October 30, 2013) was an American jazz saxophonist and flutist. In addition to his extensive solo work, Wess is remembered for his time in Count Basie's band from the early 1950s into the 1960s. Critic ...

Harry Edison Harry "Sweets" Edison (October 10, 1915 – July 27, 1999) was an American jazz trumpeter and a member of the Count Basie Orchestra. His most important contribution was as a Hollywood studio musician, whose muted trumpet can be heard backi ...

, ''Dear Mr. Basie'' (Concord Jazz, 1990) * Randy Weston', '' Tanjah'' (

Polydor Polydor Records Ltd. is a German-British record label that operates as part of Universal Music Group. It has a close relationship with Universal's Interscope Geffen A&M Records label, which distributes Polydor's releases in the United State ...

, 1973) * Ernie Wilkins, ''Here Comes the Swingin' Mr. Wilkins!'' (Everest, 1960) * Joe Williams, '' Everyday I Have the Blues'' (Roulette, 1959) * Joe Williams, ''Sing Along with Basie'' (Roulette, 1980)

References

External links

Al Grey/Rosalie Soladar Memorial Collection
part of th
International Jazz Collections
at the University of Idaho Library * {{DEFAULTSORT:Grey, Al 1925 births 2000 deaths African-American musicians American jazz trombonists Male trombonists United States Navy personnel of World War II Count Basie Orchestra members People from Aldie, Virginia People from Pottsville, Pennsylvania United States Navy sailors Military personnel from Pennsylvania Military personnel from Virginia 20th-century American musicians Gemini Records artists Jazz musicians from Pennsylvania Jazz musicians from Virginia 20th-century trombonists American male jazz musicians Statesmen of Jazz members Black & Blue Records artists Chiaroscuro Records artists Tangerine Records artists 20th-century American male musicians Arbors Records artists Columbia Records artists Argo Records artists