Wardell Gray was one of the truly great bebop tenor saxophonists. Often performing in tandem with that other giant, Dexter Gordon, Gray also worked with Benny Goodman and Count Basie. Like so many of his contemporaries he fell victim to the living conditions American society imposed on it's black musicians. With a smooth mellow and consistent tone, he created a tenor style that veered from swing to bebop, a style that was elegant, sure-footed, mature and distinctive. When musicians like Dexter Gordon, Sonny Criss or even Charlie Parker blew at him on the stand, Wardell did anything but fall over, he blew back with conviction and a style that was all his own.
 

The Wardell Gray Story - Gray, Wardell  

Disc 1

1. At The El Grotto 2:57
2. Straight Life 2:43
3. Let's Get Started 3:00
4. Bamby 2:55
5. Blue Keys 2:51
6. Dell's Bells 2:55
7. One For Prez 3:08
8. The Man I Love 3:16
9. Easy Swing 3:01
10. The Great Lie Pts 1 & 2 4:39
11. Blue Lou 5:42
12. Backbreaker 16:05
13. She's Got Blues For Sale 3:01
14. Groovin' High 6:36
15. Hot House 6:16
16. Bebop 7:12

Disc 2

1. The Chase 6:47
2. The Creep 3:26
3. Out Of Nowhere 2:45
4. Blue 'N' Boogie 3:28
5. Semi-Quiet (Sonny's Bop) 3:23
6. Blue Lou 2:45
7. How High The Moon 6:09
8. C Jam Blues 3:48
9. Light Gray 2:33
10. Stoned 2:52
11. Matter And Mind 2:42
12. The Toupe 2:34
13. Cookin' On Up 4:01
14. Swedish Pastry 3:30
15. Mary's Idea 3:10
16. Bye Bye Blues Bop 3:46
17. Stealin' Apples 3:07
18. Jahbero 3:00
19. Ladybird 2:49
20. Symphonette 3:04
21. Shawn 2:33
22. The Hucklebuck 3:23

Disc 3

1. Five Star 2:48
2. Sugar Hill Bop 2:37
3. In A Pinch 3:03
4. It's The Talk Of The Town 3:05
5. Bedlam 3:04
6. In The Land Of Oo-Bla-Dee 3:20
7. Blue Lou 2:59
8. Egg Head 2:45
9. Twisted 3:06
10. Southside 3:22
11. Easy Living 4:26
12. Sweet Lorraine 4:07
13. A Sinner Kissed An Angel 3:08
14. Blue Gray 2:44
15. Grayhound 3:03
16. Treadin' With Treadwell 3:46
17. Scrapple From The Apple 9:06
18. Song Of The Islands 2:49
19. One O' Clock Jump 2:54
20. Tootsie 2:49
21. Nails 3:29
22. Little Pony 2:30

Disc 4

1. April Skies 3:03
2. Bright Boy 2:46
3. Jackie 2:31
4. Farmer's Market 2:47
5. Sweet And Lovely 3:15
6. Loverman 2:20
7. The Jeep Is Jumpin' 3:05
8. Johnny Come Lately 2:46
9. Punkin' 3:21
10. The Rubaiyat 2:58
11. I Hear You Knockin' 2:33
12. Jingle, Jangle, Jump 2:24
13. Citizen's Bop 2:51
14. Bernie's Tune 7:05
15. The Squirrel 9:55
16. Taking A Chance On Love 8:00
17. Get Happy 7:44 DISCOGRAPHY


Disc One - BLUE LOU


Earl Hines and his Orchestra : Willie Cook, Bill Douglas, Fats Palmer, Arthur Walker, tp; Bennie Green, Dickie Harris, Clifton Small, Pappy Smith, tb; Scoops Carey, cl, as; Lloyd Smith, as; Wardell Gray, Kermit Scott, ts; John Williams, bs; Earl Hines, p; Rene Hall, g; Bill Thompson, vib; Gene Thomas, b; Chick Booth, d.

Los Angeles, September 1945


ARA 1063 AT THE EL GROTTO ARA RM 127


Same personnel as above

Los Angeles, April 1946


ARA 1181 STRAIGHT LIFE ARA RM 156


Same personnel as above

Los Angeles, June 1946


1222 LETâ??S GET STARTED Jazz Selection 617

1252 BAMBY Jazz Selection 618

1253 BLUE KEYS Jazz Selection 618


Wardell Gray, ts; Dodo Marmarosa, p; Red Callender, b; Harold

"Doc" West, d.

Los Angeles, November 23, 1946


162-3 DELLâ??S BELLS Vogue V 2105

163-4 ONE FOR PREZ Vogue V 2262

164-2 THE MAN I LOVE Vogue V 2262

165-1 EASY SWING Vogue V2105



Same personnel and date as above, but Chuck Thompson, d, replaces "Doc" West.


166-1 THE GREAT LIE, PTS 1 & 2 Vogue V 2275


Wardell Gray, ts; Erroll Garner, p; Red Callender, b; Jackie Mills, d.

Hollywood, circa February 1947


BLUE LOU Fontana 883907 JCY


Sonny Criss, as; Wardell Gray, ts; Russ Freeman, p; Barney Kessel, g; Harry Babasin, b; Tim Kennedy, d.

Hollywood, April 1947


BACKBREAKER Savoy SJL 2215


Billy Eckstine and his Band : Ray Linn, tp; Billy Eckstine, voc, valve-tb; Gerald Valentine, tb; Wardell Gray, ts; Warren Bracken, p; unknown, g; Shifty Henry, b; Tim Kennedy, d.

Los Angeles, April 27, 1947


N 260 SHEâ??S GOT BLUES

FOR SALE National 9041


Howard McGhee Sextet : Howard McGhee, tp; Sonny Criss, as; Wardell Gray, ts; Dodo Marmarosa, p; Charlie Drayton, b; Jackie Mills, d.

Hollywood, April 29, 1947


GROOVINâ?? HIGH Spotlite SPJ 134

HOT HOUSE Spotlite SPJ 134

BEBOP Spotlite SPJ 134


Disc Two - The Chase


Dexter Gordon and Wardell Gray : Dexter Gordon, Wardell Gray, ts; Jimmy Bunn, p; Red Callender, b; Chuck Thompson, d.

Hollywood, June 12, 1947


1083-D/1084-0 THE CHASE Dial 1017


Sonny Criss All Stars : Al Killian, tp; Sonny Criss, as; Wardell Gray, ts; Charlie Fox, p; Shifty Henry, b; Tim Kennedy, d.

Portland, Oregon, October 17, 1947


THE CREEP Private Rec

OUT OF NOWHERE Private Rec

BLUE Ã?Nâ?? BOOGIE Private Rec

SEMI-QUIET (SONNYâ??S

BOP) Private Rec

BLUE LOU Private Rec


International All Stars : Ake "Stan" Hasselgard, cl; Wardell Gray, ts; Dodo Marmarosa, p; Al Hendrickson, g; probably Clyde Lombardi, b; Frank Bode, d.

Los Angeles, probably December 1947


HOW HIGH THE MOON Spotlite SPJ 134

C JAM BLUES Spotlite SPJ 134


Wardell Gray, ts; Al Haig, p; Clyde Lombardi, b; Tiny Kahn, d.

New York, April 1948


C-126 LIGHT GRAY Sittinâ?? in With SIW 533

C-127-1 STONED Sittinâ?? in With SIW 506

C-128 MATTER AND MIND Sittinâ?? in With SIW 506

C-129 THE TOUPE Sittinâ?? in With SIW 533


Benny Goodman Septet : Benny Goodman, Ake "Stan" Hasselgard, cl; Wardell Gray, ts; Teddy Wilson, p; Billy Bauer, g; Arnold Fishkin, b; Mel Zelnick, d.

"The Clique Restaurant" Philadelphia May 24 (-1), May 27, 1948


COOKINâ?? ON UP (-1) Dragon DRLP 16

SWEDISH PASTRY Dragon DRLP 16


Benny Goodman Sextet : Benny Goodman, cl; Wardell Gray, ts; Mary Lou Williams, p; Billy Bauer, g; Clyde Lombardi, b; Mel Zelnick, d.

Westchester County Centre, June 26, 1948

MARYâ??S IDEA Fran Saterna


Same personnel and location


BYE BYE BLUES BOP Fran Saterna


Benny Goodman Septet : Fats Navarro, tp; Benny Goodman, cl; Wardell Gray, ts; Gene Di Novi, p; Mundell Lowe, g; Clyde Lombardi, b; Mel Zelnick, d.

Hollywood, September 9, 1948


2974-3 STEALINâ?? APPLES Capitol 10173


The Tadd Dameron Sextet : Fats Navarro, tp; Allen Eager, Wardell Gray, ts; Tadd Dameron, p; Curley Russell, b; Kenny Clarke, d;

Chano Pozo, cga.

New York, September 13, 1948


BN 332-4 JAHBERO Blue Note BLP 1532

BN 333-2 LADYBIRD Blue Note BLP 1532

BN 334-2 SYMPHONETTE Blue Note BLP 1532


Wardell Gray Quintet : Eddie Bert, tb; Wardell Gray, ts; Al Haig, p; Clyde L:ombardi, b; Sonny Igoe, d; Buddy Stewart, voc.

New York, November 12, 1948


SHAWN Spotlite SPJ 139


Benny Goodman and his Orchestra : Howard Reich, Doug Mettome, Al Stewart, Irving Goodman, tp; Billy Byers, Eddie Bert, George Monte, tb; Mitch Goldberg, Angelo Cicalese, as; Wardell Gray, Eddie Wasserman, ts; Larry Molinelli, bs; Buddy Greco, p; Francis Beecher, g; Clyde Lombardi, b; Sonny Igoe, d; The Swingers, including Terry Swope, Buddy Greco, voc.

Hollywood, March 31, 1949


4127-4 THE HUCKLEBUCK Capital 5co52 80854


Disc Three - Twisted


Wardell Gray, ts; Al Haig, p; Jimmy Raney, g; Tommy Potter, b; Charlie Perry, d; Terry Swope, voc (-1)

New York, April 1949

SR 1381 FIVE STAR (-1) Seeco 10.002

SR 1382 SUGAR HILL BOP (-1) Seeco 10.002

SR 1383 IN A PINCH Seeco 10.003

SR 1384 ITâ??S THE TALK OF

THE TOWN Seeco 10.003


Benny Goodman Septet : Doug Mettome, tp; Benny Goodman, d; Wardell Gray, ts; Buddy Greco, p, voc (-1); Francis Beecher, g; Clyde Lombardi, b; Sonny Igoe, d.

Hollywood, April 14, 1949


4203-5 BEDLAM Capitol 57.621

4205-3 IN THE LAND OF

OO-BLA-DEE (-1) Capitol 57-621

4206-2 BLUE LOU Capitol 57.60009


Benny Goodman and his Orchestra : Doug Mettome, Al Stewart, John Wilson, Ziggy Schatz, tp; Billy Byers, George Monte, Mario Dione, tb; Mitch Goldberg, Angelo Cicalese, as; Wardell Gray, Eddie Wasserman, ts; Joe Caselaro, bs; Buddy Greco, p; Francis Beecher, g; Bob Carter, b; Sonny Igoe, d.

New York, October 15, 1949


4288-6 EGG HEAD Capitol 57-758


Wardell Gray, ts; Al; Haig, p; Tommy Potter, b; Roy Haynes, d.

New York, November 11, 1949


JRC-46-D TWISTED Prestige 707

JRC-47-E SOUTHSIDE Prestige 711

JRC-48-B EASY LIVING Prestige 707

JRC-49-A SWEET LORRAINE Prestige 711


Wardell Gray, ts; Phil Hill, p; Johnny Richardson, b; Art Mardigan, d.

Detroit, April 25, 1950


JRC-79-A A SINNER KISSED AN

ANGEL Prestige 723

JRC-80-B BLUE GRAY Prestige 714

JRC-81-B GRAYHOUND Prestige 723

JRC-82-C TREADINâ?? WITH

TREADWELL Prestige 714


Clark Terry, tp; Sonny Criss, as; Wardell Gray, ts; Jimmy Bunn, p; Billy Hadnott, b; Chuck Thompson, d.

"Hula Hut", Los Angeles, August 27, 1950


1233/34 SCRAPPLE FROM

THE APPLE Prestige 759,760


Count Basie and his Septet : Clark Terry, tp; Buddy De Franco, cl; Wardell Gray, ts; Rudy Rutherford, bs; Count Basie, p; Freddie Green, g; Jimmy Lewis, b; Gus Johnson, d.

New York, November 2, 1950


44594-1 SONG OF THE ISLANDS CBS 66 102

44597-1 ONE Oâ??CLOCK JUMP Columbia CL 997


Same personnel as above

New York, November 3, 1950


44609-1 TOOTSIE Columbia CL 901


Count Basie and his Orchestra : Lamar Wright, Al Porcino, Clark Terry, Bob Mitchell, tp; Mitchell "Booty" Wood, Leon Comegeys, Matthew Gee, tb; Marshall Royal, Reuben Phillips, as; Wardell Gray, Lucky Thompson, ts; Charlie Fowlkes, bs; Count Basie, p; Freddie Green, g; Jimmy Lewis, b; Gus Johnson, d.

New York, April 10, 1951


45657-1 NAILS EpicEG 7029

45658-1 LITTLE PONY Columbia 39406



Disc Four - Farmerâ??s Market


Art Farmer, tp; Wardell Gray, ts; Hampton Hawes, p; Harper Cosby, b; Lawrance Marable, d; Robert Collier, cga.

Los Angeles, January 21, 1952


312 APRIL SKIES Prestige 840

313 BRIGHT BOY Prestige 840

314 JACKIE Prestige 853

315 FARMERâ??S MARKET Prestige 770

316 SWEET AND LOVELY Prestige 853

317 LOVERMAN Prestige 770


Louis Bellson Just Jazz All Stars : Clark Terry, tp; Juan Tizol, v-tb; John Graas, Fr-h; Willie Smith, as; Wardell Gray, ts; Harry Carney, bs; Billy Strayhorn, p, arr (-1); Wendell Marshall, b; Louis Bellson, d; Shorty Rogers, arr (-2)

Los Angeles, February, 1952


9939 THE JEEP IS JUMPINâ?? (-1) Capitol 15904

9941 JOHNNY COME LATELY (-1) Capitol 15903

9943 PUNKINâ?? (-2) Capitol H 348


Dexter Gordon, ts, bs (-1); Wardell Gray, ts; Gerald Wiggins, p;

org (-2); Red Callender, b; Chuck Thompson, d; Gladys Bentley, voc (-3)

Los Angeles, June 9, 1952


4120-4 THE RUBAIYAT Swingtime 321

4121-2 I HEAR YOU KNOCKINâ??

(-1, -2) Fontana FJL907

4123-1 JINGLE, JANGLE JUMP

(-1, -3) Swingtime 321

4124-1 CITIZENâ??S BOP Swingtime 323



Wardell Gray Quintet : Art Farmer, tp; Wardell Gray, ts; Hampton Hawes, p; Joe Mondragon, b; Shelly Manne, d.

"The Haig", Hollywood, September 9, 1952


BERNIEâ??S TUNE Xanadu 146

THE SQUIRREL Xanadu 146

TAKING A CHANCE ON LOVE Xanadu 146

GET HAPPY Xanadu 146