Bill Graham (saxophonist)

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Bill Graham (born September 8, 1918 as William Henry Graham in Kansas City (Missouri) ) is an American alto and baritone saxophonist of swing and modern jazz as well as a music teacher.

Live and act

Bill Graham grew up in Denver and studied there at the university, two years at the Music Institute in Tuskegee and after the army at Lincoln University . In Denver he had his own orchestra, in which u. a. Paul Quinichette played along. He worked with Count Basie and Ed Wilcox before working mainly with Dizzy Gillespie between 1946 and 1953 . He accompanied the singer Sarah Vaughan with his orchestra and toured Europe in 1953, where they also performed in the Salle Pleyel in Paris . He also played with Erskine Hawkins , Herbie Fields and Lucky Millinder during this time . He then led his own formation in New York for two years. From 1955 to 1957 he played again in the Count Basie Orchestra , was involved in the latter's album "April in Paris" (1956) and appeared with him in 1957 at the Newport Jazz Festival . In 1956/57 he also worked on recordings of Paul Quinichette. At the beginning of 1958 he moved to the Duke Ellington Orchestra , where he played on the new recording of "Black, Brown and Beige" (with Mahalia Jackson ). After trying his own formations (1958/59) he worked with Mercer Ellington , but was also heard in the rhythm and blues sector with Little Willie John , Joe Williams and Wynonie Harris . In the 1960s he largely withdrew from the jazz scene and worked as a music teacher in New York.

Selection discography

  • Dizzy Gillespie: Pleyel Jazz Concert 1953 (Vogue)
  • Paul Quinichette: The Complete Dawn Sessions (Blue Moon, 1956-57)

Literature / sources

personal data
SURNAME Graham, Bill
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Graham, William Henry (maiden name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American saxophonist
DATE OF BIRTH September 8, 1918
PLACE OF BIRTH Kansas City (Missouri)