James Clay (musician)

James Earl Clay (born September 8, 1935 in Dallas , Texas ; † January 1, 1994 there ) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and flutist.

Live and act

While in school, Clay played the alto saxophone, became a professional musician, and played with local bands in Dallas, including Booker Ervin . He later went to California, where he recorded the album Tenormen in 1956 for the small label Jazz West with Lawrence Marable and Sonny Clark . In 1957 he played in Red Mitchell's Quartet; He returned to his hometown of Dallas in late 1957 and served in the United States Army in 1959 . In 1957 he made recordings with Lawrence Marable and Red Mitchell as well as two albums under his own name in 1960 with David Newman and Wynton Kelly as well as Nat Adderley and Victor Feldman . In the 1980s, Clay attempted a comeback on the jazz scene. He played with Bill Perkins in 1987 and with Don Cherry on his album Art Deco in 1988 .

His style is heavily influenced by Sonny Rollins .

Discography

• With Lawrence Marable: Tenorman ( Jazz West Records , 1956)
• With David "Fathead" Newman : The Sound Of The Wide Open Spaces ( Riverside Records , 1960)
• A Double Dose Of Soul (Riverside, 1960)
• With Bill Perkins: Right Chemistry ( Jazz West Records , 1987)
• I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart (Antilles, 1991)

As a sideman

• Red Mitchell: Presenting Red Mitchell ( Contemporary , 1957)
• Wes Montgomery : Movin 'Along (Riverside, 1960)
• Don Cherry: Art Deco ( A&M Records , 1988)
• Lorraine Geller : Memorial , 1954/57 ( Fresh Sound FSRCD 195)

literature

• Richard Cook , Brian Morton : The Penguin Guide of Jazz on CD . 6th edition. Penguin, London 2002, ISBN 0-14-051521-6 .

Web links

• Works by and about James Clay in the catalog of the German National Library
• Biography at Allmusic