Leo Parker
Leo Parker (born April 18, 1925 in Washington, DC , † February 11, 1962 in New York City , New York) was an American jazz saxophonist .
life and work
Parker began his musical career on the alto saxophone and made some studio recordings with Coleman Hawkins . Parker moved in 1944 to the baritone saxophone when he with the bebop oriented big band of Billy Eckstine toured, Billy Eckstine and His Orchestra . The next year he was a member of the so-called "Unholy Four". The other members of the saxophone set were Dexter Gordon , Sonny Stitt, and Gene Ammons , but on a few occasions Eckstine hired namesake Charlie Parker , who was probably the greatest influence on Leo Parker. Leo Parker transferred the bebop phrasing to the baritone saxophone and thus established the instrument in modern jazz .
After leaving Eckstine, Leo Parker played in New York with Dizzy Gillespie and Fats Navarro before playing with Illinois Jacquets Popular Band . In a recording session with Sir Charles Thompson he played the track Mad Lad , which then became his nickname.
In addition to other studio recordings with Gordon, he played with Stitt, Ammons, Teddy Edwards , Wardell Gray and others. Parker's career came to an end quite quickly: as early as 1947, his drug addiction was seriously affecting his health. He also played occasionally in the 1950s, recorded a single for United and was occasionally involved in recordings such as with Bill Jennings , on which he was mostly far from his possibilities. In 1961 he made a comeback and made two records for Blue Note Records , but died in 1962 of heart failure.
Discography
- 1950 - Prestige First Sessions - Volume 1 with Al Haig , Oscar Pettiford , Max Roach , Jack Parker
- 1961 - Let me tell you 'bout it with John Burks, Bill Swindell, Yusef Salim, Stan Conover, Purnell Rice
Web links
- Works by and about Leo Parker in the catalog of the German National Library
- Information from Answers
- Leo Parker at Allmusic (English)
personal data | |
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SURNAME | Parker, Leo |
BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American jazz saxophonist |
DATE OF BIRTH | April 18, 1925 |
PLACE OF BIRTH | Washington, DC |
DATE OF DEATH | February 11, 1962 |
Place of death | New York City , New York |