Ray Pitts

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Raymond Bernard "Ray" Pitts (born September 30, 1932 in Boston ; † November 2, 2012 in Nivå , Denmark ) was an American jazz musician ( saxophone , flute , keyboard ), composer and arranger living in Denmark .

Live and act

Pitts lived in Denmark since 1962 and worked in the DR Big Band , first as a saxophonist, then he was active in the orchestra as an arranger, composer and producer; from 1971 to 1973 he directed the big band. In addition to the DR Big Band, Pitts a. a. with George Russels , Ben Webster , Birgit Brüel and in the formation Underground Railroad , also with Helmut Brandt , Eddie Skoller and Erik Moseholm . He also wrote for the music magazine Jazz Special . Pitts worked in the field of jazz between 1963 and 1999 with 17 recording sessions. Shortly before his death, Pitts, who was awarded the Django d'Or in 2005 and the Ben Webster Prize of Honor in 2010 , received the Leo Mathisen Prisen .

Discographic notes

  • George Russell Sextet featuring Don Cherry : At Beethoven Hall (SABA / MPS, 1965 with Bertil Lövgren, Brian Trentham, Cameron Brown , Albert Heath )
  • Erik Moseholm, Ray Pitts: Radio Jazz Group (Jazzhuis Disk, 1965)
  • DR Big Band: This Train (DaCapo, 1991)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Marie Ravn Nielsen: Dansk-amerikansk jazzlegende død før hæder (2012) in Danmarks Radio
  2. ↑ Tom Lord Jazz Discography
personal data
SURNAME Pitts, Ray
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Pitts, Raymond Bernard (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz musician, arranger and composer
DATE OF BIRTH September 30, 1932
PLACE OF BIRTH Boston
DATE OF DEATH November 2, 2012
Place of death Nivå , Denmark