Sahib Shihab

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Sahib Shihab (born June 23, 1925 in Savannah , Georgia, as Edmund Gregory ; † October 24, 1989 in Knoxville , Tennessee) was an American jazz musician ( alto , baritone and soprano saxophone , flute ).

Live and act

Shihab studied after private lessons with Elmer Snowden in 1941/42 at the Boston Conservatory. He had previously played in the bands of Luther Henderson and Larry Noble in 1938/39 . From 1944 to 1946 Fletcher Henderson hired him as the first alto saxophonist; he also performed with Roy Eldridge and Ray Perry . In 1946 he converted to the Islamic faith and adopted his new name. Between 1946 and 1948 he played with Phil Edmund and Buddy Johnson .

Shibab then worked in New York City at Thelonious Monk (with whom he was close friends), Tadd Dameron , Art Blakey and Dizzy Gillespie . Between 1952 and 1955 he was a member of the Illinois Jacquet band , with whom he also toured Europe. During this time he switched to the baritone saxophone and found an independent way of playing on it; he worked with Dakota Staton , Oscar Peterson and again with Gillespie. In 1956/57 he recorded with his own sextet, but also with Phil Woods . In 1959/60 he went to Europe in the Quincy Jones Big Band , where he settled in Sweden and then in Denmark. He worked as principal soloist with the Kenny Clarke / Francy Boland Big Band , The George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band and as a guest in radio orchestras. He participated in projects such as George Gruntz ' Noon in Tunisia (1967) and the Flute Summit with Jeremy Steig , James Moody and Chris Hinze and recorded records under his own name. In 1973 he went back to North America, then returned to Europe again to work with Thad Jones and the Danish Radio Big Band . In 1984 he returned to the United States for good to teach at Rutgers University .

Shihab developed an independent style , especially on the flute, with his blown technique and, like Frank Wess , made a decisive contribution to the establishment of the instrument in jazz.

Discography (selection)

literature

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personal data
SURNAME Shihab, sahib
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Gregory, Edmund
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz musician
DATE OF BIRTH June 23, 1925
PLACE OF BIRTH Savannah , Georgia
DATE OF DEATH October 24, 1989
Place of death Knoxville , Tennessee