David Murray (saxophonist)
David Murray | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 19, 1955 |
| Origin | Oakland, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | |
| Years active | 1970s–present |
| Labels | Motéma Music, Red Baron, Justin Time, Marge, PAO Records, Intakt Records, Black Saint, Columbia Epic, Indian Navigation, Disk Union |
David Keith Murray[1] (born February 19, 1955)[2] is an American jazz saxophonist and composer who performs mostly on tenor and bass clarinet. He has recorded prolifically for many record labels since the mid-1970s.[3] He lives in New York City.
Biography
[edit]Murray was born in Oakland, California, United States.[2] He attended Pomona College for two years as a member of the class of 1977, ultimately receiving an honorary degree in 2012.[4] He was initially influenced by free jazz musicians such as Albert Ayler, Ornette Coleman and Archie Shepp. He gradually evolved a more diverse style in his playing and compositions. Murray set himself apart from most tenor players of his generation by not taking John Coltrane as his model, choosing instead to incorporate elements of mainstream players Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster and Paul Gonsalves into his mature style.[5] Despite this, he recorded a tribute to Coltrane, Octet Plays Trane, in 1999.
Murray was a founding member of the World Saxophone Quartet with Oliver Lake, Julius Hemphill and Hamiet Bluiett.[6] He has recorded or performed with musicians such as Henry Threadgill, James Blood Ulmer, Olu Dara, Tani Tabbal, Butch Morris, Donal Fox, McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, Sunny Murray (no relation), Ed Blackwell, Johnny Dyani, Fred Hopkins, Don Pullen, Randy Weston and Steve McCall. David Murray's use of the circular breathing technique has enabled him to play astonishingly long phrases.[7]
In 2024, Murray released an album with his new quartet: Francesca, with Marta Sanchez (piano), Luke Stewart (bass) and Russell Carter (drums). His wife Francesca Cinelli Murray produced and directed a video animation for the title “Ninno”, in collaboration with painter and animator Nancy Ostrovsky. [1]
Francesca was selected #2 2024 Best Jazz Album of the Year by the New York Times and among the best jazz albums of the year by Downbeat.
David Murray quartet next album will be released in spring 2025 with Verve Records.
Awards
[edit]- In 1980 David Murray was named Village Voice Musician of the Decade.
- Murray was honored with the Bird Award[8] in 1986.
- He was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1989.[9]
- David Murray and his band earned a Grammy Award in 1989 in the Best Jazz Instrumental Group Performance category for Blues for Coltrane: A Tribute to John Coltrane.[10]
- In 1991 he was honored with the Danish Jazzpar Prize.[11]
- Newsday named him Musician of the Year in 1993.[12]
- He was given an honorary Doctorate Degree in Music, Pomona College in 2012
- He was awarded a legacy grant by the California Arts Council in 2021
Discography
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Murray, David (Keith)". Encyclopedia.com.
- ^ a b Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 1782/3. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
- ^ Staff Writer (18 November 2004). "Best of the best, David Murray, presents workshop, concerts in Bozeman". Bozeman Daily Chronicle, June 29, 2006. Retrieved 2006-06-29.
- ^ "2012 Commencement Recap". Pomona College. 19 May 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
- ^ Robert Palmer (October 27, 1982). "The Pop Life; David Murray Comes Into His Own". New York Times. Retrieved 2006-06-29.
- ^ Kelsey, Chris. "World Saxophone Quartet Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
- ^ Staff Writer. "Jazz Profiles - David Murray". BBC Radio 3 Jazz Profiles. Retrieved 2006-06-29.
- ^ "Bird Awards winners 1985-2005". North Sea Jazz. Archived from the original on 2006-05-19. Retrieved 2006-06-29.
- ^ Bettie Gabrielli. "JAZZ ARTISTS JON JANG & DAVID MURRAY IN CONCERT FEBRUARY 8 AT OBERLIN COLLEGE". Oberlin Online. Archived from the original on 2006-05-20. Retrieved 2006-06-29.
- ^ Jon Pareles - The New York Times. "David Murray Creole Project". Europe Jazz Network. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2006-06-29.
- ^ "The Jazzpar Prize". The Jazzpar Prize Official Website. Retrieved 2006-06-29.
- ^ Staff Writer. "David Murray". Walker Art Center. Archived from the original on 2006-08-16. Retrieved 2006-06-29.
External links
[edit]
- 1955 births
- Living people
- 20th-century African-American musicians
- 21st-century African-American musicians
- 21st-century American male musicians
- 21st-century American saxophonists
- 21st-century American clarinetists
- African-American saxophonists
- American jazz bass clarinetists
- American jazz clarinetists
- American jazz composers
- American jazz saxophonists
- American male jazz composers
- American male saxophonists
- Avant-garde jazz clarinetists
- Avant-garde jazz saxophonists
- Black Saint/Soul Note artists
- Delmark Records artists
- DIW Records artists
- Enja Records artists
- Cadillac Records artists
- Free jazz clarinetists
- Free jazz saxophonists
- Grammy Award winners
- India Navigation artists
- Intakt Records artists
- Jazz musicians from California
- Justin Time Records artists
- Mingus Dynasty (band) members
- Motéma Music artists
- Musicians from Oakland, California
- Pomona College alumni
- Post-bop clarinetists
- Post-bop saxophonists
- Red Baron Records artists
- World Saxophone Quartet members