CiTR

George General "Gigi" Gryce was one of the most important Jazz musicians in the 1950s and early 60s. He collaborated with most of the major musicians as an alto saxophonist, composer or arranger. He wrote some memorable tunes and they are often played to this day. In around 1962, he quit music altogether and for the rest of his life became an inspiring inner-city school teacher. He began to use his Muslim name after leaving music and became Basheer Quism and after his death in 1983 at age 57, the school where he taught was renamed for him. The answers to why he left music are contained in a great book called "The Rat Race Blues" (after one of his tunes). Gryce was well-spoken and highly educated and was unlike so many musicians of his era a non-smoker, non-drinker and never ever used drugs. Our Jazz feature is a recording of the last of his organized bands. He did 3 albums for Prestige (New Jazz) and one for Mercury and some independent dates for obscure labels and then after 1961, there was no more. Tonight's album is one of his finest from that latter period and called "The Hap'nin's". Gryce on alto saxophone, powerhouse trumpeter Richard Williams on the front line, elegant pianist Richard Wyands and a strong rhythm section with Julian Euell on bass and Philly swinger Mickey Roker on drums. A superb album by a great talent that featured two of Gryce's best known tunes plus his arrangements on all of them. Check out Gigi Gryce!