Al Gay

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Al Gay
Birth nameAlbert Goldstein
Born(1928-02-25)25 February 1928
Died12 October 2013(2013-10-12) (aged 85)
Bedfordshire
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Saxophonist
Instrument(s)Tenor saxophone
Years active1953-2013

Albert Gay (born Albert Goldstein; 25 February 1928 – 12 October 2013) was a British jazz tenor saxophonist.[1]

Biography[edit]

After having played with the Jive Bombers,[2] Gay worked with Freddy Randall from 1953,[3] and would return several times to Randall's future line-ups. In the early 1960s, he was with Bob Wallis' Storyville Jazzmen before going on to join Alex Welsh.[2]

With fellow tenors Dick Morrissey and Stan Robinson, baritone sax Paul Carroll, and trumpets Ian Carr, Kenny Wheeler and Greg Brown, Al Gay formed part of The Animals' Big Band that made its one-and-only public appearance at the 5th Annual British Jazz & Blues Festival in Richmond on 5 August 1965.[4]

In 1978, he played with the World's Greatest Jazz Band. As well as leading his own line-ups, Gay has also played in bands led by Digby Fairweather, Laurie Chescoe[5] and Ron Russell,[2] as well as with the Pizza Express All Stars.[6]

Personal life and death[edit]

Gay lived in Bedfordshire until his death in 2013; an obituary appeared in Jazz Journal's March 2014 edition.

Discography[edit]

As sideman
  • 1967: Hear Me Talkin' – Ruby Braff
  • 1967: A Portrait of Henry "Red" AllenHenry "Red" Allen/The Alex Welsh Band
  • 1978: 100 Years of American Dixieland JazzJohnny Mince (Flutegrove)
  • 1994: After AwhileDick Sudhalter

References[edit]

  1. ^ Yanow, Scott Review. allmusic. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  2. ^ a b c Carr, Ian and Digby Fairweather, Brian Priestley (2004) The Rough Guide to Jazz, p. 285. Rough Guides At Google Books. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  3. ^ Morton, Brian and Richard Cook (2010) The Penguin Jazz Guide: The History of the Music in the 1000 Best Albums. Penguin UK. At Google Books. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  4. ^ Band members - The Animals 1964-1966. Archived 2013-05-20 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  5. ^ Chilton, John (2004) Who's Who of British Jazz: 2nd Edition, p. 146. Continuum At Google Books. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  6. ^ Biography allmusic. Retrieved 24 July 2013.