Biography
Although Gigi Gryce distinguished himself as an alto saxophonist throughout the 1950s, his compositional talents stood out most prominently, as evidenced by his creation of the enduring jazz standard "Minority." Having spent his formative years in Hartford, Connecticut, before pursuing studies at the Boston Conservatory and later in Paris, he established himself in New York alongside Max Roach, Tadd Dameron, and Clifford Brown. In 1953, Gryce joined Lionel Hampton for a European tour and also directed multiple recording sessions while in France. Following a period of freelance work in 1954 that encompassed a collaboration with Thelonious Monk, he joined forces with Oscar Pettiford's ensembles from 1955 to 1957 and simultaneously directed the Jazz Lab Quintet through 1958, which included Donald Byrd among its members. Between 1959 and 1961, Gryce co-led a quintet alongside Richard Williams before abandoning performance entirely in favor of a teaching career. Over the course of his abbreviated professional tenure, he issued leader dates on Vogue—with numerous titles later appearing on Prestige in the United States—as well as Savoy, Metrojazz, New Jazz, and Mercury.
Albums
