Sam Most

Sam Most ranked among the earliest standout jazz flutists, delivering a cool-toned tenor sound while proving a capable, though seldom-featured, clarinetist. The younger sibling of clarinetist Abe Most, he gained initial professional seasoning in the orchestras of Tommy Dorsey in 1948, Boyd Raeburn, and Don Redman. When he led his debut date in 1953, Most had already developed into a commanding flutist—one of the first to vocalize through the instrument—and for a short period held uncontested command of the jazz flute scene. Between 1953 and 1958 he cut strong sessions for Prestige, Debut (later reissued on Xanadu), Vanguard, and Bethlehem, often doubling on clarinet, and appeared in varied contexts alongside Chris Connor, Paul Quinichette, and Teddy Wilson. Following a stint in Buddy Rich’s Orchestra from 1959 to 1961, he relocated to Los Angeles and established himself as a studio musician. There Most collaborated with Red Norvo and Louie Bellson, enjoyed renewed visibility through Xanadu recordings made between 1976 and 1979, and became a steady presence on the local scene, occasionally sharing bandstands with his brother. He succumbed to cancer in June 2013 at the age of 82.