Steve Grossman

Although he began in fusion-oriented contexts, Steve Grossman matured into a standout hard bop tenor saxophonist working in the lineage of Sonny Rollins while forging a personal voice. He first took up alto at age eight, then added soprano at fifteen and tenor at sixteen. Grossman stepped directly into prominence by succeeding Wayne Shorter in Miles Davis’ fusion ensemble, remaining from late 1969 through September 1970. In 1971 he performed with Lonnie Liston Smith, followed by a formative stretch from 1971 to 1973 in Elvin Jones’ ensemble and, during the mid-1970s, membership in Gene Perla’s Stone Alliance. Thereafter he primarily fronted his own groups, leading sessions for the labels P.M., Owl, Red, and Dreyfus. Steve Grossman died in Glen Cove, New York, on August 13, 2020, from cardiac arrest after an extended illness; he was 69.