Supersax
has always been about five virtuoso saxophonists playing, with impressive
precision, harmonised arrangements of Charlie Parker’s technically
challenging saxophone solos.
Sax
player Med Flory conceived of this idea while working with big bands
in the ‘60s, and by 1972, in collaboration with bassist Buddy
Clark, established a nine-piece band (including brass and rhythm
section) dedicated to playing their note-for-note arrangements of
Parker’s classic bebop improvisations such as Lady Be
Good, Parker's Mood, Hot House and Ko-Ko.
The
band's popularity grew rapidly and in 1973 their debut album ‘Supersax
plays Bird’ won a Grammy award for Best Performance by
a Jazz Band. They continued to tour and record successfully
into the ‘80s with minor changes to the original line up.
Key sidemen to Flory and Clark (who left in 1975) included Bill
Perkins, Warne Marsh, Jay Migliori, Jack Nimitz, Lanny Morgan, trumpeter
Conte Candoli and trombonists Carl Fontana and Frank Rosolino.
Supersax
albums include Salt Peanuts, Supersax Plays Bird With Strings
(Capitol), Chasin' The Bird, Dynamite (MPS). Albums made
with LA Voices (a five-piece vocal group, which notably found Med
Flory doubling as one of the singers) include Embraceable You,
and Straighten Up And Fly Right (CBS).
For
up-coming live dates, look at Live
dates
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