David Murray (saxophonist)
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David Keith Murray<ref name="Encyclopedia.com">Template:Cite web</ref> (born February 19, 1955)<ref name="LarkinGE">Template:Cite book</ref> is an American jazz saxophonist and composer who performs mostly on tenor and bass clarinet. He has recorded prolifically for many record labels since the mid-1970s.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He lives in New York City.
Biography
Murray was born on February 19, 1955, in Oakland, California, United States.<ref name="LarkinGE"/> He attended Pomona College for two years as a member of the class of 1977, ultimately receiving an honorary degree in 2012.<ref name="Pomona 2012">Template:Cite web</ref> He was initially influenced by free jazz musicians such as Albert Ayler, Ornette Coleman and Archie Shepp. He gradually evolved a more diverse style in his playing and compositions. Murray set himself apart from most tenor players of his generation by not taking John Coltrane as his model, choosing instead to incorporate elements of mainstream players Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster and Paul Gonsalves into his mature style.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Despite this, he recorded a tribute to Coltrane, Octet Plays Trane, in 1999.
Murray was a founding member of the World Saxophone Quartet with Oliver Lake, Julius Hemphill and Hamiet Bluiett.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He has recorded or performed with musicians such as Henry Threadgill, James Blood Ulmer, Olu Dara, Tani Tabbal, Butch Morris, Donal Fox, McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, Sunny Murray (no relation), Ed Blackwell, Johnny Dyani, Fred Hopkins, Don Pullen, Randy Weston and Steve McCall. David Murray's use of circular breathing has enabled him to play astonishingly long phrases.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2024, Murray released an album with his new quartet: Francesca, with Marta Sanchez (piano), Luke Stewart (bass) and Russell Carter (drums). His wife Francesca Cinelli Murray produced and directed a video animation for the title "Ninno", in collaboration with painter and animator Nancy Ostrovsky.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Francesca was selected #2 2024 Best Jazz Album of the Year by The New York Times and among the best jazz albums of the year by Downbeat.
David Murray's next quartet album, Birdly Serenade, was released in spring 2025 on Impulse! Records.
Awards
- In 1980, David Murray was named Village Voice Musician of the Decade.
- Murray was honored with the Bird Award<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> in 1986.
- He was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1989.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- David Murray and his band earned a Grammy Award in 1989 in the Best Jazz Instrumental Group Performance category for Blues for Coltrane: A Tribute to John Coltrane.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- In 1991, he was honored with the Danish Jazzpar Prize.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Newsday named him Musician of the Year in 1993.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- He was the recipient of an honorary doctorate in music from Pomona College in 2012.
- He was awarded a legacy grant by the California Arts Council in 2021.
Discography
References
External links
- Template:AllMusic Template:Bandcamp Template:Discogs artist Template:MusicBrainz artist
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- David Murray's official website at davidmurray.xyz
- Unofficial David Murray website
- -commentaires de CBS 2007 sur bordeauxsalsa.com
- David Murray interview at allaboutjazz.com
Template:David Murray Template:World Saxophone Quartet Template:Authority control
- 1955 births
- Living people
- 20th-century African-American musicians
- 21st-century African-American musicians
- 21st-century American clarinetists
- 21st-century American male musicians
- 21st-century American saxophonists
- African-American saxophonists
- American jazz bass clarinetists
- American jazz clarinetists
- American jazz composers
- American jazz saxophonists
- American male jazz composers
- American male saxophonists
- Avant-garde jazz clarinetists
- Avant-garde jazz saxophonists
- Black Saint/Soul Note artists
- Cadillac Records artists
- Delmark Records artists
- DIW Records artists
- Enja Records artists
- Free jazz clarinetists
- Free jazz saxophonists
- Grammy Award winners
- Impulse! Records artists
- India Navigation artists
- Intakt Records artists
- Jazz musicians from California
- Justin Time Records artists
- Mingus Dynasty (band) members
- Motéma Music artists
- Musicians from Oakland, California
- Pomona College alumni
- Portrait Records artists
- Post-bop clarinetists
- Post-bop saxophonists
- Red Baron Records artists
- World Saxophone Quartet members