David Murray (jazz musician)
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David Murray (born 1955 in Oakland, California, United States) is a notable jazz musician. Murray plays mainly tenor saxophone and sometimes bass clarinet. He has recorded prolifically<ref>Staff Writer. Best of the best, David Murray, presents workshop, concerts in Bozeman. Bozeman Daily Chronicle June 29 2006. Retrieved on 2006-06-29.</ref> on a variety of labels since the mid-1970s. One critic dubbed Murray the Joyce Carol Oates of jazz, comparing Murray's prolific and consistently highly-regarded work to the noted novelist's.
David Murray's use of the circular breathing technique<ref>Staff Writer. Jazz Profiles - David Murray. BBC Radio 3 Jazz Profiles. Retrieved on 2006-06-29.</ref> has enabled him to play astonishingly long phrases. Murray was initially heavily influenced by free jazz musicians such as Archie Shepp and Albert Ayler. He gradually evolved a more mainstream approach 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 Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, and Paul Gonsalves<ref>Robert Palmer. "The Pop Life; David Murray Comes Into His Own", New York Times, October 27, 1982. Retrieved on 2006-06-29.</ref> into his mature style. Despite this, he recorded a tribute to Coltrane, Octet Plays Trane, in 1999. His 1996 tribute to the Grateful Dead<ref>John Metzger. Dark Star: The Music of the Grateful Dead. The Music Box Online. Retrieved on 2006-06-29.</ref> , Dark Star, was also critically well received.
Murray was a founding member of the World Saxophone Quartet<ref>Chris Kelsey, All Music Guide. World Saxophone Quartet. Answers.com. Retrieved on 2006-06-29.</ref> with Oliver Lake, Julius Hemphill and Hamiet Bluiett. He has recorded or performed with musicians such as Henry Threadgill, James Blood Ulmer, Olu Dara, Tani Tabbal, Butch Morris, McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, Ed Blackwell, Johnny Dyani, and Steve McCall.
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[edit] Awards
- In 1980 David Murray was named Village Voice Musician of the Decade
- Murray was honoured with the Bird Award<ref>Bird Awards winners 1985-2005. North Sea Jazz. Retrieved on 2006-06-29.</ref> in 1986.
- Awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1989<ref>Bettie Gabrielli. JAZZ ARTISTS JON JANG & DAVID MURRAY IN CONCERT FEBRUARY 8 AT OBERLIN COLLEGE. Oberlin Online. Retrieved on 2006-06-29.</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>Jon Pareles - The New York Times. David Murray Creole Project. Europe Jazz Network. Retrieved on 2006-06-29.</ref>
- 1991 honoured with the Danish Jazzpar Prize<ref>The Jazzpar Prize. The Jazzpar Prize Official Website. Retrieved on 2006-06-29.</ref>
- The Newsday named him Musician of the Year in 1993<ref>Staff Writer. David Murray. Walker Art Center. Retrieved on 2006-06-29.</ref>
[edit] References
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