Al Grey


Al Grey was an American jazz trombonist who was a member of the Count Basie orchestra. He was known for his plunger mute technique and wrote an instructional book in 1987 called Plunger Techniques.

Career

Al Grey was born in Aldie, Virginia, United States, and grew up in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. He was introduced to the trombone at the age of four, playing in a band called the Goodwill Boys, which was led by his father. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy, where he continued to play the trombone. Soon after his discharge, he joined Benny Carter's band, then the bands of Jimmie Lunceford, Lucky Millinder, and Lionel Hampton. In the 1950s, he was a member of the big bands of Dizzy Gillespie and Count Basie. He led bands in the 1960s with Billy Mitchell and Jimmy Forrest. Later in life he recorded with Clark Terry and J. J. Johnson. He made thirty recordings under his own name and another seventy with bands.
Grey's early trombone style was inspired by Trummy Young. He developed a wild, strong, and full sound. Solos often consisted of short, pronounced phrases with precisely timed syncopation. However, when playing with the plunger, he would produce the most mellow fill-ins and shape melodic answers to the lead voice. This aspect of his playing can be heard to great effect in response to Bing Crosby's vocals on the 1972 album, Bing 'n' Basie.
He died in Scottsdale, Arizona at the age of 74 after suffering from several ailments, including diabetes.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

Dizzy Atmosphere The Last of the Big Plungers The Thinking Man's Trombone The Al Grey - Billy Mitchell Sextet Snap Your Fingers Having a Ball Boss Bone Night Song Shades of Grey Grey's Mood Get It Together O.D. with Jimmy Forrest Struttin' and Shoutin' Things Are Getting Better All the Time with J. J. Johnson Just Jazz with Buddy Tate Al Grey & Jesper Thilo Quintet Al Grey Featuring Arnett Cobb and Jimmy Forrest The New Al Grey Quintet Al Grey Fab Live at the Floating Jazz Festival Christmas Stockin' Stuffer Truly Wonderful with Jimmy Forrest Centerpiece: Live at the Blue Note Me 'n' Jack
  • ''Matzoh and Grits''

As sideman

With Count BasieThe Atomic Mr. Basie Basie Plays Hefti Basie Breakfast Dance and Barbecue Basie One More Time Chairman of the Board Strike Up the Band Dance Along with Basie Kansas City Suite Count Basie/Sarah Vaughan Easin' It Basie Picks the Winners Pop Goes the Basie Big Band Scene '65 Basie Swingin' Voices Singin' Basie Meets Bond Arthur Prysock/Count Basie Broadway Basie's...Way Have a Nice Day Bing 'n' Basie Count Basie Plays Quincy Jones & Neal Hefti Basie Big Band I Told You So Montreux '77 Prime Time Basie Jam #2 Basie/Eckstine Incorporated Basie Jam #3 Count On the Coast Count On the Coast Vol. II Autumn in Paris Count On the Coast '58 Live in Stockholm Loose Walk Basie in Europe
With Clarence "Gatemouth" BrownSan Antonio Ballbuster Atomic Energy More Stuff Pressure Cooker
With Ray CharlesThe Genius of Ray Charles Genius + Soul = Jazz At the Club
With Dizzy GillespieDizzy Gillespie at Newport Dizzy in Greece Birks' Works
With Lionel HamptonNewport Uproar! Hamp's Big Band Live! Live at the Blue Note
With Jon HendricksFast Livin' Blues Freddie Freeloader Boppin' at the Blue Note
With Quincy JonesGolden Boy Gula Matari I Heard That!! Quincy Jones Talkin' Verve
With Oscar PettifordThe Oscar Pettiford Orchestra in Hi-Fi Volume Two In Memoriam Oscar Pettiford Deep Passion
With Clark TerrySqueeze Me! What a Wonderful World Shades of Blues
With others