Carter Jefferson


Carter Jefferson was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.

Biography

Jefferson played clarinet and alto saxophone early in his career, playing in the backing bands for The Temptations, The Supremes, and Little Richard in the 1960s. In 1971, he entered New York University, and played with Mongo Santamaría and with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. Between 1977 and 1980 he performed and recorded with Woody Shaw. Following this, Jefferson spent time with Elvin Jones, Roy Haynes, Cedar Walton, Jerry Gonzalez, Malachi Thompson, Barbara Donald, and Jack Walrath. His only record as a bandleader was the 1978 release The Rise of Atlantis, produced by Woody Shaw. A heavy drinker and smoker for most of his life, he died in Kraków, Poland, in 1993 after an emergency surgical procedure; he had been suffering from cirrhosis, kidney failure, stomach ulcers, a hemorrhaging esophagus, acute circulatory failure, and other maladies.

Discography

As leader

With Art Blakey
  • Buhaina
  • Anthenagin
With Walter Davis, Jr.
  • Illumination
With Woody Shaw
With Barbara Donald
  • Barbara Donald and Unity: Olympia Live
  • Barbara Donald and Unity: The Past and Tomorrows
With Malachi Thompson
With Jack Walrath
  • Master of Suspense
  • Neohippus
  • Gut Feelings
With Clifford Jordan
  • ''The Mellow Side of Clifford Jordan''