Gary Smulyan


Gary Smulyan is an American jazz musician who plays baritone saxophone. He studied at Hofstra University before working with Woody Herman. He leads a trio with bassist Ray Drummond and drummer Kenny Washington.

Career

Smulyan has played with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the Mel Lewis Big Band, the Dave Holland Big Band and Octet, the Dizzy Gillespie All Star Big Band, and he has performed and recorded with Carla Bley's Big Band. His biggest influence is Pepper Adams. When Adams died, Smulyan recorded an album entitled Homage, which included eight pieces composed by Adams.
Smulyan's two greatest influences were Harry Carney and, above all, Pepper Adams. After the latter's death, he recorded an album, Homage, consisting entirely of tracks composed by Adams.
Since the early 2000s, Smulyan has consistently topped Down Beat magazine's charts in the "baritone saxophone" category.

Discography

As leader

  • The Lure of Beauty
  • Homage
  • Saxophone Mosaic
  • Gary Smulyan with Strings
  • Blue Suite
  • The Real Deal
  • Hidden Treasures
  • More Treasures
  • High Noon
  • Smul's Paradise
  • Bella Napoli with Dominic Chianese
  • Royalty at Le Duc
  • Alternative Contrafacts
  • ''Our Contrafacts''

    As sideman

With Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band and Alumni All-Star Big Band
  • Things to Come
  • Dizzy's Business
  • I'm BeBoppin' Too
With Woody Herman
  • Woody and Friends
  • La Fiesta
  • The Woody Herman Orchestra
With Dave Holland
With the Mel Lewis Orchestra
With the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
With others