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.
WWW garysmulyan.com

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 BandThings to Come Dizzy's Business I'm BeBoppin' Too
With Woody HermanWoody and Friends La Fiesta The Woody Herman Orchestra
With Dave HollandWhat Goes Around Overtime Pathways
With the Mel Lewis OrchestraMake Me Smile & Other New Works by Bob Brookmeyer 20 Years at the Village Vanguard Soft Lights and Hot Music The Lost Art The Definitive Thad Jones The Definitive Thad Jones Volume 2 To You
With the Vanguard Jazz OrchestraLickety Split Thad Jones Legacy Can I Persuade You? The Way Up from the Skies Monday Night Live at the Village Vanguard Forever Lasting: Live in Tokyo Overtime Music of Bob Brookmeyer
With others