Guy Lafitte


Guy Lafitte was a French jazz saxophonist.

Career

Guy Lafitte was born with name Denis Fernand Lafitte on January 12, 1927, in Saint-Gaudens, Haute-Garonne, France.
He began his career performing as a clarinetist in Romani music bands in Southwest France. In 1947 he began playing the tenor saxophone.
By 1950 Lafitte had moved to Paris where he was performing in a band backing the blues singer Big Bill Broonzy. In 1951 he performed with the trumpeter Lee Collins and toured and recorded with Mezz Mezzrow. The following year he joined the band of the trumpeter Bill Coleman. He remained in Coleman's band for nearly thirty years, leaving that group in 1980. During that time he also performed with other musicians, including Zutty Singleton, André Persiany, Emmett Berry, Michel De Villers, and Claude Bolling to name just a few.
From 1954 through 1958 Lafitte led a small band that had a recurring gig at the Paris nightclub Les Trois Mailletz. In 1956 he made recordings and appeared in concerts with Lionel Hampton. With Georges Arvanitas and Christian Garros he performed as a member of the Paris Jazz Trio. He performed in Duke Ellington's band for the soundtrack of the 1961 film Paris Blues. In 1969 he worked with Roger Guérin at the Club Saint-Germain. From 1978-1998 he led his own band in annual performances at the Jazz in Marciac festival; an event for which he served as vice-president for many years. He also played in a trio with Wild Bill Davis and the drummer Clyde Lucas from 1982 through 1985.

Discography

As leader

With Bill Coleman
  • Jazz at Pleyel
  • Saint Louis Baby
  • Them Their Eyes
  • Mainstream at Montreux
  • Really I Do
With others