Serge Chaloff

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Serge Chaloff (November 24, 1923–July 16, 1957) was an American jazz baritone saxophonist, and the son of noted Boston piano teachers, Margaret Chaloff and Julius Chaloff. He is one of the few major jazz performers on his instrument, and the first major bebop performer, and was originally influenced by Charlie Parker.

He first became well known as one of the "Four Brothers" reed section in Woody Herman's Second Herd. He also played with Boyd Raeburn, Georgie Auld, Jimmy Dorsey, and Count Basie, as well as recording as a leader. His most highly regarded album is probably Blue Serge, with Sonny Clark, Leroy Vinnegar and Philly Joe Jones.

Serge Chaloff's career was greatly limited by addiction to heroin. After succeeding in giving up drugs, he developed cancer of the spine which caused his early death.