Serge Chaloff

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Serge Chaloff

Serge Chaloff (lower left) with Georgie Auld, Red Rodney, and Tiny Kahn, ca. August 1947.
Photo: William P. Gottlieb.
Background information
Born (1923-11-24)November 24, 1923
Origin United StatesBoston, Massachusetts,
United States
Died July 16, 1957(1957-07-16) (aged 33)
Genres Jazz
Occupations saxophonist
Instruments Baritone saxophone,
Years active 1940s-50s
Associated acts Woody Herman, The Four Brothers

Serge Chaloff (November 24, 1923 July 16, 1957) was an American jazz baritone saxophonist.

The son of noted Boston piano teachers, Margaret and Julius Chaloff, he was among the few major jazz performers on his instrument. Until Chaloff the only prominent baritone player in jazz was Harry Carney of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Originally influenced by Charlie Parker, Chaloff became the first major bebop baritonist and opened the way for others to follow.[1]

Chaloff first became well known as one of the "Four Brothers" reed section in Woody Herman's Second Herd.[2] He also played with Boyd Raeburn, Georgie Auld, Jimmy Dorsey, and Count Basie, as well as recording as a leader.

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

Discography

N.B.: For a list of Chaloff's recordings, vid. Vladimir Simosko, Serge Chaloff, an Appreciation and Discography, 3rd ed., rev., Montréal Vintage Music Society, 1991, ISBN 1-895002-06-0.

References

  1. Joachim E Berendt's "The Jazz Book"
  2. Wynn, Ron (1994), Ron Wynn, ed., All Music Guide to Jazz, M. Erlewine, V. Bogdanov, San Francisco: Miller Freeman, p. 143, ISBN 0-87930-308-5 
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