Supersax
Supersax was a jazz group created in 1972 by saxophonist Med Flory and bassist Buddy Clark, in tribute to iconic bebop saxophonist Charlie Parker. The group's music consisted of harmonized arrangements of Charlie Parker improvisations played by a saxophone section (2 altos, 2 tenors, and a baritone), rhythm section (bass, piano and drums), and a brass instrument (trombone or trumpet). Notable brass soloists that recorded with the group included Conte Candoli (trumpet), Frank Rosolino (trombone) and Carl Fontana (trombone). On the group's recordings their music was tightly orchestrated, with little or no improvisation.
Saxophonist Warne Marsh was a member in the first edition of the group, and although he was never given freedom to solo on any officially released materials, Lee Konitz has stated that there are bootleg tapes of the group where Warne played a solo.
They won the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance by a Group in 1974. They were also part of the Grammy-nominated 1983 recording "Supersax & L.A. Voices, Volume 1", in which the L.A. Voices were nominated for Best Jazz Vocal Performance - Duo Or Group.
Discography
- Supersax Plays Bird (1972, Capitol), with Conte Candoli, Med Flory, Joe Lopes, Warne Marsh, Jay Migliori, Jack Nimitz, Ronnell Bright, Buddy Clark, Jake Hanna
- Supersax Plays Bird, Volume 2: Salt Peanuts (1973, Capitol)
- Supersax plays Bird with Strings (1974, Capitol)
- Chasin' the Bird (1977, MPS), with Candoli, Blue Mitchell, Rosolino
- Dynamite (1978, MPS), with Candoli, Rosolino, Don Menza
- Supersax & L.A. Voices, Volume 1 (1983, Epic Sony)
- Supersax & L.A. Voices, Volume 2 (1984, Columbia)
- Supersax & L.A. Voices, Volume 3: Straighten Up and Fly (1986, Columbia)
- Stone Bird (1989, Columbia)
- The Joy of Sax (1990)
- Live in '75 (1998)
- Live in '75: Japanese Tour (1999)
- Chasin' The Bird/Dynamite!! (2012, MPS)
References