Carter Jefferson (1946 – 9 December 1993) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.[1]

Biography

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Jefferson played clarinet and alto saxophone early in his career, playing in the backing bands for The Temptations, The Supremes, and Little Richard in the 1960s.[2] In 1971, he entered New York University, and played with Mongo Santamaría and with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers.[3] Between 1977 and 1980 he performed and recorded with Woody Shaw.[4] Following this, Jefferson spent time with Elvin Jones, Roy Haynes, Cedar Walton, Jerry Gonzalez, Malachi Thompson, Barbara Donald, and Jack Walrath. His only record as a bandleader was the 1978 release The Rise of Atlantis, produced by Woody Shaw.[5] A heavy drinker and smoker for most of his life, he died in Kraków, Poland, in 1993 after an emergency surgical procedure; he had been suffering from cirrhosis, kidney failure, stomach ulcers, a hemorrhaging esophagus, acute circulatory failure, and other maladies.[6][7]

Discography

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As leader

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As sideman

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With Art Blakey

With Walter Davis, Jr.

With Woody Shaw

With Barbara Donald

  • Barbara Donald and Unity: Olympia Live (Cadence Jazz Records, 1982)[8]
  • Barbara Donald and Unity: The Past and Tomorrows (Cadence Jazz Records, 1983)[9]

With Malachi Thompson

With Jack Walrath

With Clifford Jordan

References

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  1. ^ Yanow, Scott. Carter Jefferson at AllMusic. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  2. ^ The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz, p. PT742, at Google Books
  3. ^ Stokes, W. Royal (July 1, 1983). "Jefferson Jazz". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  4. ^ Woideck, Carl (1992). The Complete CBS Studio Recordings of Woody Shaw (Media notes). Mosaic Records.
  5. ^ "Carter Jefferson Discography". Jazzlists. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  6. ^ Grove, Lloyd (December 15, 1993). "The Lonesome Death of a Jazzman". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  7. ^ "THE LONESOME DEATH OF A JAZZMAN - The Washington Post". The Washington Post.
  8. ^ Olympia Live (Media notes). Cadence Jazz Records. 1982.
  9. ^ The Past and Tomorrows (Media notes). Cadence Jazz Records. 1982.