Al Grey

Al Grey (June 6, 1925 – March 24, 2000) was a jazz trombonist who is most remembered for his association with the Count Basie orchestra.

Grey is known for his plunger mute technique (comparable to Tricky Sam Nanton, Bob Hunt and Wycliffe Gordon), and also wrote an instructional book called Plunger Techniques.

As states Scott Yanow in his artist biography on Allmusic, Al Grey's trademark phrases and often humorous use of the plunger mute long made him quite distinctive. After getting out of the service, he was with the orchestras of Benny Carter (1945-1946), Jimmie Lunceford (1946-1947), Lucky Millinder, and Lionel Hampton (off and on during 1948-1953). Grey was a well-featured soloist with the classic Dizzy Gillespie globetrotting orchestra during 1956-1957 (taking an exciting solo at the 1957 Newport Jazz Festival on a blazing version of "Cool Breeze"). He was with Count Basie's orchestra on three separate occasions (1957-1961, 1964-1966, and 1971-1977), led a band with Billy Mitchell in the early '60s, and had a group with Jimmy Forrest after leaving Basie in 1977. In later years, Grey performed and recorded often with Clark Terry, made a CD with the Statesmen of Jazz, and for a time led a quintet that featured his son Mike Grey on second trombone. Al Grey recorded as a leader for Argo (1959-1964), Tangerine, Black & Blue, Stash, Chiaroscuro, and Capri, and co-led an excellent Pablo date in 1983 with J.J. Johnson. He died of complications from diabetes on March 24, 2000.

Birth and Death Data: Born June 6, 1925 (Aldie), Died March 24, 2000 (Scottsdale)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1949 - 1960

Roles Represented in DAHR: trombone

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 62 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 74730 1/28/1949 Hamp's boogie woogie No.2 Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 74731 1/28/1949 Hamp's gumbo Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 74732 1/28/1949 Beulah's sister's boogie Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 74733 1/28/1949 Wee Albert Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 74853 4/26/1949 What's happening baby? Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 74854 4/26/1949 Drinking wine spo-dee-o-dee Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 74897 5/10/1949 The hucklebuck Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 74898 5/10/1949 Baby, you're great Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 75636 12/29/1949 Rag mop Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 75637 12/29/1949 For you my love Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 75638 12/29/1949 Sky blue Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 75664 1/5/1950 I've been a fool Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 75665 1/5/1950 How you sound Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 75666 1/5/1950 I almost lost my mind Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 75743 1/25/1950 Everybody's somebody's fool Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 75744 1/25/1950 I'll never be free Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 75745 1/25/1950 Sad feelin' Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 75746 1/25/1950 Hamp's gumbo Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 75752 1/25/1950 Please give me a chance Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 75753 1/25/1950 I wish I knew Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 76021 3/23/1950 Turkey hop, part 1 Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 76022 3/23/1950 Turkey hop, part 2 Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 76168 4/18/1950 Birmingham bounce Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 76169 4/18/1950 Jelly Roll Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
Decca 76205 4/11/1950 Birmingham bounce Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, trombone  
(Results 1-25 of 62 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Grey, Al," accessed June 7, 2023, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/318919.

Grey, Al. (2023). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved June 7, 2023, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/318919.

"Grey, Al." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2023. Web. 7 June 2023.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/318919

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