Joe Temperley (20 September 1929 – 11 May 2016)[1] was a Scottish jazz saxophonist. He performed with various instruments, but was most associated with the baritone saxophone, soprano saxophone, and bass clarinet.
Joe Temperley | |
|---|---|
 Temperley (left) and Gary Smulyan in November 2005 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 20 September 1929 Cowdenbeath, Scotland |
| Died | 11 May 2016 (aged 86) New York City, United States |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Baritone saxophone, soprano saxophone, bass clarinet |
| Years active | 1950s–2015 |
Life edit
Temperley was born in Cowdenbeath, Scotland, and grew up in Lochgelly.[2] His father was a bus driver.[3]
Temperley first played cornet, aged 12,[2] then started on saxophone at the age of 14.[4] Six months later, he got his first job at the Glasgow-based Tommy Sampson's Orchestra, having previously played in local dance bands.[4] He joined Humphrey Lyttelton's London-based band in 1957 and stayed until 1965, when he moved to the US.[3] After six months, he was recruited by Woody Herman, with whom he toured for two years.[3]
He also performed or recorded with Buddy Rich, Joe Henderson, Duke Pearson, the Jazz Composer's Orchestra, The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, and Clark Terry among many others. In October 1974, he toured and recorded with the Duke Ellington Orchestra as a replacement for Harry Carney.[4]
During the 1980s, Temperley played in the Broadway show Sophisticated Ladies; and his film soundtrack credits included Cotton Club, Biloxi Blues, Brighton Beach Memoirs, When Harry Met Sally..., and Tune in Tomorrow, the latter composed by Wynton Marsalis.
He was a guest mentor of the Fife Youth Jazz Orchestra programme in Scotland.[5] He was an original member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and served on the faculty of the Juilliard School for Jazz Studies.[6]
Temperley died of kidney failure and cancer in New York City on 11 May 2016, aged 86.[7][1]
Discography edit
As leader edit
- Just Friends with Jimmy Knepper (Hep, 1979)
- When You're Smiling with Benny Waters (Hep, 1981)
- Concerto for Joe (Hep, 1995)
- Sunbeam and Thundercloud with Dave McKenna (Concord Jazz, 1996)
- With Every Breath (Hep, 1998)
- Double Duke (Naxos, 1999)
- Live at the Floating Jazz Festival with Kenny Davern (Chiaroscuro, 2000)
- Saxploitation with Kathy Stobart (Spotlite, 2001)
- Monk with Junior Mance (Chiaroscuro, 2003)
As sideman edit
With Buck Clayton
- The Great Buck Clayton (Polydor, 1964)
- A Buck Clayton Jam Session (Chiaroscuro, 1974)
- A Buck Clayton Jam Session Vol. IV (Chiaroscuro, 1977)
- A Swingin' Dream (Stash, 1989)
With Eumir Deodato
- Deodato 2 (CTI, 1973)
- Whirlwinds (MCA, 1974)
- In Concert (CTI, 1974)
With Duke Ellington Orchestra
- Continuum (Fantasy, 1976)
- Music Is My Mistress (Musicmasters, 1989)
- Four Symphonic Works by Duke Ellington (Musical Heritage Society, 1989)
- Thank You Uncle Edward (Renma, 2007)
With Wynton Marsalis and Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra
- Crescent City Christmas Card (Columbia, 1989)
- Tune in Tomorrow (Columbia, 1990)
- Portraits by Ellington (Columbia, 1992)
- Big Train (Columbia/Sony, 1999)
- Live in Swing City, Swingin' with Duke (Columbia, 1999)
- Essentially Ellington 2000 (Warner, 2000)
- Plays the Music of Duke Ellington (Brooks Brothers, 2004)
- A Love Supreme (Palmetto, 2004)
- Cast of Cats (Brooks Brothers, 2004)
- Don't Be Afraid...the Music of Charles Mingus (Palmetto, 2005)
- Vitoria Suite (EmArcy, 2010)
- Portrait in Seven Shades (Jazz at Lincoln Center, 2010)
- Live in Cuba (Blue Engine, 2016)
With Humphrey Lyttelton
- Humph in Perspective (Parlophone, 1958)
- Blues in the Night (Columbia, 1960)
- Hump and Friends (Metronome, 1961)
- Late Night Final (Columbia, 1963)
- Humphrey Lyttelton and His Band (Society, 1965)
- Duke Ellington Classics (Black Lion, 1971)
- Humph Dedicates (Vocalion, 2005)
With others
- John Barry, The Cotton Club (Geffen, 1984)
- Luiz Bonfa, Manhattan Strut (Paddle Wheel, 1997)
- Ann Hampton Callaway, To Ella with Love (After 9, 1996)
- Benny Carter, Over the Rainbow (Musicmasters, 1989)
- Betty Carter, The Music Never Stops (Blue Engine, 2019)
- Aaron Diehl, Space Time Continuum (Mack Avenue, 2015)
- Victor Feldman, In London Vol. 2 Big Band (Tempo, 1957)
- Wycliffe Gordon, Slidin' Home (Nagel Heyer, 1999)
- Scott Hamilton & Warren Vaché Jr., Skyscrapers (Concord Jazz, 1980)
- Michael Hashim, Multi-Coloured Blue (Hep, 1999)
- Joe Henderson, Big Band (Verve, 1996)
- Jon Hendricks, Freddie Freeloader (Denon, 1990)
- Woody Herman, Woody Live East and West (Columbia, 1967)
- Dick Hyman, From the Age of Swing (Reference, 1994)
- The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, Central Park North (Solid State, 1969)
- The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, The Groove Merchant (LaserLight 1999)
- O'Donel Levy, Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky (Groove Merchant, 1974)
- Gerry Mulligan, Walk on the Water (DRG, 1980)
- Ted Nash, Presidential Suite: Eight Variations on Freedom (Motema, 2016)
- Paula West, Come What May (Hi Horse, 2001)
- Ernie Wilkins, Hard Mother Blues (Mainstream, 1970)
- Ernie Wilkins, Screaming Mothers (Mainstream, 1974)
- Anthony Wilson, Goat Hill Junket (Mama, 1998)
- Glenn Zottola, Christmas in Jazztime (Dreamstreet, 1986)
References edit
- ^ a b Chinen, Nate (20 May 2016). "Joe Temperley, Velvety Baritone Saxophonist in Big Bands, Dies at 86". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
- ^ a b Vacher, Peter (17 May 2016) "Joe Temperley Obituary". The Guardian
- ^ a b c "Joe Temperley, Jazz Saxophonist – Obituary". (17 May 2016) The Daily Telegraph
- ^ a b c "Practice keeps jazz veteran in tune". BBC News - UK - Scotland. BBC. 3 August 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- ^ FYJO - the Fife Youth Jazz Orchestra Archived 6 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Manhattan School of Music: Faculty Bio". Archived from the original on 7 March 2008. Retrieved 9 February 2008.
- ^ Haga, Evan (12 May 2016) "Saxophonist Joe Temperley Dies". JazzTimes