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One For Prez – Wardell Gray
Exciting, unpredictable rhythms make this uptempo bebop head a worthwhile challenge. It’s based on the changes of How High The Moon and comes from Wardell Gray’s first session as a leader.

Though sometimes overlooked, even to this day—perhaps due to his all-too-brief career or his extensive work in swing big bands —Wardell Gray was among the most important jazz musicians of the bebop era. He was one of the first tenor saxophonists, along with Dexter Gordon , Gene Ammons, and Lucky Thompson, to establish an original voice on the instrument in the bebop style. Read more >>>

Personnel:

Bass – Red Callender
Drums – Chuck Thompson (tracks: A6), Harold “Doc” West (tracks: A1 to A5, A7 to B8)
Piano – Dodo Marmarosa
Tenor Saxophone – Wardell Gray

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Recorded in Hollywood, California, 23rd November 1946.
Some of the tracks have been previously released on Jazz Selection/Vogue 78’s and on Fontana LP FJL907