UK alto sax great Peter King dies

Peter King passed away on Sunday just days after his 80th birthday. A world class alto saxophonist steeped in bebop and the innovations of Charlie Parker he famously played at the opening of Ronnie Scott's while still a teenager and his career …

Published: 25 Aug 2020. Updated: 3 years.

Peter King passed away on Sunday just days after his 80th birthday. A world class alto saxophonist steeped in bebop and the innovations of Charlie Parker he famously played at the opening of Ronnie Scott's while still a teenager and his career stretched decades. He led his own band and regular quartet for years and along the way performed with a massive range of legendary jazz figures from Bud Powell and Elvin Jones to Max Roach, Frank Foster’s ‘new’ Count Basie Band and the Ray Charles Orchestra. The first time I heard him was in Berlin in the 1990s when he was playing in a three-alto feature with more jazz royalty in Phil Woods and Jackie McLean. In demand as a writer he wrote arrangements for the Charlie Watts Tentet and performed with the group, wrote for strings and even an opera, and appeared in several films. His honours included winning the BBC Musician of the Year accolade and to many fans particularly those steeped in bebop he was simply a musician for the ages.

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Charli Persip has died

Drummer Charli Persip has died at the age of 91. His playing career began locally in New Jersey and he then appeared with Tadd Dameron and Dizzy Gillespie in the 1950s and 60s as he started to establish a strong reputation as a powerful player and …

Published: 24 Aug 2020. Updated: 3 years.

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Drummer Charli Persip has died at the age of 91. His playing career began locally in New Jersey and he then appeared with Tadd Dameron and Dizzy Gillespie in the 1950s and 60s as he started to establish a strong reputation as a powerful player and great technician. Persip also led his own band the Jazz Statesmen that featured Freddie Hubbard and later established the long-running Superband. Persip is on records by, among others, Ernestine Anderson, Dizzy Gillespie, (inc. Dizzy Gillespie at Newport) Randy Weston, Roland Kirk (inc. We Free Kings) Red Garland, Harry Edison, Don Ellis, Frank Foster, Gil Evans (inc. Out of the Cool), Benny Golson, Billy Eckstine, Sonny Stitt and Quincy Jones. Tributes on social media to Persip include: from drummer Matt Wilson: ''Mr. Charli Persip was an important contributor to the legacy of jazz drumming along with being an amazing educator.'' From drummer Vince Wilburn Jr: ''Peaceful Journey Mr. Charli Persip'' and from drummer EJ Strickland: ''Just heard the sad news that another one of my teachers has passed on. The legendary drummer Charli Persip. I absolutely love his playing with Dizzy Gillespie and with The Charli Persip Superband.''