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Joe Temperley

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Joe Temperley
Temperley (left) and Gary Smulyan in November 2005
Temperley (left) and Gary Smulyan in November 2005
Background information
Born(1929-09-20)20 September 1929
Cowdenbeath, Scotland
Died11 May 2016(2016-05-11) (aged 86)
New York City, United States
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Baritone saxophone, soprano saxophone, bass clarinet
Years active1950s–2015

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.

Life

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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

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As leader

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As sideman

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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

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ a b Vacher, Peter (17 May 2016) "Joe Temperley Obituary". The Guardian
  3. ^ a b c "Joe Temperley, Jazz Saxophonist – Obituary". (17 May 2016) The Daily Telegraph
  4. ^ a b c "Practice keeps jazz veteran in tune". BBC News - UK - Scotland. BBC. 3 August 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  5. ^ FYJO - the Fife Youth Jazz Orchestra Archived 6 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Manhattan School of Music: Faculty Bio". Archived from the original on 7 March 2008. Retrieved 9 February 2008.
  7. ^ Haga, Evan (12 May 2016) "Saxophonist Joe Temperley Dies". JazzTimes
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