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Med Flory
Med Flory has enjoyed both a profitable music career and successful stints as a television and film writer and actor. His alto sax and clarinet work are deeply influenced by the classic bebop sound, notably the playing of Charlie Parker. Though he doesn't directly emulate Parker, Flory's sound, phrasing and approach reflect his reverence for his music. He played clarinet and alto with Claude Thornhill in the '50s, and tenor with Woody Herman. Flory formed his own New York band in 1954, then moved to the West Coast two years later. He organized a big band that performed at the inaugural Monterey concert in 1958. Flory played with Terry Gibbs' nonet and orchestra in the late '50s and early '60s, recording with both units and also cutting sessions with Art Pepper and Herman on baritone. Flory's acting career blossomed in the '60s, as he began appearing on many television shows and in films. He also wrote screenplays and trimmed his playing dates. During Flory's sessions with Pepper, the sax section played arrangements of Parker improvisations. Flory and Joe Maini began transcribing the solos, but after Maini's death in 1964 Flory stopped the process. When Buddy Clark showed interest, Flory not only began transcribing again, he co-formed a band with Clark to play the material. Supersax was made up of 5 saxophonists, and 4 other band members. Their debut album, 'Supersax Plays Bird' won a Grammy in 1973 for the best jazz performance by a group. Lightening almost struck twice in 1975 when they were nominated for a second Grammy for 'Supersax Plays Bird With Strings', but they were beat out by Chick Corea. In all, Supersax recorded 10 albums. Though Buddy Clark left in 1975, and there were numerous other changes through the years, Med remained the driving force behind the group. Med continued touring well into the ninties, and recorded a last album in 1998 called "Live at Capozzoli's." Flory has recorded as a leader for Jubille and World Pacific as a session leader, and for Capitol, MPS and Columbia with Supersax. In 2009 Flory teamed with another West Coast jazz founder Dave Pell, and the Quintet has been active playing Los Angeles at Henri's Back Room.
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Terry Gibbs Dream Band: Dream Band, Vol. 7: The Lost Tapes, 1959
by Angelo Leonardi
«Non credo che ci sia mai stata una band migliore di questa, compresa la mia». Mel Lewis espresse queste parole per la mitica orchestra che il vibrafonista Terry Gibbs guidò in California tra il 1959 e il 1961 e fu chiamata “Dream Band" per l'entusiasmo che suscitò tra i fortunati che l'ascoltarono dal vivo. Giudizi così perentori non vanno mai presi alla lettera ma ascoltando queste inedite registrazioni non li giudicherete troppo esagerati. Stan Kenton espresse simili opinioni ...
Continue ReadingTerry Gibbs: Dream Band, Vol. 7: The Lost Tapes, 1959
by Jack Bowers
In 1959, vibraphonist Terry Gibbs and his recently formed big band set up shop at the Seville, a Los Angeles nightclub owned by Harry Schiller. Many of those early sessions were taped, at Gibbs' request, by famed recording engineer Wally Heider before being left on a shelf and forgotten. After two weeks at the Seville, Gibbs and the band moved to a second club, the Sundown. The band was successful, drew large crowds, and was soon recording, first for Norman ...
Continue ReadingTerry Gibbs: Dream Band, Vol. 7: The Lost Tapes, 1959
by Richard J Salvucci
Someone once asked Terry Gibbs how it was possible that if you took his side men, or some subset of them, and put them together in another band, they never quite sounded as good. Gibbs replied, modestly, that it was all in the arrangers. He got the best arrangers, like Bill Holman, Marty Paich and Med Flory. Others did not. And so the story went. It would have been tempting to ask if, perhaps, Gibbs had ...
Continue ReadingMed Flory dies at 87
Source:
Michael Ricci
Med Flory, an alto saxophonist and founder of the Grammy-winning jazz group Supersax in addition to being an actor who appeared on numerous TV series, has died. He was 87. His son, Rex, who cared for his father during several years of heart maladies, reported that Flory died Wednesday at his home in North Hollywood. Flory had not been professionally active over the last few years, a shift from the busy demands of a career stretching over six decades. One ...
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Med Flory (1926-2014)
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
Med Flory, a West Coast jazz saxophonist and actor who in 1972 founded the reed-centric band Supersax that played transcriptions of Charlie Parker solos in tight formation and won a Grammy in 1973, died on March 12. He was 87. Like many West Coast reed players, Med was relentlessly upbeat and easy-going—until he raised the mouthpiece to his lips. At that point, a transformation took place as aggression, competitiveness and a burning desire to excite the listener filled his face. ...
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Med Flory, 1926-2014
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Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
Alto saxophonist Med Flory was best known to the general public as an actor, but jazz listeners are most likely to remember him as the co-founder and leader of Supersax. Flory died this week at the age of 87. He made hundreds of appearances in television shows and a few in motion pictures, usually as characters in westerns and action flicks. He’s the big man in the foreground in a scene from the 1966 film Night Of The Grizzly. He ...
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Dave Pell with Med Flory Band Play the Backroom at Henri's
Source:
All About Jazz
Dave Pell & Med Flory Quintet @ Henri's
Source:
All About Jazz
One of the legendary originators of the West Coast Jazz Sound, Dave Pell plays The Back Room at Henri's with the Med FLory Quintet.
FRIDAY, MAY 14 SHOWS 7 pm and 9 pm
DAVE PELL Tenor MED FLORY Alto RICHARD SIMON Bass FRANK STRAZZERI Piano FRANK CAPP Drums Featuring Young Tenor Star CHLOE FEORANZO
The Back Room at Henri's 21601 Sherman Way Canoga Park, ...
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Dave Pell & the Med Flory Quintet Play the Back Room @ Henri's
Source:
All About Jazz
The famed sax of Dave Pell comes to The Back Room at Henri's in the San Fernado Valley
Friday, March 12th The Back Room atHenri's 21601 Sherman Way Canoga Park, CA 91303 Reservations(818) 348-5582
Dave Pell - Tenor Med Flory - Alto Marty Harris - Piano Chuck Berghofer - Bass Frank Capp - Drums
7:00 pm Dinner Show 9:00 pm Show
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Dave Pell & Med Flory Quintet
Source:
All About Jazz
Dave Pell & Med Flory Quintet @ Henri's Back Room
Friday, February 12 The Back Room at Henri's 21601 Sherman Way Canoga Park, CA 91303 Reservations (818) 348-5582
Dave Pell - Tenor Med Flory - Alto Bill Fulton - Piano Jim Hughart - Bass Frank Capp - Drums
7:00 pm Dinner Show 9:00 pm Show (Limited Menu) No ...
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Dave Pell & Med Flory Quintet @ Henri's Friday Night
Source:
All About Jazz
The legendary sax of Dave Pell with the Med Flory Quintet plays the southland
Friday, January 8th The Back Room at Henri's 21601 Sherman Way Canoga Park, CA 91303 (818) 348-5582
Dave Pell - Tenor Med Flory - Alto John Campbell - Piano Chuck Berghofer - Bass Frank Capp - Drums
Shows: 7pm and 9pm No Cover Intimate Affordable Full Bar Good ...
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Interview: Med Flory (Part 1)
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
Med Flory is perhaps best known as the co-founder of Supersax, the commercially successful reed ensemble started in 1972 that plays transcriptions of Charlie Parker's solos. But before Supersax, Med was one of the most dynamic alto saxophonists, arrangers and bandleaders on the New York and Los Angeles scenes in the 1950s. If you listen to his leadership recordings from the mid- and late-1950s or his work with Terry Gibbs and Dave Pell, you'll be taken aback. I certainly was. ...
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Med Flory
Instrument: Saxophone, tenor
Born: August 27, 1926
Died: March 12, 2014
