Baritone Saxophonist Serge Chaloff: "Blue Serge"

Serge Chaloff was only on the planet for 33 years and led a chaotic life blighted by drugs but left an important legacy. He was considered albeit arguably the first important Modern Jazz voice of the baritone saxophone. Perhaps Leo Parker might share the honors but Chaloff was more prominent. He emerged in the mid 1940's and rose to Jazz stardom in the famous Woody Herman Band known as "The Second Herd". Chaloff returned after Herman to his hometown of Boston and in 1955 went to rehab for his drug habit. He emerged clean and sober and made two of his finest albums. We hear the second of those two as tonight's Jazz Feature. The album was called "Blue Serge" and recorded in L.A. in March of 1956, It's a free blowing session that has Serge in front of a hand picked rhythm section of 3 of the finest. Sonny Clark on piano, Leroy Vinnegar on bass and "Philly Joe" Jones on drums. Serge plays well chosen standard tunes that haven't been overplayed plus a couple of Jazz originals , one by his friend Al Cohn and one of his. Sadly Chaloff died the following year from spinal cancer that left him in a wheelchair. He passed away on July 16, 1957. He was just 33. "Blue Serge is considered his masterpiece and is tonight's Jazz Feature. Don't miss it!