miscellaneous

Bud Shank (1926-2009)

Another sad departure, last Thursday, of Dayton OH- born, but iconic Californian alto saxophonist Bud Shank. He was 82. Here’s an obituary from the Washington Post, and an extended piece from Doug Ramsey’s Rifftides blog .

In the picture above, he is in his prime, in 1954, on baritone with a young Chet Baker (Photo : Bob Willoughby)

The classic Kenton sax section with Shank and Perk (Bill Perkins) and Coop (Bob Cooper) may never have been bettered. I heard him once , live, close-up at the Bull’s Head in the 1980’s, with a sound and a quietly dominant presence you never forget. Sad.
I’m looking forward to Frank Griffith’s Mel Torme/ Marty Paich/ West Coast Sound gig this Wednesday 8th at the Spice of Life.

Categories: miscellaneous

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