Gary Smulyan

Gary Smulyan
Gary Smulyan in Aarhus, Denmark, 2015
Gary Smulyan in Aarhus, Denmark, 2015
Background information
Born (1956-04-04) April 4, 1956 (age 70)
Bethpage, New York, U.S.
EducationHofstra University
GenreJazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentBaritone saxophone
Years active1970s–present
Labels
Websitewww.garysmulyan.com
Joe Temperley and Gary Smulyan

Gary Smulyan (born April 4, 1956) is an American jazz musician who plays baritone saxophone. He studied at Hofstra University before working with Woody Herman. He leads a trio with bassist Ray Drummond and drummer Kenny Washington.

Career

Smulyan has played with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the Mel Lewis Big Band, the Dave Holland Big Band and Octet, the Dizzy Gillespie All Star Big Band, and he has performed and recorded with Carla Bley's Big Band.

Smulyan's two greatest influences were Harry Carney and, above all, Pepper Adams. After the latter's death, he recorded an album, Homage, consisting entirely of tracks composed by Adams.

Since the early 2000s, Smulyan has consistently topped Down Beat magazine's charts in the "baritone saxophone" category.

Discography

As leader

  • The Lure of Beauty (Criss Cross, 1991)
  • Homage (Criss Cross, 1993)
  • Saxophone Mosaic (Criss Cross, 1994)
  • Gary Smulyan with Strings (Criss Cross, 1996)
  • Blue Suite (Criss Cross, 1999)
  • The Real Deal (Reservoir, 2003)
  • Hidden Treasures (Reservoir, 2006)
  • More Treasures (Reservoir, 2007)
  • High Noon (Reservoir, 2008)
  • Smul's Paradise (Capri, 2012)
  • Bella Napoli with Dominic Chianese (Capri, 2013)
  • Royalty at Le Duc (Groovin' High 2017)
  • Alternative Contrafacts (SteepleChase, 2018)
  • Our Contrafacts (SteepleChase, 2020)
  • Tough Baritones with Ronnie Cuber (SteepleChase, 2020)
  • Tadd's All Folks (SteepleChase, 2022)
  • Boss Baritones with Frank Basile (SteepleChase, 2024)

As sideman

With Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band and Alumni All-Star Big Band

  • Things to Come (MCG, 2002)
  • Dizzy's Business (MCG, 2006)
  • I'm BeBoppin' Too (Half Note, 2008)

With Woody Herman

  • Woody and Friends (Concord Jazz, 1981)
  • La Fiesta (West Wind, 1991)
  • The Woody Herman Orchestra (Jazz Door, 1991)

With Dave Holland

With the Mel Lewis Orchestra

  • Make Me Smile & Other New Works by Bob Brookmeyer (Finesse, 1982)
  • 20 Years at the Village Vanguard (Atlantic, 1986)
  • Soft Lights and Hot Music (Musicmasters, 1988)
  • The Lost Art (Musicmasters, 1989)
  • The Definitive Thad Jones (Musicmasters, 1989)
  • The Definitive Thad Jones Volume 2 (Musicmasters, 1990)
  • To You (Musicmasters, 1991)

With the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra

  • Lickety Split (New World, 1997)
  • Thad Jones Legacy (New World, 1999)
  • Can I Persuade You? (Planet Arts, 2001)
  • The Way (Planet Arts, 2004)
  • Up from the Skies (Planet Arts, 2006)
  • Monday Night Live at the Village Vanguard (Planet Arts, 2008)
  • Forever Lasting: Live in Tokyo (Planet Arts, 2011)
  • Overtime Music of Bob Brookmeyer (Planet Arts, 2014)

With others

References

  1. ↑ Down Beat Artists Profile Archived 2006-11-26 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ "The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra". Village View NYC. September 11, 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
  3. ↑ Varga, George (August 15, 2024). "Dave Holland Octet: Pathways". JazzTimes. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
  4. ↑ "Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band: Dizzy's Business". JazzTimes. October 12, 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
  5. ↑ Fordham, John (30 May 2003). "Carla Bley Big Band: Looking for America". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
  6. ↑ Staudter, Thomas (4 May 2003). "Among the First Called: The Musician With the Baritone Sax". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
  7. ↑ "Ken Peplowski & Gary Smulyan: "Encounter!" Band". BLU Jazz+. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
  8. ↑ "Royalty At Le Duc". DownBeat. 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2026.