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Booker Ervin

December 07, 2023

Booker Telleferro Ervin II (October 31, 1930 – August 31, 1970)[1] was an American tenor saxophone player. His tenor playing was characterised by a strong, tough sound and blues/gospel phrasing. He is remembered for his association with bassist Charles Mingus.

Booker Ervin
Background information
Birth nameBooker Telleferro Ervin II
Born(1930-10-31)October 31, 1930
Denison, Texas, U.S.
DiedAugust 31, 1970(1970-08-31) (aged 39)
New York City, U.S.
GenresHard bop
Instrument(s)Tenor saxophone

Biography edit

Ervin was born in Denison, Texas, United States.[2] He first learned to play trombone at a young age from his father,[2] who played the instrument with Buddy Tate.[3] After leaving school, Ervin joined the United States Air Force, stationed in Okinawa, Japan, during which time he taught himself tenor saxophone.[3] After completing his service in 1953, he studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.[2] Moving to Tulsa in 1954, he played with the band of Ernie Fields.[3]

After stays in Denver and Pittsburgh, Ervin moved to New York City in spring 1958,[2] initially working a day job and playing jam sessions at night. Ervin then worked with Charles Mingus regularly from late 1958 to 1960, rejoining various outfits led by the bassist at various times up to autumn 1964, when he departed for Europe.[2] During the mid-1960s, Ervin led his own quartet,[2] recording for Prestige Records with, among others, ex-Mingus associate pianist Jaki Byard, along with bassist Richard Davis and Alan Dawson on drums.

Ervin later recorded for Blue Note Records and played with pianist Randy Weston, with whom he recorded between 1963 and 1966.[2] Weston said: "Booker Ervin, for me, was on the same level as John Coltrane. He was a completely original saxophonist.... He was a master.... 'African Cookbook', which I composed back in the early '60s, was partly named after Booker because we (musicians) used to call him 'Book,' and we would say, 'Cook, Book.' Sometimes when he was playing we'd shout, 'Cook, Book, cook.' And the melody of 'African Cookbook' was based upon Booker Ervin's sound, a sound like the north of Africa. He would kind of take those notes and make them weave hypnotically. So, actually the African Cookbook was influenced by Booker Ervin."[4]

Between October 1964 to summer 1966, Ervin worked and lived in Europe, playing gigs in France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and The Netherlands. Basing himself in Barcelona, Spain, he featured regularly at the city's Jamboree Club. He recorded and broadcast while overseas, making albums with his own quartet, Dexter Gordon and Catalan vocalist Núria Feliu, featuring on various radio programmes and appearing at several jazz festivals, including a guest slot at the 1965 Berlin Jazz Festival, during which he performed a 25-minute improvisation. This performance was issued as "Blues For You" on the album Lament For Booker Ervin (Enja Records) in 1977.

Following his return to the United States in summer 1966, Ervin led his own groups in jazz clubs throughout the country, and appeared at both the Newport Jazz Festival (1967) and the Monterey Jazz Festival (1966) performing with Randy Weston; a recording of their performance was issued on CD in 1994. In 1968, Ervin again appeared at clubs and festivals in Scandinavia, broadcasting with the Danish Radio Big Band. He recorded again for Prestige, but in late 1966 was signed to West Coast label, Pacific Jazz, for whom he taped two albums, Structurally Sound and Booker 'n' Brass (1967), before switching to Blue Note. Ervin recorded two Blue Note albums under his own name, In Between and Tex Book Tenor, the latter going unissued during his lifetime, initially being released in the 1970s as part of a double album shared with recordings (on which Ervin features) made under the leadership of Horace Parlan (Back from the Gig). In 2005, Blue Note issued as single CD of Tex Book Tenor in its limited edition Connoisseur series.

Ervin's final recorded appearance occurred in January 1969, when he guested on a further Prestige album headed by teenage multi-instrumentalist Eric Kloss.

Ervin died of kidney disease in New York City in 1970, aged 39.[5] Most biographical accounts of Ervin's death give an incorrect date. His gravestone in The National Cemetery, East Farmingdale, New York, clearly shows the date as August 31, 1970.

In 2017, Ervin was the subject of a mini-biography written by English saxophonist and author Simon Spillett, published as part of an anthology package titled The Good Book (Acrobat Records)

Tributes edit

Booker Ervin has been remembered by many artists, Ted Curson called one of his albums "Ode to Booker Ervin", The Band "Steam", in his album "Real Time", called one of his tracks Tellefero , and others

Discography edit

As leader edit

As sideman edit

With Bill Barron

With Jaki Byard

With Teddy Charles

With Ted Curson

With Núria Feliu

  • Núria Feliu with Booker Ervin (Edigsa, 1965)

With Roy Haynes

With Andrew Hill

With Eric Kloss

With Lambert, Hendricks & Bavan

With Charles Mingus

With Horace Parlan

With Don Patterson

With Sonny Stitt

With Mal Waldron

With Randy Weston

References edit

  1. ^ Booker Ervin at AllMusic
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 137. ISBN 0-85112-580-8.
  3. ^ a b c "Ervin, Booker T., Jr." Texas State Historical Association.
  4. ^ "Monterey '66", Discography, Randy Weston African Rhythms website.
  5. ^ "Booker Ervin", biography at All About Jazz, October 24, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2023.

External links edit

  • "Booker Ervin Quartet - 1964-10-15, Cafe Montmartre, Copenhagen, Denmark".

December 07, 2023
booker, ervin, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, january, 202. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Booker Ervin news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Booker Telleferro Ervin II October 31 1930 August 31 1970 1 was an American tenor saxophone player His tenor playing was characterised by a strong tough sound and blues gospel phrasing He is remembered for his association with bassist Charles Mingus Booker ErvinBackground informationBirth nameBooker Telleferro Ervin IIBorn 1930 10 31 October 31 1930Denison Texas U S DiedAugust 31 1970 1970 08 31 aged 39 New York City U S GenresHard bopInstrument s Tenor saxophone Contents 1 Biography 2 Tributes 3 Discography 3 1 As leader 3 2 As sideman 4 References 5 External linksBiography editErvin was born in Denison Texas United States 2 He first learned to play trombone at a young age from his father 2 who played the instrument with Buddy Tate 3 After leaving school Ervin joined the United States Air Force stationed in Okinawa Japan during which time he taught himself tenor saxophone 3 After completing his service in 1953 he studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston Massachusetts 2 Moving to Tulsa in 1954 he played with the band of Ernie Fields 3 After stays in Denver and Pittsburgh Ervin moved to New York City in spring 1958 2 initially working a day job and playing jam sessions at night Ervin then worked with Charles Mingus regularly from late 1958 to 1960 rejoining various outfits led by the bassist at various times up to autumn 1964 when he departed for Europe 2 During the mid 1960s Ervin led his own quartet 2 recording for Prestige Records with among others ex Mingus associate pianist Jaki Byard along with bassist Richard Davis and Alan Dawson on drums Ervin later recorded for Blue Note Records and played with pianist Randy Weston with whom he recorded between 1963 and 1966 2 Weston said Booker Ervin for me was on the same level as John Coltrane He was a completely original saxophonist He was a master African Cookbook which I composed back in the early 60s was partly named after Booker because we musicians used to call him Book and we would say Cook Book Sometimes when he was playing we d shout Cook Book cook And the melody of African Cookbook was based upon Booker Ervin s sound a sound like the north of Africa He would kind of take those notes and make them weave hypnotically So actually the African Cookbook was influenced by Booker Ervin 4 Between October 1964 to summer 1966 Ervin worked and lived in Europe playing gigs in France Spain Italy Germany Norway Sweden Denmark and The Netherlands Basing himself in Barcelona Spain he featured regularly at the city s Jamboree Club He recorded and broadcast while overseas making albums with his own quartet Dexter Gordon and Catalan vocalist Nuria Feliu featuring on various radio programmes and appearing at several jazz festivals including a guest slot at the 1965 Berlin Jazz Festival during which he performed a 25 minute improvisation This performance was issued as Blues For You on the album Lament For Booker Ervin Enja Records in 1977 Following his return to the United States in summer 1966 Ervin led his own groups in jazz clubs throughout the country and appeared at both the Newport Jazz Festival 1967 and the Monterey Jazz Festival 1966 performing with Randy Weston a recording of their performance was issued on CD in 1994 In 1968 Ervin again appeared at clubs and festivals in Scandinavia broadcasting with the Danish Radio Big Band He recorded again for Prestige but in late 1966 was signed to West Coast label Pacific Jazz for whom he taped two albums Structurally Sound and Booker n Brass 1967 before switching to Blue Note Ervin recorded two Blue Note albums under his own name In Between and Tex Book Tenor the latter going unissued during his lifetime initially being released in the 1970s as part of a double album shared with recordings on which Ervin features made under the leadership of Horace Parlan Back from the Gig In 2005 Blue Note issued as single CD of Tex Book Tenor in its limited edition Connoisseur series Ervin s final recorded appearance occurred in January 1969 when he guested on a further Prestige album headed by teenage multi instrumentalist Eric Kloss Ervin died of kidney disease in New York City in 1970 aged 39 5 Most biographical accounts of Ervin s death give an incorrect date His gravestone in The National Cemetery East Farmingdale New York clearly shows the date as August 31 1970 In 2017 Ervin was the subject of a mini biography written by English saxophonist and author Simon Spillett published as part of an anthology package titled The Good Book Acrobat Records Tributes editBooker Ervin has been remembered by many artists Ted Curson called one of his albums Ode to Booker Ervin The Band Steam in his album Real Time called one of his tracks Tellefero and othersDiscography editAs leader edit 1960 The Book Cooks Bethlehem 1960 Cookin Savoy 1961 That s It Candid 1963 Exultation Prestige 1963 Gumbo Prestige with Pony Poindexter 1963 The Freedom Book Prestige 1964 The Song Book Prestige 1964 The Blues Book Prestige 1964 The Space Book Prestige 1964 1964 10 15 Cafe Montmartre Copenhagen Denmark Bootleg 1965 Groovin High Prestige 1965 The Trance Prestige 1965 Setting the Pace Prestige with Dexter Gordon 1965 Doug s Night Club Berlin Germany Bootleg 1966 Heavy Prestige 1966 Structurally Sound Pacific Jazz 1967 Live At Newport 67 Bootleg with Chick Corea 1967 Booker n Brass Pacific Jazz 1968 The In Between Blue Note 1968 Tex Book Tenor Blue Note Back from the Gig Blue Note issued 1976 recorded 1964 and 1968 2 LP set of two previously unreleased sessions which were later issued as Horace Parlan s Happy Frame of Mind in 1988 and Ervin s Tex Book Tenor in 2005 As sideman edit With Bill Barron Hot Line Savoy 1962 1964 With Jaki Byard Out Front Prestige 1964 With Teddy Charles Jazz In The Garden At The Museum Of Modern Art Warwick 1960 With Ted Curson Urge Fontana 1966 With Nuria Feliu Nuria Feliu with Booker Ervin Edigsa 1965 With Roy Haynes Cracklin New Jazz 1963 With Andrew Hill Grass Roots Blue Note 1968 With Eric Kloss In the Land of the Giants Prestige 1969 With Lambert Hendricks amp Bavan Havin a Ball at the Village Gate RCA 1963 With Charles Mingus Jazz Portraits Mingus in Wonderland United Artists 1959 Mingus Ah Um Columbia 1959 Mingus Dynasty Columbia 1959 Blues amp Roots Atlantic 1959 Mingus Candid 1960 Mingus at Antibes Atlantic 1960 1976 Reincarnation of a Lovebird Candid 1960 Oh Yeah Atlantic 1961 Tonight at Noon Atlantic 1957 61 1965 Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Impulse 1963 With Horace Parlan Up amp Down Blue Note 1961 Happy Frame of Mind Blue Note 1963 1988 With Don Patterson The Exciting New Organ of Don Patterson Prestige 1964 Hip Cake Walk Prestige 1964 Patterson s People Prestige 1964 Tune Up Prestige 1964 1971 With Sonny Stitt Soul People Prestige 1965 With Mal Waldron The Quest New Jazz 1961 With Randy Weston Highlife Colpix 1963 Randy Bakton 1964 also released as African Cookbook Atlantic in 1972 Monterey 66 Verve 1966 1994 References edit Booker Ervin at AllMusic a b c d e f g Colin Larkin ed 1992 The Guinness Who s Who of Jazz First ed Guinness Publishing p 137 ISBN 0 85112 580 8 a b c Ervin Booker T Jr Texas State Historical Association Monterey 66 Discography Randy Weston African Rhythms website Booker Ervin biography at All About Jazz October 24 2013 Retrieved June 24 2023 External links edit Booker Ervin Quartet 1964 10 15 Cafe Montmartre Copenhagen Denmark Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Booker Ervin amp oldid 1175336476, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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