Strozier, Frank
Strozier, Frank
Strozier, Frank, alto saxophonist with a biting and intense tone and a style that is fiery and spirited; b. Memphis, Tenn., June 13, 1937. Overshadowed by contemporaries such as James Spaulding and Jackie McLean, alto saxophonist Frank Strozier has never really received the attention and acclaim his talent deserves. The early years of his career were spent in Chicago, where he worked with Booker Little, George Coleman, and Harold Mabern. By the end of the 1950s he moved to N.Y and was a vital member of the group MJT+3, which included Mabern, bassist Bob Cranshaw, and drummer Walter Perkins. That group and Strozier himself led several record dates for the Vee-Jay label that have since become valuable collector’s items. Further N.Y. gigs included short stints with Miles Davis and Roy Haynes. Later, he settled on the West Coast where he worked with Don Ellis, Chet Baker, and Shelly Manne. Since the 1970s, he has kept a very low profile, playing infrequently and recording a few albums for various small independent record labels. He has always been a valuable musician; unfortunately, none of his vintage recordings are available on CD, making his continued obscurity all the more frustrating.
Discography
Fantastic Frank Strozier—Plus (1960); March of the Siamese Children (1962); Remember Me (1976).
—Chris Hovan