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Al Grey's trademark phrases and often humorous use of the plunger mute long made him quite distinctive. After getting out of the service, he was with the orchestras of <a href="spotify:artist:5dlCVmfRbWVGOJYHzGyk32">Benny Carter</a> (1945-1946), <a href="spotify:artist:5z49AOW1q5dtslkcj6wGsW">Jimmie Lunceford</a> (1946-1947), <a href="spotify:artist:4tdVYQWfsBth04tc1mmQ23">Lucky Millinder</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:2PjgZkwAEk7UTin4jP6HLP">Lionel Hampton</a> (off and on during 1948-1953). Grey was a well-featured soloist with the classic <a href="spotify:artist:5RzjqfPS0Bu4bUMkyNNDpn">Dizzy Gillespie</a> globetrotting orchestra during 1956-1957 (taking an exciting solo at the 1957 Newport Jazz Festival on a blazing version of "Cool Breeze"). He was with <a href="spotify:artist:2jFZlvIea42ZvcCw4OeEdA">Count Basie</a>'s orchestra on three separate occasions (1957-1961, 1964-1966, and 1971-1977), led a band with <a href="spotify:artist:1M5tpCHilgyeT9aXu1J9Ib">Billy Mitchell</a> in the early '60s, and had a group with <a href="spotify:artist:2AdOGwpXiwCctV1n9sJaub">Jimmy Forrest</a> after leaving <a href="spotify:artist:2jFZlvIea42ZvcCw4OeEdA">Basie</a> in 1977. In later years, Grey performed and recorded often with <a href="spotify:artist:62xdwGEOLoGQxKUqoJusyU">Clark Terry</a>, made a CD with <a href="spotify:artist:5vulkwNOqf3osi7FqKOXbT">the Statesmen of Jazz</a>, and for a time led a quintet that featured his son Mike Grey on second trombone. Al Grey recorded as a leader for Argo (1959-1964), Tangerine, Black & Blue, Stash, Chiaroscuro, and Capri, and co-led an excellent Pablo date in 1983 with <a href="spotify:artist:3hZ5sdhYTvgrmXIwtVwqmS">J.J. Johnson</a>. He died of complications from diabetes on March 24, 2000. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi
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