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A very distinctive tenor with a hard, passionate tone and an emotional style that was still tied to chordal improvisation, Booker Ervin was a true original. He was originally a trombonist, but taught himself tenor while in the Air Force (1950-1953). After studying music in Boston for two years, he made his recording debut with <a href="spotify:artist:4hGOBEZol2IU38LFZluW7K">Ernie Fields</a>' R&B band (1956). Ervin gained fame while playing with <a href="spotify:artist:1W8TbFzNS15VwsempfY12H">Charles Mingus</a> (off and on during 1956-1962), holding his own with the volatile bassist and <a href="spotify:artist:6rxxu32JCGDpKKMPHxnSJp">Eric Dolphy</a>. He also led his own quartet, worked with <a href="spotify:artist:6Cx6WhEWHJWPeiFspDCwDR">Randy Weston</a> on a few occasions in the '60s, and spent much of 1964-1966 in Europe before dying much too young from kidney disease. Ervin, who is on several notable <a href="spotify:artist:1W8TbFzNS15VwsempfY12H">Charles Mingus</a> records, made dates of his own for Bethlehem, Savoy, and Candid during 1960-1961, along with later sets for Pacific Jazz and Blue Note. His nine Prestige sessions of 1963-1966 (including The Freedom Book, The Song Book, The Blues Book, and The Space Book) are among the high points of his career. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi
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