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A talented and adventurous altoist whose career has gone through several phases, John Handy started playing alto in 1949. After moving to New York in 1958, he had a fiery period with <a href="spotify:artist:1W8TbFzNS15VwsempfY12H">Charles Mingus</a> (1958-1959) that resulted in several passionate recordings that show off his originality; he also recorded several dates as a leader for Roulette. Handy led his own bands during 1959-1964, and played with <a href="spotify:artist:1W8TbFzNS15VwsempfY12H">Mingus</a> at the 1964 Monterey Jazz Festival, but it was at the following year's festival that he was a major hit, stretching out with his quintet (which included violinist <a href="spotify:artist:1jPvp2HN1JDqrnjrR45Gld">Michael White</a> and guitarist <a href="spotify:artist:7eCpykVmKfeamDfBKspp5o">Jerry Hahn</a>) on two long originals. Soon, Handy was signed to Columbia, where he recorded his finest work (three excellent albums) during 1966-1968. Since that time, he has performed world music with <a href="spotify:artist:2GUxWjR8cNgljddVLEp72u">Ali Akbar Khan</a>, recorded the R&B hit "Hard Work" for Impulse in 1976, gigged and recorded with <a href="spotify:artist:76RVMB4iAPdPJvuTFPkHQ1">Mingus Dynasty</a>, and in the late '80s led a group (called <a href="spotify:artist:3RGLhK1IP9jnYFH4BRFJBS">Class</a>) featuring three female violinists who sing. John Handy (no relation to the Dixieland altoist <a href="spotify:artist:5FHCNbhNutXeuO2Mty1OVm">Capt. John Handy</a>) remains a strong soloist who can hit high notes way above his horn's normal register with ease, but he has mostly maintained a low profile, teaching in the San Francisco Bay Area. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi
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