David Keith Murray[1] (born February 19, 1955)[2] is an American
jazz saxophonist and composer who performs mostly on
tenor and
bass clarinet. He has recorded prolifically for many record labels since the mid-1970s.[3] He lives in New York City.
Biography
Murray was born in
Oakland, California, United States.[2] He attended
Pomona College for two years as a member of the class of 1977, ultimately receiving an honorary degree in 2012.[4] He was initially influenced by
free jazz musicians such as
Albert Ayler,
Ornette Coleman and
Archie Shepp. He gradually evolved a more diverse style in his playing and compositions. Murray set himself apart from most tenor players of his generation by not taking
John Coltrane as his model, choosing instead to incorporate elements of mainstream players
Coleman Hawkins,
Ben Webster and
Paul Gonsalves into his mature style.[5] Despite this, he recorded a tribute to Coltrane, Octet Plays Trane, in 1999. He played a set with the
Grateful Dead at a show on September 22, 1993, at
Madison Square Garden in New York City. His 1996 tribute to the Grateful Dead, Dark Star, was also critically well received.[6]
His daughter
Crystal Murray is a Franco-American R&B and electro singer and has published an album in 2022 as well as an EP and two singles with the French record label
Because Music.[9]
Awards
In 1980 David Murray was named Village Voice Musician of the Decade.
Murray was honored with the Bird Award[10] in 1986.