James Clay (musician)

James Clay
Birth name	James Earl Clay
Born	(1935-09-08)September 8, 1935 Dallas, Texas, United States
Died	January 1, 1994(1994-01-01) (aged 58) Dallas, Texas, United States
Genres	Hard bop, jazz
Occupation(s)	Instrumentalist
Instrument(s)	Tenor saxophone, flute, alto saxophone

James Earl Clay (b. Sept. 8, 1935, Dallas, Texas - d. there, Jan. 1, 1994) was an American hard bop jazz tenor saxophonist and flutist. While in school Clay played alto saxophone, became a professional musician, and played with local bands in Dallas, including with Booker Ervin. Later, he went to California, there he played in 1957 in Red Mitchell's quartet and on recordings with Lawrence Marable. at the end of 1957 he returned to his hometown of Dallas, and served in the Army in 1959.

After a few decades of obscurity, Clay enjoyed a modestly successful career revival in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Discography

As leader

• James Clay Quartet with Lorraine Geller: Lorraine Geller Memorial (1957)
• The Sound of the Wide Open Spaces!!!! (Riverside, 1960) with David Newman, Wynton Kelly, Sam Jones, Art Taylor
• A Double Dose of Soul (Riverside, 1960) with Nat Adderley, Victor Feldman, Gene Harris, Sam Jones, Louis Hayes
• I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart (Verve Records, 1989)
• Cookin' at the Continental (Antilles, 1992)

As sideman

• Don Cherry: Art Deco (A&M, 1988)
• Hank Crawford: True Blue (Atlantic, 1964)
• Billy Higgins: Bridgework (Contemporary, 1987)
• Lawrence Marable Quartet: Tenorman (Fresh Sound Rec., 1956) with Sonny Clark
• Red Mitchell: Presenting Red Mitchell (Contemporary, 1957)
• Wes Montgomery: Movin' Along (Riverside, 1960)
• Bill Perkins: The Right Chemistry (Jazz Mark, 1987)

Further reading

• Richard Cook & Morton, Brian: The Penguin Guide To Jazz on CD, 6th Edition, London, Penguin, 2002 ISBN 0-14-017949-6.