Bob Graf

American jazz tenor saxophonist. He was a friend of Clark Terry, with whom he played in 1948 in a formation run by Count Basie. Graf, heavily influenced by Lester Young, remained associated with Basie's band until 1950, when he was replaced by Wardell Gray; however, he did not take part in any recordings. In 1950/51 he belonged to Woody Herman's Big Band, with which the first recordings were made. He rose to prominence on the St. Louis jazz scene in the mid-1950s, where he worked with guitarist Don Overburg; in October 1956 he played a.o. in Chet Baker's short-lived big band with Bobby Timmons and Phil Urso, who recorded for Pacific Jazz. In January 1958 he recorded the live album At Westminster with local musicians for the Chicago label Delmark Records. In the early 1960s he worked mainly in St. Louis, e.g. with Grant Green; In the late '60s he played in Gerry Mulligan's Big Band. In the 1970s, Graf continued to work in his hometown's club scene, as well as in a music shop repairing instruments. b.: 1927 in St. Louis, MO d.: 1981