David
Keith Murray (born February 19, 1955) is a jazz saxophonist and composer who
performs mostly on tenor and bass clarinet. He has recorded prolifically for
many record labels since the mid-1970s. He lives in New York City.
Murray
was born in Oakland, California, United States. He attended Pomona College for
two years as a member of the class of 1977, ultimately receiving an honorary
degree in 2012.
He
was initially influenced by free jazz musicians such as Albert Ayler, Sonny
Rollins, 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.
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.
Murray
was a founding member of the World Saxophone Quartet with Oliver Lake, Julius
Hemphill and Hamiet Bluiett. He has recorded or performed with musicians such
as Henry Threadgill, James Blood Ulmer, Olu Dara, Tani Tabbal, Butch Morris,
Donal Fox, McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, Sunny Murray (no relation), Ed Blackwell,
Johnny Dyani, Fred Hopkins, Don Pullen, Randy Weston and Steve McCall. David
Murray's use of the circular breathing technique has enabled him to play
astonishingly long phrases
Awards
In
1980 David Murray was named Village Voice Musician of the Decade.
Murray
was honoured with the Bird Award[9] in 1986.
He
was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1989
David
Murray and his band earned a Grammy Award in 1989 in the Best Jazz Instrumental
Group Performance category for Blues for Coltrane: A Tribute to John Coltrane
In
1991 he was honoured with the Danish Jazzpar Prize
Newsday
named him Musician of the Year in 1993
He
was given an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Music, Pomona College in 2012
He
was awarded a legacy grant by the California Arts Council in 2021