James Clay
Tenor Sax Solo on
Crescendo Blues

About

James Clay's three-chorus tenor saxophone solo is the third of five solos on this blues blowing session. At 120 BPM over the 12-bar form in B-flat, Clay's Texas-bred tone and earthy phrasing add a hard-blowing dimension following the brighter alto and trumpet solos. At just 19 to 20 years old during this session, Clay demonstrates a maturity and blues sensibility that belied his youth, his three choruses contributing a grittier texture to the performance's parade of contrasting solo voices.

James Clay was 19 to 20 years old at the time.