Ray Crawford (musician)

This article is about the guitarist. For other people, see Ray Crawford (disambiguation).

Ray Crawford
Born	(1924-02-07)February 7, 1924 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	December 30, 1997(1997-12-30) (aged 73) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer
Instrument(s)	Guitar, Saxophone
Years active	1940s–1990s
Formerly of	Ahmad Jamal, Gil Evans

Ray Crawford (February 7, 1924 – December 30, 1997) was an American jazz guitarist who originally played tenor saxophone, until tuberculosis prevented him continuing with the instrument. He made notable contributions to albums by Ahmad Jamal, Gil Evans, and Sonny Criss, and pioneered a technique of rhythmic bongo-style guitar accompaniment. Favourite amongst his recorded solos were those on "La Nevada" on Gil Evans's Out of the Cool album.

Discography

As leader

• I Know Pres (1977) reissued as Smooth Groove

As sideman

With Ahmad Jamal

• Chamber Music of the New Jazz (1956)
• The Ahmad Jamal Trio (1956)
• Listen to the Ahmad Jamal Quintet (1961)

With Gil Evans

• Great Jazz Standards (1960)
• Out of the Cool (1961)

With Curtis Amy & Dupree Bolton

• Katanga! (1963)

With Sonny Criss

• Crisscraft (1975)