Jimmy Giuffre

Jimmy Giuffre (1921-2008) was an American clarinetist, saxophonist, composer and arranger, born in Dallas. He came up through the West Coast jazz scene and wrote the arrangement of "Four Brothers" for Woody Herman's band in 1947. He is best known for his trios, first a group with guitarist Jim Hall playing what he called blues-based folk jazz, then the 1961 trio with Paul Bley and Steve Swallow, which moved toward free improvisation, drew little notice at the time and was later seen as highly influential.