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Wardell Gray (February 13, 1921 – May 25, 1955) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist who straddled the swing and bebop periods

It was in the Central Avenue clubs that Wardell held his tenor battles with Dexter Gordon. These two were ideally matched: Wardell's light sound and swift delivery were more than a match for Dexter's big, blustering sound, and their tenor jousts became a kind of symbol for the Central Avenue scene. Gordon later recalled: "There'd be a lot of cats on the stand but by the end of the session it would wind up with Wardell and myself.... His playing was very fluid, very clean.... He had a lot of drive and a profusion of ideas". Their fame began to spread, and Ross Russell managed to get them to simulate one of their battles on "The Chase", which became Wardell's first nationally known recording and has been assessed as "one of the most exciting musical contests in the history of jazz".

Gene Norman Concert Recorded Pasadena, February 2, 1952 Live, Civic Auditorium 

Personnel : Don Bagley (bass), Chico Hamilton (drums), Bobby Tucker (piano), Dexter Gordon (tenor sax), Wardell Gray (tenor sax), Conte Candoli (trumpet)


01. The Chase
02. The SteepleChase