Booker Ervin

Booker Telleferro Ervin II (October 31, 1930 – July 31, 1970) was an American tenor saxophone player. He was perhaps best known for his association with bassist Charles Mingus. Ervin was born in Denison, Texas, and after teaching himself tenor saxophone while in the United States Air Force, moved to the Boston area and studied at Berklee College of Music. His tenor playing was characterised by a strong, tough sound and blues/gospel phrasing, perhaps inspired by growing up in the south. Some thought his style was influenced by John Coltrane, but it is thought they developed their styles independently , and beyond some sheets of sounds similarities, they were distinctively different. He moved to New York to join Horace Parlan's quartet,...