[king koeller]

Curtis Amy
Tenor Soprano Saxophone

Born: October 11, 1927 in Houston, Texas
Died: June 5, 2002 in Los Angeles, California

Tenor and soprano saxophonist Curtis Amy came out of the classic Texas tenor tradition, and enjoyed considerable success on the west coast not only in a jazz context, but with soul and rock artists, including Ray Charles, The Doors and Carol King. He recorded a number of albums as leader, including Katanga (1963), which features one of only two recorded appearances by the quixotic trumpeter Dupree Bolton.
He is best known for his burning solo on the Doors song "Touch Me Babe",
I love his sound, similar to Joe Houston with a hint of Gene Ammons thrown in...
To all who read this...Please, Tell me what you know about this underrated and sadly forgotten saxophonist...He was truly a burnin' player!
Thanks "King"

 

[saxtek]

He was featured extensively by arranger Onzy Matthews, especially on his great recording "Blues With a Touch of Elegance". Mosaic records has just released a 3 CD set of Onzy Matthews recordings, including that one, with lots of Curtis Amy.

My MYSPACE site:

http://www.myspace.com/saxpsychosis

 

[king koeller]

Farout!!!
Saxtek.... thanks for the great info!!
I will pick that set up!
Long live Mosaic records!!!
I'll have to check out Onzy, first i've heard of him....
The joy is in the discovery!

 

[dstack79]

Curtis Amy
Tenor Soprano Saxophone

He is best known for his burning solo on the Doors song "Touch Me Babe"

I'd always wondered who that was. I love that screaming altissimo A he lays down.

-Dan

 

[Rackety Sax]

I love his composition Native Land, especially the version of it that is on the Alto Summit album with Phil Woods, Lee Konitz, Pony Poindexter and Leo Wright (but alas, not Curtis Amy).

 

[crescent]

Curtis was a heavy.

Underappreciated but a great player.

I loved his soulful and creative playing.

 

[baylistenor]

Curtis Amy

I have "Meetin, Here " on Pacific Jazz which features him with an organ and a trombone player, I also think he might be on some Carole King stuff - playing solos.

 

[AndyBlackard]

One of my main inspirations

I first noticed his playing on Carole King's records as a kid. Great tone and great musicianship. The bridge he played on "It's Too Late" is so haunting and beautiful.

 

[Rackety Sax]

He was featured extensively by arranger Onzy Matthews, especially on his great recording "Blues With a Touch of Elegance". Mosaic records has just released a 3 CD set of Onzy Matthews recordings, including that one, with lots of Curtis Amy.

My MYSPACE site:

http://www.myspace.com/saxpsychosis

And one of there Mosaic Selects collects Curtis Amy's Pacific Jazz releases.

 

[John Laughter]

I have also been told;

TOUCH ME-DOORS-CURTIS AMY-TENOR

 

[AndyBlackard]

Is this the group for traditional blues?

don't mean R&B or stuff from the Real Book with "Blues" in the title.

For example, I'm talking about the horn players that backed Chess Records artists like Willie Dixon and Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, etc.

It appears that there isn't anybody else at SOTW interested in this style, or are they lurking under the R&R label? I guess it gets ambiguous with all the early English R&R bands that did covers of trad blues songs.

 

[Reedsplinter]

There are, I think, quite a lot of us interested in this style, lurking all round.

 

[AndyBlackard]

trad blues

There are, I think, quite a lot of us interested in this style, lurking all round.

Good to know. Thanks for the reply even though I posted in the wrong place.

BTW, why do you think "jazz blues" avoids the traditional blues keys E and A? Is it just because they are harder keys (e.g. C# and F# on Eb horn)?

 

[router9000]

One of the most intense and exciting Rock saxophone solos ever! With the strings and brass building in volume and intensity, while Curtis reaches the climax and "Stronger Than Dirt" ending.