Abe Most
Birth nameAbraham Most
Born(1920-02-27)February 27, 1920
New York City
DiedOctober 10, 2002(2002-10-10) (aged 82)
Los Angeles
GenresJazz, swing
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsClarinet
Years active1930s–1980s

Abe Most (February 27, 1920 – October 10, 2002) was a swing clarinetist and alto saxophonist who is known for his performances and recordings of the works of Artie Shaw and Benny Goodman. He began his career in 1939 as a member of Les Brown's big band. After serving three years in the US Army during World War II from 1942-1945, he became a member of Tommy Dorsey's big band.[1]

Most made a few albums with smaller labels, including Superior (1946), Trend (1954), Annunciata (1978) and Camard (1984). His last two albums were Abe Most Live! (1994) and I Love You Much Too Much (2007). He was a studio musician for seven decades, playing on albums by Earth, Wind & Fire, Ted Gärdestad, Dick Haymes, Joni Mitchell, Randy Newman, and Dory Previn among others. He can also be heard playing on the soundtrack of the film How to Marry a Millionaire. He is the older brother of jazz musician Sam Most.[1]

Discography

As leader

  • Mister Clarinet (Liberty, 1955)
  • Swing Low Sweet Clarinet (Camard, 1984)
  • Live! (Camard, 1995)[2]

As sideman

With Les Brown

  • Sunday, Out of Nowhere (Columbia, 1944)
  • The Les Brown Story (Capitol, 1959)
  • The Uncollected Les Brown and His Orchestra 1949 Vol. 2 (Hindsight, 1978)

With Dominic Frontiere

  • Dom Frontiere Sextet (Liberty, 1955)
  • Fabulous!! (Liberty, 1956)

With Henry Mancini

  • Mancini Concert (RCA Victor, 1971)
  • Hangin' Out (RCA Victor, 1974)

With others

References

  1. ^ a b Scott Yanow (2002). Vladimir Bogdanov; Chris Woodstra; Stephen Thomas Erlewine (eds.). Abe Most. All Music Guide to Jazz: The Definitive Guide to Jazz Music. Backbeat Books. p. 917.
  2. ^ Yanow, Scott (2000). Swing. San Francisco: Miller Freeman Books. p. 396. ISBN 978-0-87930-600-7.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abe_Most