Summary
Chris Flory (born November 13, 1953) is an American jazz guitarist.
Chris Flory | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 13, 1953 New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, swing |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar |
| Years active | 1970s–present |
| Labels | Concord, Arbors |
| Website | chrisfloryjazz |
Early life and career edit
A native of New York City, Flory was playing guitar by his early teens and around that time heard his first jazz album, Forest Flower by Charles Lloyd.[1] He was influenced by seeing Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, and Rahsaan Roland Kirk live during the late 1960s.[1] He met musicians through his friend Scott Hamilton and while babysitting the children of Gil Evans he listened to albums by Nat King Cole, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, and Lester Young.[1] In an interview with JazzTimes, Flory stated that his music has been inspired by Charlie Parker, Charlie Christian, T-Bone Walker, and Jimi Hendrix.[2]
Flory played in rock bands in his early teens but three years later had a couple jazz lessons with guitarist Tiny Grimes.[1] In the early 1970s he was a student at Hobart College.[1] He performed with Hamilton intermittently from 1975 through the early 1990s.[1] He began to record his own albums as a leader after Hamilton's quintet broke up.[1] From 1977 to 1983 Flory played in the Benny Goodman Sextet.[1] He has worked with Ruby Braff, Judy Carmichael, Roy Eldridge, Illinois Jacquet, Buddy Tate, Bob Wilber,[3] Milt Hinton, Hank Jones, Duke Robillard, and Maxine Sullivan.[1]
Discography edit
As leader edit
- For All We Know (Concord Jazz, 1990)
- City Life (Concord Jazz, 1993)
- Word on the Street (Double Time, 1996)
- Blues in My Heart with Duke Robillard (Stony Plain, 2007)
- For You (Arbors, 2008)
- The Chris Flory Quintet Featuring Scott Hamilton (Arbors, 2011)
As sideman edit
With Ruby Braff
- A First (Concord Jazz, 1985)
- A Sailboat in the Moonlight (Concord Jazz, 1986)
- Mr. Braff to You (Phontastic, 1986)
With Scott Hamilton
- Scott Hamilton and Warren Vache with Scott's Band in New York City (Concord Jazz, 1978)
- Skyscrapers (Concord Jazz, 1980)
- Close Up (Concord Jazz, 1982)
- In Concert (Concord Jazz, 1983)
- The Second Set (Concord, 1984)
- The Right Time (Concord Jazz, 1987)
- Plays Ballads (Concord Jazz, 1989)
With Maxine Sullivan
- Uptown (Concord Jazz, 1985)
- Together (Atlantic, 1987)
- Swingin' Sweet (Concord Jazz, 1988)
With Bob Wilber
- Bob Wilber and the Scott Hamilton Quartet (Chiaroscuro, 1977)
- Dizzyfingers (Bodeswell, 1980)
- Bob Wilber and the Bechet Legacy (Bodeswell, 1981)
With others
- Harry Allen & Keith Ingham, The Intimacy of the Blues (Progressive, 1994)
- Harry Allen & Keith Ingham, My Little Brown Book (Progressive, 1994)
- Judy Carmichael, Trio (C&D, 1989)
- Doc Cheatham, Nonette Rare in Rehearsal (Squatty Roo, 2016)
- Buck Clayton, A Swingin' Dream (Stash, 1989)
- Rosemary Clooney, Sings the Music of Irving Berlin (Concord Jazz, 1984)
- Peter Ecklund, Strings Attached (Arbors, 1996)
- Susannah McCorkle, Thanks for the Memory (Pausa, 1984)
- Ben Paterson, That Old Feeling (Cellar Live, 2018)
- Flip Phillips, A Sound Investment (Concord Jazz, 1987)
- Flip Phillips, The Claw: Live at the Floating Jazz Festival (Chiaroscuro, 1991)
- Duke Robillard, Swing (Rounder, 1987)
- Loren Schoenberg, Time Waits for No One (Musicmasters, 1987)
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Yanow, Scott (2013). The great jazz guitarists: the ultimate guide. San Francisco: Backbeat. p. 74. ISBN 978-1-61713-023-6.
- ^ "Chris Flory: Jazz Inspired". jazztimes.com. Retrieved 2015-09-12.
- ^ Yanow, Scott. "Chris Flory Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 September 2023.