Steve Grossman

Although he started out playing in fusion-oriented settings, Steve Grossman developed into an excellent hard bop tenor in the tradition of Sonny Rollins (although he developed his own sound). Grossman originally started on alto when he was eight, adding soprano at 15, and tenor at 16. He started at the top as Wayne Shorter’s replacement in Miles Davis’ fusion group from late 1969 up to September 1970. Grossman was with Lonnie Liston Smith in 1971, spent a valuable period (1971-1973) as part of Elvin Jones’ group, and in the mid-’70s was with Gene Perla’s Stone Alliance. Grossman mostly led his own bands from that point onward, recording as a leader for such labels as P.M., Owl, Red, and Dreyfus. Steve Grossman died in Glen Cove, New York on August 13, 2020 of cardiac arrest following a long illness; he was 69 years old. ~ Scott Yanow