Junior Cook

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Junior Cook
Background information
Birth nameHerman Cook
Born(1934-07-22)July 22, 1934
OriginPensacola, Florida, U.S.
DiedFebruary 3, 1992(1992-02-03) (aged 57)
New York City, U.S.
GenresJazz, hard bop
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Saxophone, flute
Years active1958-1992

Herman "Junior" Cook (July 22, 1934 – February 3, 1992)[1] was an American hard bop tenor saxophone player.

Biography[edit]

Cook was born in Pensacola, Florida.[1] A member of a musical family, he started on alto saxophone before switching to tenor during his high school years.[2]

After playing with Dizzy Gillespie in 1958, Cook was a member of the Horace Silver Quintet (1958–1964); when Silver left the group in the hands of Blue Mitchell Cook stayed in the quintet for five more years (1964–1969).[1] Later associations included Freddie Hubbard, Elvin Jones, George Coleman, Louis Hayes (1975–1976), Bill Hardman (1979–1989), and the McCoy Tyner big band.[1]

In addition to many appearances as a sideman, Junior Cook recorded as a leader for Jazzland (1961), Catalyst (1977), Muse, and SteepleChase.

He also taught at Berklee School of Music for a year during the 1970s.[1][3]

In the early 1990s, Cook was playing with Clifford Jordan, and also leading his own group. He died in February 1992 in his apartment in New York City, aged 57.[3]

Discography[edit]

As leader/co-leader[edit]

As sideman[edit]

With Horace Silver

With Barry Harris

With Bill Hardman

With Freddie Hubbard

With Clifford Jordan

With Blue Mitchell

With others

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 553. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
  2. ^ "Junior Cook at All About Jazz". All About Jazz. Archived from the original on October 2, 2009. Retrieved August 9, 2008.
  3. ^ a b "Junior Cook, 57, Tenor Saxophonist In Jazz Ensembles". The New York Times. February 5, 1992. Retrieved August 9, 2008.
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