Born: June 26, 1928 | Died: October 9, 2003 Primary Instrument: Saxophone
Don Lanphere came to New York when he was 19 and made some impressive recordings with Fats Navarro in 1949, keeping up with the fiery trumpeter. Lanphere played Carnegie Hall with Woody Herman's Second Herd, moved on to Artie Shaw's Gramercy Five, and gigged with the bands of Claude Thornhill, Charlie Barnet and Billy May. Lanphere also made friends with Charlie Parker and recorded the altoist at home with some friends. Those legendary tapes became known as “The Basement Sessions”. Lanphere played a second stint with Woody Herman during 1959-1961.
