This great saxophonist studied clarinet before taking up tenor saxophone. In 1944 and 45, he cut his teeth playing in the bop big bands of Billy Eckstine and Dizzy Gillespie, and made his first recordings as a soloist in 1947, with Tadd Dameron and Fats Navarro.

He became a member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra in 1949 and Count Basie's octet in 1950. He took part in Clifford Brown's first recordings in 1953. From 1956-1959 he led a bop quintet called Les Modes. He joined Buddy Rich briefly before playing in Thelonious Monk's quartet (1959-1970), the association for which he is best known. He continued to make wonderful recordings up until his untimely death in the late 1980's.

Who is this saxophonist? Why did he leave Duke Ellington so soon? What did the group "Les Modes" eventually become known as?

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