Serge Chaloff

Serge Chaloff (1923–1957) was an American jazz baritone saxophonist. He is one of the few major jazz performers on this instrument, and the first major bop performer. He was originally influenced by Charlie Parker.

He first became well known as one of the "Four Brothers" reed section in Woody Herman's Second Herd. He also played with Boyd Raeburn, Georgie Auld, Jimmy Dorsey, and Count Basie, as well as recording as a leader. His most highly regarded album is probably Blue Serge, with Sonny Clark, Leroy Vinnegar and Philly Joe Jones.

His career was greatly limited by drug addiction. After succeeding in giving up drugs he developed cancer of the spine which ended in his early death.

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