Moe Koffman

Genres:	Jazz
Descriptive "tags":	jazz • canadian • flute jazz • funk • flute • under 2000 listeners
Decades Active:	1950s • 1960s • 1970s • 1980s • 1990s • 2000s
Links online:	Wikipedia

Biography

Morris Koffman, 28 December 1928, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, d. 28 March 2001, Orangeville, Ontario, Canada. While still a small child, Koffman studied violin and by age 13 had taken up clarinet, alto saxophone, and flute, and in later years added soprano saxophone to his musical armoury. As a teenager, he played in local dance bands, including those led by Horace Lapp and Benny Louis. His reputation spread and he also played in the USA, winning a poll in Metronome in 1948, which led to a short-lived record contract. At the beginning of 1950, he relocated to New York City, playing there during the next few years in big bands led by Sonny Durham, Buddy Morrow, Jimmy Dorsey, Ralph Flanagan, Charlie Barnet, Tex Beneke, Doc Severinsen, and also with various small groups including Art Mooney’s. He also played in several Latin bands, including Chico O’Farrill’s.

In the mid-50s, Koffman returned to Toronto, forming a quartet, which...

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