Junior Cook
b. Herman Cook, 22 July 1934, Pensacola, Florida, USA, d. 3 February 1992. Raised in a musical family, Cook began playing alto saxophone, then later switched to tenor. He joined Dizzy Gillespie in the late '50s and also played with Horace Silver. He remained with Silver for about five years, after which he teamed up with Blue Mitchell for another long stint. In the early '70s he taught at Berklee College Of Music. During the early and mid-70s he played with Freddie Hubbard, then with Louis Hayes. During the late '70s and early '80s Cook recorded with several artists, including Mickey Tucker, Clifford Jordan and Eddie Jefferson and led his own small group for club and festival dates. A highly talented post-bop saxophonist, Cook's abilities, while well-served on record, have yet to be fully recognized by the international jazz world.