Clare Fischer
b. 22 October 1926, Durand, Michigan, USA. After formal studies at Michigan State University, Fischer became arranger and accompanist to the popular singing group, the Hi-Los. His arrangements, which are often in the more elaborate, left field tradition of Gil Evans and Lennie Tristano, were also used by Donald Byrd and Dizzy Gillespie, with whom he worked on the album, A PORTRAIT OF DUKE ELLINGTON. In the '60s Fischer formed an occasional big band, an activity that he continued in later decades. Among the musicians attracted into his bands by his forward-thinking, swinging charts, which always leave space for soloists, were Warne Marsh, Bill Perkins, Conte Candoli and Steve Hufstetter. In recent years Fischer has worked more as a pianist, although he continues to write extensively, especially in the Latin idiom which has long been one of his chief musical interests.