Bill Perkins (saxophonist)


William Reese Perkins was an American cool jazz saxophonist, clarinetist and flutist, popular on the West Coast jazz scene, known primarily as a tenor saxophonist.
Born in San Francisco, California, United States, Perkins started performing in the big bands of Woody Herman and Jerry Wald. He worked for the Stan Kenton orchestra, which led to his entry into the cool jazz idiom. He began performing with Art Pepper and Bud Shank. He was also a member of The Tonight Show Band from 1970 to 1992 and The Lighthouse All-Stars. In the 1960s, Perkins had a second career as a recording engineer.
He died of cancer in his Sherman Oaks home at the age of 79.

Discography

The Brothers! with Al Cohn and Richie Kamuca On Stage Tenors Head-On with Richie Kamuca Just Friends with Art Pepper, Richie Kamuca Bossa Nova with Strings Attached Quietly There West Coast Conference The Front Line with Pepper Adams Confluence Serious Swingers with Bud Shank Remembrance of Dino's I Wish On the Moon Warm Moods with Frank Strazzeri Live at the Royal Palms Inn Vol. 5 with Shorty Rogers Live at the Royal Palms Inn Vol. 9 with Pete Candoli, Carl Fontana Perk Playz Pres Swing Spring Live at the Lighthouse 1964 with J. C. Heard

As sideman

With Chet BakerChet Baker Big Band Pretty/Groovy
With Louis BellsonBig Band Jazz from the Summit
With Nat King ColeL-O-V-E
With Clifford CoulterDo It Now!
With Clare FischerThesaurus
With Dizzy GillespieThe New Continent
With Stan KentonKenton Showcase Contemporary Concepts Kenton in Hi-Fi Kenton with Voices Rendezvous with Kenton Back to Balboa The Ballad Style of Stan Kenton The Stage Door Swings Kenton / Wagner Stan Kenton Conducts the Los Angeles Neophonic Orchestra
With Barney KesselTo Swing or Not to Swing
With John Lewis,Grand Encounter
With Carmen McRaeCan't Hide Love
With Art Pepper and Conte CandoliMucho Calor
With Mark MurphyPlaying the Field
With André PrevinThe Subterraneans (Soundtrack)
With Shorty RogersShorty Rogers Plays Richard Rodgers Afro-Cuban Influence Shorty Rogers Meets Tarzan The Swingin' Nutcracker An Invisible Orchard Jazz Waltz
With Pete Rugolo10 Saxophones and 2 Basses
With Lalo Schifrin
With Bud ShankBud Shank - Shorty Rogers - Bill Perkins Bud Shank & the Sax Section
With Gerald Wilson