Tune of the Week: Ray Draper

Of all the brass instruments represented in the world of jazz, the tuba is perhaps the most neglected. In the late 50s one young player dared to make the tuba prominent. Ray Draper played with some of the best there were: Max Roach, Jackie McClean, John Coletrane. At 16 he recorded his first LP of all original compositions. Like so many young jazz cats, Draper fell into the dark world of heroin. He reemerged in the 60s, forming the first jazz-rock fusion group. Tragically, he was gunned down by a 13 year old during a street robbery. A ill befitting end to a true jazz pioneer.