Ray Warleigh

All Music Guide:

A native of Australia, the alto saxophonist has lived in Britain since the early '60s. In his youth, Warleigh studied music and developed an interest in jazz; his first model on alto was Paul Desmond. He began playing professionally in the late '50s. He moved to England in 1960 and first played with blues musician Alexis Korner and later with such British jazz luminaries as Tubby Hayes, Humphrey Lyttelton, Ronnie Scott, and Mike Westbrook. Warleigh recorded his first album as leader -- aptly titled Ray Warleigh's First Album (Phillips) -- in 1968 (it remains unavailable on compact disc). From the '60s on, Warleigh has been an active freelancer in Britain, contributing to countless recordings by such artists as Long John Baldry, Nick Drake, John Mayall, Champion Jack Dupree, and Georgie Fame, to name just a few. Warleigh has also kept his foot in jazz and experimental waters; in the '70s he played with drummer John Stevens' Spontaneous Music Ensemble, worked with guitarist Allan Holdsworth, and led his own record dates. He played in the West German Radio Orchestra and in Rolling Stones' drummer Charlie Watts' big band in the '80s, and recorded with flugelhornist Kenny Wheeler and classical composer Gavin Bryars for the ECM label in the '90s. Warleigh is also a highly regarded flutist.

Wikipedia:

Raymond 'Ray' Kenneth Warleigh (born 28 September 1938, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), is a leading UK-based alto saxophonist and flautist. Arriving in England in 1960, he quickly established himself as an in-demand session musician.

He has played and recorded with major figures and bands of the UK jazz and blues scene, including Mike Oldfield, Alexis Korner, Tubby Hayes, Humphrey Lyttelton, Terry Smith, Ronnie Scott, Long John Baldry, Nick Drake, Charlie Watts, John Mayall, Allan Holdsworth, Soft Machine, Georgie Fame, Mike Westbrook, Dick Morrissey and Kenny Wheeler as well as accompanying visiting major foreign artists such as Champion Jack Dupree.