Name Geezil Minerve Role Musician | Died June 4, 1992 | |
Music group Duke Ellington & His Orchestra (1971 – 1974) Albums The Afro‑Eurasian Eclipse, The Great Paris Concert, Recollections of the Big Band Era, Yale Concert, In a Mellotone Similar People Harold Ashby, Russell Procope, Mercer Ellington, Harry Carney, Jimmy Hamilton | ||
Buddy Johnson And His Orch - Root Man Blues Vocal Geezil Minerve
Harold "Geezil" Minerve (January 3, 1922 - June 4, 1992) was a Cuban-born jazz alto saxophonist and flautist.
Minerve was raised in Florida and began playing music at age 12. He played with Ida Cox early in his career, then worked as a freelance musician in New Orleans. Following stints with Clarence Love and Ernie Fields, Minerve served in the Army from 1943–46, then returned to play with Fields for a short time. He worked with Buddy Johnson from 1949-1957, then with Mercer Ellington (1960), Ray Charles (1962–64), and Arthur Prysock. In 1971 he joined the Duke Ellington Orchestra, filling Johnny Hodges's spot after Hodges's death. Minerve remained with the Ellington Orchestra until 1974, then returned to play with Mercer Ellington. He did further freelance work later in the 1970s.