Ernie Krivda

A brilliant tenor saxophonist with a forceful sound and an original attack that sometimes utilizes staccato phrases, Ernie Krivda has recorded stimulating sessions for Inner City, North Coast Jazz, Cadence, and Koch without gaining much fame. He originally played clarinet, switching to alto in high school and later, to tenor. In 1964, he played for a few months with the Jimmy Dorsey ghost band and he spent the late '60s playing locally in Cleveland, recording with Bill Dobbins for the Advent label (1969); they co-led a quintet for a few years. Krivda played in Los Angeles with Quincy Jones (1973) and then lived in New York for a period (1976-1979). But in general, Ernie Krivda (who deserves much greater recognition) has spent the bulk of his career as a vital part of Cleveland's jazz scene.