In the mid-50s, Mickey Roker returned from two years in the army, where he
played in orchestras, and began his career in rock and roll bands alongside his
musical studies. He then joined saxophonist Gigy Grice's band, where he made his
mark on the jazz scene, and in the early '60s was sought after by Ray Bryant and
Junior Mance. The mid-60s were marked by a series of recorded encounters with
Sonny Rollins and numerous other collaborations with prestigious leaders such as
Milt Jackson, Ben Webster, Hank Mobley, Bobby Hutcherson, McCoy Tyner and Dizzy
Gillespie. He is also very clo...