Craig Mitchell Handy (born September 25, 1962) is an American tenor saxophonist.
Born in Oakland, California, he attended North Texas State University and following this played with Herbie Hancock, Head Hunters, Art Blakey, Wynton Marsalis, Roy Haynes, Abdullah Ibrahim, Elvin Jones, Joe Henderson, Betty Carter, John Hicks, George Adams, Ray Drummond, Conrad Herwig, Dee Dee Bridgewater, The Cookers, and David Weiss among many others. He was a member and Musical Director of the Mingus Big Band, Mingus Dynasty, and Mingus Orchestra and performed with Charles Mingus' Epitaph reprise.
Handy plays the role of Coleman Hawkins in the 1996 film Kansas City. He is credited for performing the Cosby Show season 6 and 7 theme.
Discography
As leader Title Year of Release LabelSplit Second Timing 1991 Arabesque Introducing Three for All + One 1993 Arabesque Reflections in Change 1999 SiroccoFlow 2000 Sirocco Craig Handy & 2nd Line Smith 2014 Okeh/Sony
As sideman With Cecil Brooks III Hangin' with Smooth (Muse, 1990) With George Cables The George Cables Songbook (HighNote, 2016) With Betty Carter Droppin' Things (Verve, 1990) With The Cookers Warriors (Jazz Legacy Productions, 2010) Cast the First Stone (Plus Loin, 2011) Believe (Motema Music, 2012) With Ray Drummond Excursion (Arabesque, 1993) 1-2-3-4 (Arabesque, 1997 )
With Joe Henderson Big Band (Verve, 1997)
With Freddie Hubbard New Colors (Hip Bop Essence, 2001) On the Real Side (Times Square, 2008)
With Bobby Hutcherson Acoustic Masters II (Atlantic, 1994)
With Abdullah Ibrahim Mindif (Enja, 1988)
With Charles Mingus Epitaph (Columbia, 1990)
With Ralph Peterson ALIVE At Firehouse 12 Vol. 1—The Unity Project (Onyx, 2013)
With John Scofield Up All Night (Verve, 2003)
With Charles Sullivan Kamau (Arabesque, 1995)
With Charles Tolliver With Love (Blue Note, 2006)
With Jack Walrath Journey, Man! (Evidence, 1995)
References
Further reading Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, Ninth edition, edited by Laura Diane Kuhn (born 1953), Schirmer Books, New York (2001), The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, Second edition, Three volumes, edited by Barry Dean Kernfeld (born 1950), Macmillan Publishers, London (2002),
External links Official website