Maffy Falay(1930-2022)
He was born in Izmir / Turkey
He studied trumpet and piano in Ankara Conservatory. In 1960, he joined the radio orchestra of Kurt Edelhagen in Cologne. Then he toured Europe as a member of the Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band and played on six of the band's albums.
He has played in orchestras led by Benny Bailey, Åke Persson, Phil Woods, Sixten Eriksson and Quincy Jones. In 1965, he decided to move to Sweden where he was playing for the radio jazz orchestra, and touring around the Americas at the same time. In 1970, he started playing in the Dizzy Gillespie Reunion Orchestra. Gillespie is said to have described him as "as good as Roy Eldridge or Miles Davis." He has also played with Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz, and Elvin Jones.
In 1971, he formed the band Sevda, featuring Bernt Rosengren, Okay Temiz, Gunnar Bergsten, Ove Gustafsson and Salih Baysal.
In 2005, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Istanbul Jazz Festival. Falay died on 22 February 2022, at the age of 92
He has played in orchestras led by Benny Bailey, Åke Persson, Phil Woods, Sixten Eriksson and Quincy Jones. In 1965, he decided to move to Sweden where he was playing for the radio jazz orchestra, and touring around the Americas at the same time. In 1970, he started playing in the Dizzy Gillespie Reunion Orchestra. Gillespie is said to have described him as "as good as Roy Eldridge or Miles Davis." He has also played with Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz, and Elvin Jones.
In 1971, he formed the band Sevda, featuring Bernt Rosengren, Okay Temiz, Gunnar Bergsten, Ove Gustafsson and Salih Baysal.
In 2005, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Istanbul Jazz Festival. Falay died on 22 February 2022, at the age of 92