Gigi Gryce is known for his compositions, as well as his saxophone playing . While in Paris, Gryce worked in New York with Max Roach, Tadd Dameron and Clifford Brown. In the 50's he played with Thelonious Monk, Oscar Pettiford and led the Jazz Lab Quintet (1955-58), a band featuring Donald Byrd. After 1962 he stopped playing jazz to become a teacher.