Clifford Everett Shank Jr. , who was known as Bud Shank, was an American jazz saxophonist and flautist associated closely with America's West Coast jazz scene in the 1940s and '50s. He was interested in world music and collaborated with musicians in Brazil where he helped develop the bossa nova. Born in Ohio, he had a stint with saxophonist Charlie Barnet in North Carolina before moving to California where he performed and recorded with trumpet player Shorty Rogers and band leader and pianist Stan Kenton.
He collaborated with a wide variety of artists including Sergio Mendes, Buddy Bregman, Gene Clark, Nat King Cole, Harry Nilsson, Anita O'Day, Patti Page, Julie London and Boz Scaggs. His flute can be heard on the pop hit 'California Dreamin'' by The Mamas and The Papas. He played on Elmer Bernstein's classic score for the 1956 feature film 'The Man With the Golden Arm', several Lalo Schifrin film scores including 'Bullitt' and 'Kelly's Heroes', and he recorded with artists such as Chet Baker, Maynard Ferguson and Shelly Manne. He also performed with major orchestras and ensembles around the world.
He released a great many albums as leader from the mid-'50s to 2011. Compilations include 'Bud Shank: Four Classic Albums' and he can be seen in the 2008 documentary 'Bud Shank "Against the Tide" - Portrait of a Jazz Legend'. He died aged 82 in 2009.
