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Mezz Mezzrow, born Milton Mesirow on November 9, 1899, in Chicago, Illinois, was an American jazz clarinetist and saxophonist. He began performing in the Chicago area after learning to play the saxophone during a brief imprisonment at Pontiac Reformatory. In 1928, Mezzrow moved to New York City, where he recorded with Eddie Condon and formed his own orchestra, the Purple Grackle Orchestra. Throughout the 1930s, he collaborated with notable musicians such as Benny Carter, Pops Foster, and Teddy Wilson. In 1938, Mezzrow worked with Sidney Bechet and Tommy Ladnier on memorable recordings produced by Hugues Panassié. He settled in Paris in 1951 and remained active in jazz until reducing his activities later in life. Mezz Mezzrow passed away on August 5, 1972, in Paris.
