Lin Halliday

Lin Halliday's debut album under his own leadership, Delayed Exposure, arrived at an especially late point in his career, as the gifted tenor saxophonist had already reached the age of 55. Born and raised in Little Rock, AR, he turned professional immediately after finishing high school. Early on he worked in Los Angeles, participating in sessions directed by altoist Joe Maini. After spending a year in Wisconsin, Halliday relocated to New York in 1958. The next year he replaced Wayne Shorter in the Maynard Ferguson Orchestra, and he subsequently performed with the ensembles of Louie Bellson and Philly Joe Jones. Following additional periods spent in Little Rock, Los Angeles, and Chicago, he made Nashville his home in 1966. There the tenor saxophonist remained active in both recording studios and neighborhood clubs until an injury sidelined him for two years beginning in 1978. Once recovered, he relocated permanently to Chicago in 1980 and soon established himself as a central presence on the city's jazz circuit. A robust hard bop soloist capable of matching any player in a jam session, Lin Halliday appeared on a 1988 recording by trumpeter Brad Goode and has also issued three albums of his own on the Delmark label.