John Jenkins born 3 January 1931

Kenny Burrell & John Jenkins

Born in Chicago, John Jenkins Jr., was a pupil of the famous Capt. Walter Dyett of Du Sable High. Johnny Griffin, Clifford Jordan and John Gilmore were among his schoolmates. Jenkins began on clarinet and six month later switched to alto saxophone. His baptism of fire came in 1949 at the Roosevelt College sessions promoted by Joe Segal and he continued to play at these swinging affairs during his next seven years in Chicago. 

In 1955, John did a week apiece in Chicago and Cleveland with Art Farmer when Gigi Gryce was unable to be present. In December of that same year, he fronted his own quartet at Chicago's Bee Hive during the Christmas holidays. Concerts and sessions for Joe Segal were the main items on the agenda in 1956; musicians as Ira Sullivan and Johnny Griffin were among the participants. 

A short stay with Charlie Mingus's group opened the New York phase in March of 1957. In that year, he recorded extensively with the Who's Who of the NY scene: Hank Mobley, Kenny Burrell, Sonny Clark, Clifford Jordan, Paul Quinichette, Sahib Shihab, Jackie McLean, Donald Byrd and Bobby Timmons. His alto playing shows the influence of Charlie Parker and Jackie McLean. 

After 1957, he disappeared from the recording scene and essentially dropped out of music after 1962, aside from a few dates with Gloria Coleman. After leaving the jazz world he worked as a messenger in New York and dabbled in jewelry; he sold brass objects at street fairs in the 1970s. After 1983, he began practicing again and playing live on street corners . In 1990 he played at a big band session for Clifford Jordan. 

Despite his oddly brief recording career, he is still remembered for his invigorating recordings and his softer, almost poignant tone. His disappearance from the recording studio, whether self-imposed or not, was undoubtedly a great loss for jazz. He died in New York City, July 12, 1993 (aged 62). 

(Edited from Wikipedia and liner notes by Ira Gitler)