Saxophonist and clarinettist, graduate of North Texas College in 1942. First played in U.S. Army bands. After World War II with various big bands, including Boyd Raeburn, Jimmy Dorsey, Buddy Rich and Woody Herman. Subsequently on the West Coast, leading a trio with Jim Hall and Bob Brookmeyer. Composer ("The Train and the River") and arranger for Lee Konitz and the Modern Jazz Quartet, as well as work on film scores. From the 1960's, the Jimmy Giuffre Trio was at the forefront of improvisational avant garde jazz.