Jefferson played clarinet and alto saxophone early in his career, playing in the backing bands for
The Temptations,
The Supremes, and
Little Richard in the 1960s. In 1971, he entered
New York University, and played with
Mongo Santamaría and with
Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. Between 1977 and 1980 he performed and recorded with
Woody Shaw. Following this, Jefferson spent time with
Elvin Jones,
Roy Haynes,
Cedar Walton,
Jerry Gonzalez,
Malachi Thompson,
Barbara Donald, and
Jack Walrath. His only record as a bandleader was the 1978 release
The Rise of Atlantis, produced by
Woody Shaw. A heavy drinker and smoker for most of his life, he died in
Kraków, Poland, in 1993 after an emergency surgical procedure; he had been suffering from cirrhosis, kidney failure,
stomach ulcers, a hemorrhaging esophagus, acute
circulatory failure, and other maladies. == Discography ==