Arthur Blythe
Encyclopedia
Arthur Blythe is an American
jazz
alto saxophonist and composer
. His stylistic voice has a distinct vibrato
and he plays within the post-bop
subgenre of jazz.
, returning to Los Angeles
when he was 19 years old. He took up the alto saxophone at the age of nine playing R&B
until his mid-teens when he discovered jazz. He studied with David Jackson and Jimmie Lunceford
, and Kirtland (Kirk) Bradford. In the mid-60's he was part of The Underground Musicians and Artists Association (UGMAA), west coast counterpart to Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM)
founded by Horace Tapscott
, on whose 1969 The Giant Is Awakened, Blythe made his recording debut.
After moving to New York
in the mid-70s, he worked as a security guard before being offered a place as sideman
for Chico Hamilton
(75-77). He subsequently played with Gil Evans Orchestra
(76-78), Lester Bowie
(‘78), Jack DeJohnette
(‘79) and McCoy Tyner
(‘79). The Arthur Blythe band of 1979 - John Hicks
, Fred Hopkins
and Steve McCall
- played Carnegie Hall
and the Village Vanguard
.
Blythe started to record as a leader in 1977 for the India Navigation
label and then for Columbia records
from 1978 to 1987. Albums such as The Grip and Metamorphosis (both on India Navigation) offered capable, highly refined jazz fare with a free angle that made Blythe too ‘out there’ for the general public, but endeared him to the more serious jazz fans. Blythe played on many pivotal albums of the 1980s, among them Jack DeJohnette
's Special Edition
on ECM
. Blythe was a member of the all-star jazz group The Leaders
and, after the departure of Julius Hemphill
, he joined the World Saxophone Quartet
. Beginning in 2000 he made recordings on Savant Records which included Exhale (2003) with John Hicks
(piano), Bob Stewart (tuba), and Cecil Brooks III (drums).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
alto saxophonist and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. His stylistic voice has a distinct vibrato
Vibrato
Vibrato is a musical effect consisting of a regular, pulsating change of pitch. It is used to add expression to vocal and instrumental music. Vibrato is typically characterised in terms of two factors: the amount of pitch variation and the speed with which the pitch is varied .-Vibrato and...
and he plays within the post-bop
Post-bop
Post-bop is a term for a form of small-combo jazz music that evolved in the early-to-mid sixties. The genre's origins lie in seminal work by John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Charles Mingus, Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock...
subgenre of jazz.
Biography
Blythe lived in San Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, returning to Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
when he was 19 years old. He took up the alto saxophone at the age of nine playing R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
until his mid-teens when he discovered jazz. He studied with David Jackson and Jimmie Lunceford
Jimmie Lunceford
James Melvin "Jimmie" Lunceford was an American jazz alto saxophonist and bandleader in the swing era.-Biography:...
, and Kirtland (Kirk) Bradford. In the mid-60's he was part of The Underground Musicians and Artists Association (UGMAA), west coast counterpart to Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM)
Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians
The Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians is a non-profit organization, founded in Chicago, Illinois, United States, by pianist/composer Muhal Richard Abrams, pianist Jodie Christian, drummer Steve McCall, and composer Phil Cohran....
founded by Horace Tapscott
Horace Tapscott
Horace Tapscott was an American jazz pianist and composer. He formed the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra in 1961 and led the ensemble through the 1990s...
, on whose 1969 The Giant Is Awakened, Blythe made his recording debut.
After moving to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in the mid-70s, he worked as a security guard before being offered a place as sideman
Sideman
A sideman is a professional musician who is hired to perform or record with a group of which he or she is not a regular member. They often tour with solo acts as well as bands and jazz ensembles. Sidemen are generally required to be adaptable to many different styles of music, and so able to fit...
for Chico Hamilton
Chico Hamilton
Chico Hamilton , is an American jazz drummer and bandleader.-Early life through 1960s:Hamilton was born in Los Angeles, California. He had a fast-track musical education in a band with Charles Mingus, Illinois Jacquet, Ernie Royal, Dexter Gordon, Buddy Collette and Jack Kelso...
(75-77). He subsequently played with Gil Evans Orchestra
Gil Evans
Gil Evans was a jazz pianist, arranger, composer and bandleader, active in the United States...
(76-78), Lester Bowie
Lester Bowie
Lester Bowie was an American jazz trumpet player and composer. He was a member of the AACM, and cofounded the Art Ensemble of Chicago.-Biography:...
(‘78), Jack DeJohnette
Jack DeJohnette
Jack DeJohnette is an American jazz drummer, pianist, and composer. He is one of the most influential jazz drummers of the 20th century, due to extensive work as leader and sideman for musicians like Miles Davis, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Keith Jarrett and Sonny...
(‘79) and McCoy Tyner
McCoy Tyner
McCoy Tyner is a jazz pianist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known for his work with the John Coltrane Quartet and a long solo career.-Early life:...
(‘79). The Arthur Blythe band of 1979 - John Hicks
John Hicks
Sir John Richard Hicks was a British economist and one of the most important and influential economists of the twentieth century. The most familiar of his many contributions in the field of economics were his statement of consumer demand theory in microeconomics, and the IS/LM model , which...
, Fred Hopkins
Fred Hopkins
Fred Hopkins was a Chicago double bassist who played a major role in the development of the avant-garde jazz movement. He was a member of the avant garde jazz trio Air and David Murray's Low Class Conspiracy; he frequently worked with the cellist Diedre Murray...
and Steve McCall
Steve McCall
Stephen Harold "Steve" McCall is a retired English footballer who now works as a scout for Ipswich Town.A defensive midfielder during his playing days, McCall built a reputation as a cultured midfield player, with immaculate passing ability. He began his career with Ipswich Town and quickly...
- played Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
and the Village Vanguard
Village Vanguard
The Village Vanguard is a jazz club located at in Greenwich Village, New York City. The club was opened on February 22, 1935, by Max Gordon. At first, it also featured other forms of music such as folk music and beat poetry, but it switched to an all-jazz format in 1957.-History:Over 100 jazz...
.
Blythe started to record as a leader in 1977 for the India Navigation
India Navigation
India Navigation was an American independent record label that was active from the 1970s to the early 1990s. Founded by corporate lawyer Bob Cummins, the label specialized in jazz music, particularly avant-garde jazz.-Discography:...
label and then for Columbia records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
from 1978 to 1987. Albums such as The Grip and Metamorphosis (both on India Navigation) offered capable, highly refined jazz fare with a free angle that made Blythe too ‘out there’ for the general public, but endeared him to the more serious jazz fans. Blythe played on many pivotal albums of the 1980s, among them Jack DeJohnette
Jack DeJohnette
Jack DeJohnette is an American jazz drummer, pianist, and composer. He is one of the most influential jazz drummers of the 20th century, due to extensive work as leader and sideman for musicians like Miles Davis, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Keith Jarrett and Sonny...
's Special Edition
Special Edition (Jack DeJohnette album)
Special Edition is an album by Jack DeJohnette featuring David Murray, Arthur Blythe and Peter Warren recorded in 1979 released on the ECM label in 1980...
on ECM
ECM (record label)
ECM is a record label founded in Munich, Germany, in 1969 by Manfred Eicher. While ECM is best known for jazz music, the label has released a wide variety of recordings, and ECM's artists often refuse to acknowledge boundaries between genres...
. Blythe was a member of the all-star jazz group The Leaders
The Leaders
The Leaders is a jazz supergroup formed in 1985.The initial lineup of The Leaders was put together by trumpeter Lester Bowie, alto saxophonist Arthur Blythe, and tenor saxophonist Chico Freeman, along with a rhythm section of pianist Kirk Lightsey, bassist Cecil McBee, and drummer Famoudou Don...
and, after the departure of Julius Hemphill
Julius Hemphill
Julius Arthur Hemphill was a jazz composer and saxophone player. He performed mainly on alto saxophone; less often soprano and tenor saxophones and flute.-Biography:...
, he joined the World Saxophone Quartet
World Saxophone Quartet
The World Saxophone Quartet is a jazz ensemble founded in 1977, implementing elements of free funk and African jazz into their musical routines.-History:...
. Beginning in 2000 he made recordings on Savant Records which included Exhale (2003) with John Hicks
John Hicks (jazz pianist)
John Josephus Hicks, Jr. was an American jazz pianist and composer, active in the New York and the international jazz scene from the mid-1960s.-Biography:...
(piano), Bob Stewart (tuba), and Cecil Brooks III (drums).
Discography
| Year | Title | Genre | Label | Billboard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | The Grip The Grip -Track listing:# "The Grip" - 7:15# "Spirits in the Field" - 8:36# "Sunrise Service" - 7:54# "Lower Nile" - 4:02# "As of Yet" - 12:37# "My Son Ra" - 3:22*Recorded at the Brook in New York City on February 26, 1977.-Personnel:... |
Jazz | India Navigation | |
| 1977 | Metamorphosis Metamorphosis (Arthur Blythe album) -Track listing:# "Duet For Two" - 17:51# "Metamorphosis" - 8:00# "Shadows" - 7:40*Recorded at the Brook in New York City on February 26, 1977.-Personnel:*Arthur Blythe - alto saxophone*Abdul Wadud - cello*Ahmed Abdullah - trumpet... |
Jazz | India Navigation | |
| 1977 | Bush Baby Bush Baby (album) -Track listing:# "Mamie Lee" - 10:32# "For Fats" - 8:43# "Off The Top" - 8:20# "Bush Baby" - 9:07*Recorded at Blank Tapes Recording Studio in New York City in December 1977.-Personnel:*Arthur Blythe - alto saxophone*Ahkmed Abdullah - congas*Bob Stewart - tuba... |
Jazz | Adelphi | |
| 1978 | In the Tradition In the Tradition (Arthur Blythe album) -Track listing:# "The Jitterbug Waltz" - 4:34 # "In a Sentimental Mood" - 7:45 # "Break Tune" - 3:03 # "Caravan" - 5:22 # "Hip Dripper" - 4:35 # "Naima" - 6:44... |
Jazz | Columbia | #22 |
| 1978 | Lenox Avenue Breakdown Lenox Avenue Breakdown Lenox Avenue Breakdown is an album by jazz alto saxophonist Arthur Blythe. Columbia Records released the album in 1979, and Koch Jazz re-issued the title in 1998... |
Jazz | Columbia | #35 |
| 1980 | Illusions Illusions (Arthur Blythe album) -Track listing:# "Bush Baby" - 6:28# "Miss Nancy" - 7:24# "Illusions" - 4:10# "My Son Ra" - 5:59# "Carespin' With Mamie" - 7:04# "As of Yet" - 5:04*Recorded at CBS Recording Studios, New York in April & May 1980.-Personnel:*Arthur Blythe - alto saxophone... |
Jazz | Columbia | #32 |
| 1981 | Blythe Spirit Blythe Spirit -Track listing:# "Contemplation" - 6:54 # "Faceless Woman" - 6:41# "Reverence" - 6:25# "Strike up the Band" - 2:44 # "Misty" - 7:24# "Spirits in the Field" - 3:29... |
Jazz | Columbia | #24 |
| 1982 | Elaborations Elaborations -Track listing:# "Elaborations" - 7:23 # "Metamorphosis" - 6:18 # "Sister Daisy" - 7:17 # "One Mint Julep" - 4:54 # "Shadows" - 4:25 # "Lower Nile" - 10:37*Recorded at CBS Recording Studios, New York-Personnel:... |
Jazz | Columbia | #33 |
| 1983 | Light Blue: Arthur Blythe Plays Thelonious Monk Light Blue: Arthur Blythe Plays Thelonious Monk -Track listing:# "We See" - 6:30# "Light Blue" - 5:12# "Off Minor" - 6:48# "Epistrophy" - 8:38# "Coming On the Hudson" - 6:05# "Nutty" - 6:45*Recorded at CBS Recording Studios, New York-Personnel:*Arthur Blythe - alto saxophone*Abdul Wadud - cello... |
Jazz | Columbia | |
| 1984 | Put Sunshine in It | Jazz | Columbia | |
| 1986 | Da-Da | Jazz | Columbia | |
| 1987 | Basic Blythe | Jazz | Columbia | |
| 1996 | Calling Card | Jazz | Enja | |
| 1996 | Synergy | Jazz | In + Out | |
| 1991 | Hipmotism | Jazz | Enja | |
| 1997 | Today's Blues | Jazz | CIMP | |
| 1997 | Night Song | Jazz | Clarity | |
| 2000 | Spirits in the Field | Jazz | Savant | |
| 2001 | Blythe Byte | Jazz | Savant | |
| 2002 | Focus | Jazz | Savant | |
| 2003 | Exhale | Jazz | Savant |