Charles Brackeen
Encyclopedia
Charles Brackeen is a jazz saxophonist who primarily plays tenor saxophone
, but also plays soprano saxophone
. He was married to pianist Joanne Brackeen
; they have since divorced, and they have four children.
Brackeen originally studied violin and piano before switching to saxophone. He played in a recording with members of the Ornette Coleman
Quartet in 1968 and on Jazz Composer's Orchestra
recordings by Don Cherry
(1973), Leroy Jenkins (1975), and Paul Motian
for ECM
(1978 & 1979). He recorded again as a leader in 1987, when he recorded three albums for Silkheart Records
. He also has a quartet which produced Worshippers Come Nigh, among other works, in 1995.
with Ahmed Abdullah
with Dennis González
with Ronald Shannon Jackson's Decoding Society
Tenor saxophone
The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
, but also plays soprano saxophone
Soprano saxophone
The soprano saxophone is a variety of the saxophone, a woodwind instrument, invented in 1840. The soprano is the third smallest member of the saxophone family, which consists of the soprillo, sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, contrabass and tubax.A transposing instrument pitched in...
. He was married to pianist Joanne Brackeen
Joanne Brackeen
Joanne Brackeen is an American jazz pianist and music educator.-Biography:She was born Joanne Grogan in Ventura, California. She attended the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music, but devoted herself to jazz by imitating Frankie Carle albums...
; they have since divorced, and they have four children.
Brackeen originally studied violin and piano before switching to saxophone. He played in a recording with members of the Ornette Coleman
Ornette Coleman
Ornette Coleman is an American saxophonist, violinist, trumpeter and composer. He was one of the major innovators of the free jazz movement of the 1960s....
Quartet in 1968 and on Jazz Composer's Orchestra
Jazz Composer's Orchestra
Jazz Composer's Orchestra was an American jazz group founded in 1965, to further avant-garde jazz in New York. Carla Bley and Michael Mantler were important in its organization and style....
recordings by Don Cherry
Don Cherry (jazz)
Donald Eugene Cherry was an innovative African-American jazz cornetist whose career began with a long association with saxophonist Ornette Coleman. He went on to live in many parts of the world and work with a wide variety of musicians.-Biography:Cherry was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and...
(1973), Leroy Jenkins (1975), and Paul Motian
Paul Motian
Stephen Paul Motian was an American jazz drummer, percussionist and composer of Armenian extraction.He first came to prominence in the late 1950s in the piano trio of Bill Evans, and later led several groups...
for 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...
(1978 & 1979). He recorded again as a leader in 1987, when he recorded three albums for Silkheart Records
Silkheart Records
- External links :* *...
. He also has a quartet which produced Worshippers Come Nigh, among other works, in 1995.
As Leader
- Rhythm X (Strata-EastStrata-East RecordsStrata-East Records is an American record label specialising in jazz which was founded in 1971 by Stanley Cowell and Charles Tolliver.Gil Scott-Heron recorded his 1974 album Winter in America with Brian Jackson for Strata-East. "The Bottle" featured on the album, was a popular single...
, 1968) with Don Cherry, Charlie Haden, Ed Blackwell - Charles' Concept (1974)
- Bannar (Silkheart RecordsSilkheart Records- External links :* *...
, 1987) with Dennis Gonzalez, Malachi FavorsMalachi FavorsMalachi Favors was a noted American jazz bassist best known for his work with the Art Ensemble of Chicago.-Biography:... - Attainment (Silkheart,1987)
- Worshippers Come High (Silkheart, 1987) with Fred HopkinsFred HopkinsFred 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...
, Andrew CyrilleAndrew CyrilleAndrew Charles Cyrille is an avant-garde jazz drummer.Cyrille was born in Brooklyn, New York into a family with a mother from Haiti. He began studying science at St...
and Olu DaraOlu DaraOlu Dara Jones is an American cornetist, guitarist and singer.-History:...
As sideman
with Paul MotianPaul Motian
Stephen Paul Motian was an American jazz drummer, percussionist and composer of Armenian extraction.He first came to prominence in the late 1950s in the piano trio of Bill Evans, and later led several groups...
- Prelude (1977)
- Dance (ECM, 1977)
- Le Voyage (ECM, 1979)
with Ahmed Abdullah
Ahmed Abdullah
Ahmed Abdullah is a jazz trumpeter. He began playing when he was 13 years old. By the 1970s he was performing in New York's loft scene, and joined the Sun Ra Arkestra in 1976. Since that time he has played with Chico Freeman, Ronnie Boykins, Charles Brackeen, Steve Reid, John Hicks and Marion Brown...
- Liquid Magic (Silkheart, 1987)
- Mystery of Two (1987)
with Dennis González
Dennis González
Dennis González is a jazz musician, poet, visual artist and music educator based in Dallas, Texas....
- Nameshake (Silkheart, 1987)
- Debenge, Debenge (Silkheart, 1987)
- The Desert Wind (Silkheart, 1989)
with Ronald Shannon Jackson's Decoding Society
- Eye On You (About Time, 1980)
- Nasty (Moers Music, 1981)