Henry Threadgill (born February 15, 1944) is an American composer, saxophonist and flautist. He came to prominence in the 1970s leading ensembles rooted in jazz but with unusual instrumentation and often incorporating other genres of music. He has performed and recorded with several ensembles: Air, Aggregation Orb, Make a Move, the seven-piece Henry Threadgill Sextett, the twenty-piece Society Situation Dance Band, Very Very Circus, X-75, and Zooid.
He was awarded the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Music for his album '' In for a Penny, In for a Pound'', which premiered at Roulette Intermedium on December 4, 2014
Career
Threadgill performed as a percussionist in his high-school marching band before taking up baritone saxophone, alto saxophone, and flute. He studied at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, majoring in piano, flute, and composition. He studied piano with Gail Quillman and composition with Stella Roberts. He was an original member of the Experimental Band,a precursor to the AACM in his hometown of Chicago, and worked under the guidance of Muhal Richard Abrams, before leaving to tour with a gospel band. In 1967, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, playing with a rock band in Vietnam during the Vietnam War in 1967 and 1968. He was discharged in 1969.
After returning to Chicago, Threadgill joined AACM members bassist Fred Hopkins and drummer
Steve McCall
Stephen Harold McCall (born 15 October 1960) is an English retired footballer who now works as a Scout for Carlisle United.
A defensive midfielder during his playing days, McCall built a reputation as a cultured midfield player, with immacula ...
in a trio which would eventually become the group Air. He moved to New York City, where he formed his first group, X-75, a nonet consisting of four reed players, four bass players, and a vocalist.
In the early 1980s, Threadgill created his first critically acclaimed ensemble as a leader, the Henry Threadgill Sextet (actually a septet; he counted the two drummers as a single percussion unit), which released three albums on About Time Records. After a hiatus, he formed New Air with Pheeroan akLaff, replacing Steve McCall on drums, and reformed the Henry Threadgill Sextett (with two t's at the end). The six albums the group recorded feature some of his most accessible work, notably on the album '' You Know the Number''. The group's unorthodox instrumentation included two drummers, double bass, cello, trumpet, and trombone, in addition to Threadgill's alto saxophone and flute. Among the players were drummers akLaff, John Betsch, Reggie Nicholson and Newman Baker; bassist Fred Hopkins; cellist Diedre Murray; trumpeters Rasul Siddik and Ted Daniels;
cornet
The cornet (, ) is a brass instrument similar to the trumpet but distinguished from it by its conical bore, more compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B, though there is also a sopr ...
ist Olu Dara; and trombonists Ray Anderson, Frank Lacy, Bill Lowe, and Craig Harris.
During the 1990s, Threadgill pushed the musical boundaries even further with his ensemble Very Very Circus. The group consisted of two tubas, two electric guitars, a trombone or French horn, and drums. With this group he explored more complex and highly structured forms of composition, augmenting the group with Latin percussion, French horn, violin, accordion, vocalists, and exotic instruments. He composed and recorded with other unusual instruments, such as a flute quartet (Flute Force Four, a one-time project from 1990); and combinations of four cellos and four acoustic guitars (on ''Makin' a Move'').
He was signed by
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Sony. It was founded on Janua ...
for three albums. Since the dissolution of Very Very Circus, Threadgill has continued in his iconoclastic ways with ensembles such as Make a Move and Zooid. Zooid, currently a sextet with tuba (Jose Davila), acoustic guitar ( Liberty Ellman), cello (Christopher Hoffman), drums (Elliot Kavee) and bass guitar (
Stomu Takeishi
Stomu Takeishi (born 1964, in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture) is a Japanese experimental and jazz bassist. He is known for playing fretless five-string electric bass guitar and a Klein five-string acoustic bass guitar, often using extended techniques an ...
), has been the primary vehicle for Threadgill's compositions in the 2000s.
In 2018, Threadgill composed the string quartet "Sixfivetwo" for the Kronos Quartet, which they recorded as part of their "Fifty for the Future" project.
Awards and honors
In 2016, Threadgill's composition ''In for a Penny, In for a Pound'' was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music.
In July 2016, he received the Vietnam Veterans of America Excellence in the Arts Award, at the VVA National Leadership Conference in Tucson.
"Run Silent, Run Deep, Run Loud, Run High" (conducted by
Hale Smith
Hale Smith (June 29, 1925 – November 24, 2009) was an American composer, arranger, and pianist.De Lerma, Dominique-Rene"African Heritage Symphonic Series" Liner note essay. Cedille CDR061.
Biography
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he learned pian ...
) and "Mix for Orchestra" (conducted by Dennis Russell Davies), were both premiered at the
Brooklyn Academy of Music
The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) is a performing arts venue in Brooklyn, New York City, known as a center for progressive and avant-garde performance. It presented its first performance in 1861 and began operations in its present location in ...
in 1987 and 1993 respectively. He has had commissions from Mordine & Company in 1971 and 1989, from
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhatta ...
Bang on a Can All-Stars
The Bang on a Can All-Stars is an amplified ensemble that was formed in 1992 by parent organization Bang on a Can.
Called "a flexible and expert sextet" by ''The New York Times'',
in 1995, "Peroxide" commissioned by the Miller TheatreColumbia University in 2003 for "Aggregation Orb", a commission from the Talujon Percussion Ensemble in 2008, a piece "Fly Fliegen Volar" commissioned and premiered at the Saalfelden Jazz Festival with the Junge Philharmonie Salzburg Orchestra in 2007, a premier of the piece "Mc Guffins" with Zooid at the Biennale Festival in Italy in 2004.
In October 2020, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced Threadgill as one of four recipients of the
NEA Jazz Masters Fellowships
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), every year honors up to seven jazz musicians with Jazz Master Awards. The National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Fellowships are the self-proclaimed highest honors that the United States bestows upon ...
, celebrated in an online concert and show on April 22, 2021. Awarded in recognition of lifetime achievement, the honor is bestowed on individuals who have made significant contributions to the art form. The other 2021 recipients were Terri Lyne Carrington,
Albert "Tootie" Heath
Albert "Tootie" Heath (born May 31, 1935) is an American jazz hard bop drummer, the brother of tenor saxophonist Jimmy Heath and the double-bassist Percy Heath.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, he first recorded in 1957 with J ...
Threadgill was born in Chicago. He studied piano, flute, and composition at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, and Governors State University, in University Park, Illinois. He was a member of the US Army Concert Band, and served in Vietnam. He is married to recording artist and ethnomusicologist Senti Toy, also known as Sentienla Toy Threadgill.
Discography
As leader/co-leader
Air
* 1975: ''
Air Song
''Air Song'' is the debut album by the improvisational collective Air featuring Henry Threadgill, Steve McCall, and Fred Hopkins performing four of Threadgill's compositions.Backstrom, L. & Lopez, RHenry Threadgill discographyaccessed February ...
Air Raid
Air raid may refer to:
Attacks
* Airstrike
* Strategic bombing
Other uses
* ''Air Raid'' (album), by the improvisational collective Air
* Air Raid ''(Transformers)'', the name of three characters in the Transformers universes
* ''Air Raid'' ...
'' (Why Not)
* 1977: ''
Live Air
''Live Air'' is a live album by the improvisational collective Air featuring Henry Threadgill, Steve McCall, and Fred Hopkins recorded at Studio Rivbea, in New York and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, first released by Black Saint Record ...
Air Time
Air time or airtime may refer to:
*Air time (broadcasting), also spelled "airtime", available hours for broadcast or time purchased for broadcast
* Air time (mobile phone), also spelled "airtime", top-up for mobile roaming services
*Air time, also ...
Air Mail
Airmail (or air mail) is a mail transport service branded and sold on the basis of at least one leg of its journey being by air. Airmail items typically arrive more quickly than surface mail, and usually cost more to send. Airmail may be the ...
Air Show No. 1
''Air Show No. 1'' is an album recorded for the Italian Black Saint label by the improvisational collective New Air featuring Henry Threadgill, Fred Hopkins and Pheeroan akLaff with Cassandra Wilson providing vocals on three selections.Backstrom, ...
'' (as New Air with Cassandra Wilson) (Black Saint)
X-75
* 1979: ''
X-75 Volume 1
''X-75 Volume 1'' is the debut album by Henry Threadgill released on the Arista Novus label in 1979. The album and features four of Threadgill's compositions performed by Threadgill with Douglas Ewart, Joseph Jarman, Wallace McMillan, Leonard ...
'' (Arista/Novus)
Henry Threadgill Sextett
* 1982: '' When Was That?'' (About Time)
* 1983: ''
Just the Facts and Pass the Bucket
''Just the Facts and Pass the Bucket'' is an album by Henry Threadgill released on the About Time label in 1983. The album features six of Threadgill's compositions performed by Threadgill with Craig Harris, Olu Dara, Fred Hopkins, Diedre M ...
Easily Slip Into Another World
''Easily Slip Into Another World'' is an album by saxophonist/composer Henry Threadgill, recorded for the RCA Novus label in 1987.
Recording and music
The album was recorded at Mediasound Studio, New York City, on September 20, 1987.
The album f ...
Axiom
An axiom, postulate, or assumption is a statement that is taken to be true, to serve as a premise or starting point for further reasoning and arguments. The word comes from the Ancient Greek word (), meaning 'that which is thought worthy or f ...
)
* 1993: ''
Song Out of My Trees
''Song Out of My Trees'' is an album by Henry Threadgill released on the Black Saint label in 1994. The album features five of Threadgill's compositions performed by a variety of ensembles that include Threadgill, Ted Daniel, Brandon Ross, Jerome ...
Columbia
Columbia may refer to:
* Columbia (personification), the historical female national personification of the United States, and a poetic name for America
Places North America Natural features
* Columbia Plateau, a geologic and geographic region in ...
)
* 1995: ''
Makin' a Move
''Makin' a Move'' is an album by Henry Threadgill released on the Columbia label in 1996. The album features four songs by the Very Very Circus group and three compositions scored mainly for guitars and cellos.Backstrom, L. & Lopez, RHenry Thread ...
Up Popped the Two Lips
''Up Popped the Two Lips'' is an album by Henry Threadgill featuring seven of Threadgill's compositions performed by Threadgill's Zooid. The album was the second album on the Pi Records label and was released simultaneously with ''Everybodys Mout ...
'' (Pi)
* 2005: ''
Pop Start the Tape, StoP
Pop or POP may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Music
* Pop music, a musical genre Artists
* POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade
* Pop!, a UK pop group
* Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band
Albums
* Pop (Gas al ...
'' (Hardedge)
* 2009: ''
This Brings Us to Volume 1
''This Brings Us to Volume 1'' is an album by Henry Threadgill featuring six of Threadgill's compositions performed by Threadgill's Zooid. The album, Threadgill's first in eight years besides the limited edition '' Pop Start the Tape, Stop'' (2005 ...
'' (Pi)
* 2010: ''
This Brings Us to Volume 2
''This Brings Us to Volume 2'' is an album by American jazz saxophonist Henry Threadgill with his band Zooid, featuring Jose Davila on trombone and tuba, Liberty Ellman on guitar, Stomu Takeishi on bass guitar, and Elliot Humberto Kavee on drums. ...
1-OQA+19
''1-OQA+19'' is an album by Muhal Richard Abrams released on the Italian Black Saint label in 1977 which features performances by Abrams, Anthony Braxton, Henry Threadgill, Steve McCall and Leonard Jones.
Reception
The Allmusic review states "Th ...
For Trio
''For Trio'' is an album by American jazz saxophonist and composer Anthony Braxton recorded in 1977 and released on the Arista label.Chico Freeman
* ''
Morning Prayer Morning Prayer may refer to:
Religion
*Prayers in various traditions said during the morning
* Morning Prayer (Anglican), one of the two main Daily Offices in the churches of the Anglican Communion
* In Roman Catholicism:
** Morning offering of C ...
'' (Whynot, 1976)
With
Roscoe Mitchell
Roscoe Mitchell (born August 3, 1940) is an American composer, jazz instrumentalist, and educator, known for being "a technically superb – if idiosyncratic – saxophonist". ''The Penguin Guide to Jazz'' described him as "one of the key figures ...
* ''
Nonaah
''Nonaah'' is a double album recorded in 1976-77 by Roscoe Mitchell. It was originally released on the Nessa label in 1977 and features solo, duo, trio and quartet performances by Mitchell, Anthony Braxton, Malachi Favors, Muhal Richard Abrams ...
'' (Nessa, 1977)
* ''
L-R-G / The Maze / S II Examples
''L-R-G / The Maze / S II Examples'' is an album by American jazz saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell recorded in 1978 and released originally as a double LP on Nessa Records. It was reissued in 1989 as a single CD.
Background
Following a successful thr ...
'' (Nessa, 1978)
With Frank Walton
* ''Reality'' (1978)
With David Murray
* '' Ming'' (1980)
* ''
Home
A home, or domicile, is a space used as a permanent or semi-permanent residence for one or many humans, and sometimes various companion animals. It is a fully or semi sheltered space and can have both interior and exterior aspects to it. H ...
'' (1981)
* ''
Murray's Steps
''Murray's Steps'' is an album by David Murray released on the Italian Black Saint label in 1982. It feature his Octet consisting of Murray, Henry Threadgill, Bobby Bradford, Lawrence "Butch" Morris, Craig Harris, Curtis Clark, Wilber Morris and ...
The Third Power
''The Third Power'' is a 1991 album by the New York based music group Material. The album mixes reggae. funk, dub and rap music.
Engineer Martin Bisi claims the album began as a Sly and Robbie record but "Bill really took over... And then, befor ...
Rhythm Killers
''Rhythm Killers'' is an album by Jamaican musical duo Sly and Robbie, released in May 1987 by Island Records. By the time of the album's recording, Sly and Robbie had transitioned away from their prolific work in the reggae genre. They spent the ...
'' (1987)
With Carlinhos Brown / Bill Laswell
* ''Bahia Black: Ritual Beating System'' (1991)
With Leroy Jenkins
* ''
Themes & Improvisations on the Blues
''Themes & Improvisations on the Blues'' is a live album by violinist / composer Leroy Jenkins. It was recorded in April 1992 at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City, and was released by Composers Recordings, Inc. in 1994. The album documents perf ...
'' (1992)
With
Kip Hanrahan
Kip Hanrahan (born December 9, 1954) is an American jazz music impresario, record producer and percussionist.
Personal life
Hanrahan was born in a Puerto Rican neighborhood in the Bronx to an Irish-Jewish family. His father left when he was 6 m ...
* ''Darn It!'' (1992) with Paul Haines
* ''A Thousand Nights and a Night (Shadow Night – 1)'' (1996)
With
Billy Bang
Billy Bang (September 20, 1947 – April 11, 2011), born William Vincent Walker, was an American free jazz violinist and composer.
Biography
Bang's family moved to New York City's Bronx neighborhood while he was still an infant, and as a ...
Jean-Paul Bourelly
Jean-Paul Etienne Bourelly (born November 23, 1960) is an American guitarist whose music crosses the boundaries of jazz fusion and rock.
Bourelly was born in Chicago, Illinois, to parents from Haiti. His grandmother taught him Yoruba music. When ...
* ''Boom Bop'' (2000)
* ''Trance Atlantic – Boom Bop II'' (2001)
With Ejigayehu "Gigi" Shibabaw
* ''Gigi'' (2001)
With Lucky Peterson
* ''Black Midnight Sun'' (2002)
With
Dafnis Prieto
Dafnis Prieto (born July 31, 1974) is a Cuban-American drummer, composer, bandleader, and educator.
Career
In his home town of Santa Clara, Cuba, Prieto studied percussion and guitar. During his teens, he moved to Havana to study at the Nati ...
Jack DeJohnette
Jack DeJohnette (born August 9, 1942) is an American jazz drummer, pianist, and composer.
Known for his extensive work as leader and sideman for musicians including Charles Lloyd, Freddie Hubbard, Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans, John Abercrombie, ...
* ''
Made in Chicago
''Made in Chicago'' is a live album by drummer and composer Jack DeJohnette with fellow Chicagoan musicians pianist Muhal Richard Abrams, bassist Larry Gray and saxophonists Roscoe Mitchell and Henry Threadgill recorded at the 35th Chicago Jazz F ...
'' (ECM, 2013
015
Fifteen or 15 may refer to:
*15 (number), the natural number following 14 and preceding 16
*one of the years 15 BC, AD 15, 1915, 2015
Music
*Fifteen (band), a punk rock band
Albums
* ''15'' (Buckcherry album), 2005
* ''15'' (Ani Lorak album ...
Larry Gray
Larry Gray is a Chicago musician known for his compositions and skill on the double bass and cello. His primary teachers were Joseph Guastafeste, longtime principal bassist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and cellist Karl Fruh.University of Il ...
and
Roscoe Mitchell
Roscoe Mitchell (born August 3, 1940) is an American composer, jazz instrumentalist, and educator, known for being "a technically superb – if idiosyncratic – saxophonist". ''The Penguin Guide to Jazz'' described him as "one of the key figures ...