Marty Ehrlich (born May 31, 1955) is a multi-instrumentalist (saxophones, clarinets, flutes) and is considered one of the leading figures in

avant-garde jazz Avant-garde jazz (also known as avant-jazz and experimental jazz) is a style of music and improvisation that combines avant-garde art music and composition with jazz. It originated in the early 1950s and developed through to the late 1960s. Orig ...

.Overdue Ovation: Marty Ehrlich, Professor Who Performs
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Biography

Though born in

St. Paul Paul; grc, Παῦλος, translit=Paulos; cop, ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ; hbo, פאולוס השליח (previously called Saul of Tarsus;; ar, بولس الطرسوسي; grc, Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς, Saũlos Tarseús; tr, Tarsuslu Pavlus; ...

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

, the portion of Ehrlich's youth spent in

St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the Greater St. Louis, ...

, was particularly important. As a high school student at University City High School in nearby University City, the teenager came into contact with the influential

Black Artists' Group The Black Artists Group (BAG) was a multidisciplinary arts collective that existed in St. Louis, Missouri, from 1968 to 1972. BAG is known for the convergence of free jazz and experimental theater. Members Members included saxophonists Julius ...

(BAG, 1968–72) which was modelled after the AACM in

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

. Later, during formal studies at the

New England Conservatory The New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) is a private music school in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the oldest independent music conservatory in the United States and among the most prestigious in the world. The conservatory is located on Hu ...

, Ehrlich developed a particularly close relationship with pianist

Jaki Byard John Arthur "Jaki" Byard (; June 15, 1922 – February 11, 1999) was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist, composer, and arranger. Mainly a pianist, he also played tenor and alto saxophones, among several other instruments. He was known for hi ...

. It was here that he was most deeply schooled in traditional jazz forms, as well as Western European classical music. During these formative years, Ehrlich was exposed to the cultural, political and musical workings of radical African-American art, and was mentored by such legends as Julius Hemphill and

Oliver Lake Oliver Lake (born September 14, 1942) is an American jazz saxophonist, flutist, composer, poet, and visual artist. He is known mainly for alto saxophone, but he also performs on soprano and flute. During the 1960s, Lake worked with the Black ...

. Often associated with "Radical Jewish Culture" and cult icon John Zorn, Ehrlich has throughout the years nevertheless resisted classification under any single musical genre. He has, for instance, been a mainstay of trumpeter

Randy Sandke Jay Randall Sandke (born May 5, 1949 in Chicago, Illinois) is a jazz trumpeter and guitarist. While a student at Indiana University in 1968, he and Michael Brecker started a jazz-rock band (Mrs. Seamon's Sound Band) that performed at the Notre ...

's Inside Out ensemble, which offers a unique combination of avant-garde–associated figures and mainstreamers. Since his 1978 move to New York, Ehrlich has been a performer and leader with numerous bands of legendary repute, as well as a soloist for a number of major orchestras. But perhaps his most important recent contribution to the story of Jazz and improvised musics, ''The Long View'', was completed at a residency in

Harvard Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...

. The composition (scored for an ensemble of both strings and horns) is inspired from abstract paintings by Oliver Jackson, and has been hailed as "one of a handful of integral long-form works in jazz, standing beside those of the likes of Hemphill,

Mingus The name Mingus may refer to: * Charles Mingus (1922–1979), jazz composer and double bass player ** Sue Mingus, wife of the jazz composer ** ''Mingus'' (Charles Mingus album), 1961 album by Charles Mingus ** ''Mingus'' (Joni Mitchell album) ...

, and Ellington" (Boston Phoenix). Ehrlich currently lives in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

, commuting to teach at

Hampshire College Hampshire College is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts. It was opened in 1970 as an experiment in alternative education, in association with four other colleges ...

, and devoting much energy to his duo with pianist

Myra Melford Myra Melford (born January 5, 1957) is an American avant-garde jazz pianist and composer. A 2013 Guggenheim Fellow, Melford was described by the ''San Francisco Chronicle'' as an "explosive player, a virtuoso who shocks and soothes, and who can m ...

, and trio with

Mark Dresser Mark Dresser (born September 26, 1952) is an American double bass player and composer. Career Dresser was born in Los Angeles, California, United States. In the 1970s, he was a member of Black Music Infinity led by Stanley Crouch and performed ...

(

contrabass Contrabass (from it, contrabbasso) refers to several musical instruments of very low pitch—generally one octave below bass register instruments. While the term most commonly refers to the double bass (which is the bass instrument in the orchest ...

) and

Andrew Cyrille Andrew Charles Cyrille (born November 10, 1939) is an American avant-garde jazz drummer. Throughout his career, he has performed both as a leader and a sideman in the bands of Walt Dickerson and Cecil Taylor, among others. AllMusic biographe ...

(

drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...

Discography

As leader

* ''The Welcome'' with Anthony Cox, Pheeroan akLaff (1984) * ''Pliant Pliant'' with

Stan Strickland Stan Strickland is an American singer, saxophonist, and flutist. Strickland was a protege of Ran Blake Ran Blake (born April 20, 1935) is an American pianist, composer, and educator. He is known for his unique style that combines blues, gospel, ...

, Anthony Cox,

Bobby Previte Bobby Previte (born July 16, 1951 in Niagara Falls, New York) is a drummer, composer, and bandleader. He earned a degree in economics from the University at Buffalo, where he also studied percussion. He moved to New York City in 1979 and began ...

(1988) * ''Falling Man'' with Anthony Cox (

Muse In ancient Greek religion and mythology, the Muses ( grc, Μοῦσαι, Moûsai, el, Μούσες, Múses) are the inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge embodied in the ...

(1989) * ''The Traveller's Tale'' with Stan Strickland, Lindsey Horner, Bobby Previte (1990) * ''Side by Side'' with Frank Lacy,

Wayne Horvitz Wayne Horvitz (born 1955) is an American composer, keyboardist and record producer. He came to prominence in the Downtown scene of 1980s and '90s New York City, where he met his future wife, the singer, songwriter and pianist Robin Holcomb. He ...

, Anthony Cox,

(1991) * Marty Ehrlich's Dark Woods Ensemble, ''Emergency Peace'' (New World, 1991) – with Abdul Wadud,

Muhal Richard Abrams Muhal Richard Abrams (born Richard Lewis Abrams; September 19, 1930 – October 29, 2017) was an American educator, administrator, composer, arranger, clarinetist, cellist, and jazz pianist in the free jazz medium. He recorded and toured the Uni ...

, Lindsey Horner * ''Can You Hear a Motion?'' with Stan Strickland,

Michael Formanek Michael Formanek (born May 7, 1958) is an American jazz bassist born in San Francisco, California, United States, and associated with the jazz scene in New York City, New York. Career In the 1980s, Formanek worked as a sideman with Freddie Hubb ...

, Bobby Previte (1994) * Marty Ehrlich's Dark Woods Ensemble, ''Just Before the Dawn'' (New World, 1995) – with Vincent Chancey,

Erik Friedlander Erik Friedlander is an American cellist and composer based in New York City. A veteran of New York City's experimental downtown scene, Friedlander has worked in many contexts, but is perhaps best known for his frequent collaborations with sax ...

, Mark Helias, Don Alias * ''New York Child'' with Stan Strickland, Michael Cain, Michael Formanek, Bill Stewart (Enja, 1996) – recorded in 1995 * ''Light at the Crossroads'' with

Ben Goldberg Ben Goldberg is an American clarinet player and composer. Career In the early 1990s, Ben Goldberg performed alongside electric bassist Dan Seamans and percussionist Kenny Wollesen as the New Klezmer Trio. They went on to produce three albums an ...

(Songlines Recordings, 1997) – recorded in 1996 * Marty Ehrlich's Dark Woods Ensemble, ''Live Wood'' (Music & Arts, 1997) - with Erik Friedlander,

Mark Helias Mark Helias (born October 1, 1950) is an American double bass player and composer born in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He started playing the double bass at the age of 20, and studied with Homer Mensch at Rutgers University from 1971 to 1974, then ...

. recorded in 1996. * Marty Ehrlich's Dark Woods Ensemble, ''Sojourn'' (Tzadik, 1999) – with Erik Friedlander, Mark Helias,

Marc Ribot Marc Ribot (; born May 21, 1954) is an American guitarist and composer. His work has touched on many styles, including no wave, free jazz, rock, and Cuban music. Ribot is also known for collaborating with other musicians, most notably Tom Wait ...

* ''The Waiting Game'' with

Mike Nock Michael Anthony Nock (born 27 September 1940) is a New Zealand jazz pianist, currently based in Australia. Biography He was born in Christchurch, New Zealand. Nock began studying piano at 11. He attended Nelson College for one term in 1955.' ...

(Naxos Jazz, 2000) * Marty Ehrlich's Traveler's Tales, ''Malinke's Dance'' (OmniTone, 2000) – with

Tony Malaby Tony Malaby (born January 12, 1964) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Malaby was born in Tucson, Arizona. He moved to New York City in 1995 and played with several notable jazz groups, including Charlie Haden’s Liberation Music Orchestra, ...

Jerome Harris Jerome Harris (born April 5, 1953) is an American jazz musician specializing in electric and acoustic bass guitar, electric guitar, voice, and occasionally lap steel and small percussion. He came to prominence in 1978 playing bass guitar and gui ...

* ''Song'' (

Enja Enja Records is a German jazz record company and label based in Munich which was founded by jazz enthusiasts Matthias Winckelmann and Horst Weber in 1971. The label's first release was by Mal Waldron, and early releases included European and Ja ...

, 2001) – with

Uri Caine Uri Caine (born June 8, 1956, Philadelphia, United States) is an American classical and jazz pianist and composer. Biography Early years The son of Burton Caine, a professor at Temple Law School, and poet Shulamith Wechter Caine, Caine began ...

, Michael Formanek,

Billy Drummond Willis Robert "Billy" Drummond Jr. (born June 19, 1959) is an American jazz drummer. Early life Billy Drummond was born in Newport News, Virginia, where he grew up listening to the extensive jazz record collection of his father, an amateur dr ...

, Ray Anderson * ''The Long View'' (Enja, 2002) * ''Line on Love'' (Palmetto, 2003) – with

Craig Taborn Craig Marvin Taborn (; born February 20, 1970) is an American pianist, organist, keyboardist and composer. He works solo and in bands, mostly playing various forms of jazz. He started playing piano and Moog synthesizer as an adolescent and was ...

* ''News on the Rail'' (Palmetto, 2005) - recorded in 2004 * Marty Ehrlich Rites Quartet, ''Things Have Got to Change'' (Clean Feed, 2009) * ''Fables'' (Tzadik, 2010) * Marty Ehrlich Rites Quartet, ''Frog Leg Logic'' (Clean Feed, 2011) * Marty Ehrlich Large Ensemble, ''A Trumpet in the Morning'' (New World, 2013) - recorded in 2012 * ''Trio Exaltation'' (Clean Feed, 2018)

As sideman

With Ray Anderson *''

Big Band Record ''Big Band Record'' is an album by trombonist Ray Anderson and the George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band which was released on the Gramavision label in 1994.Rousell, PDiscography of Tim Berneaccessed June 28, 2018 George Gruntz George Gruntz (24 June 1932 – 10 January 2013) was a Swiss jazz pianist, organist, harpsichordist, keyboardist, and composer known for the George Gruntz Concert Big Band and his work with Phil Woods, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Don Cherry, Chet Baker ...

Concert Jazz Band With

Anthony Braxton Anthony Braxton (born June 4, 1945) is an American experimental composer, educator, music theorist, improviser and multi-instrumentalist who is best known for playing saxophones, particularly the alto. Braxton grew up on the South Side of Chica ...

*'' Knitting Factory (Piano/Quartet) 1994, Vol. 1'' (Leo, 1994) * ''

Creative Orchestra (Köln) 1978 ''Creative Orchestra (Köln) 1978'' is a live album by American composer and saxophonist Anthony Braxton. Recorded in Germany in 1978 but not released on the hatART label until 1995, the album features a live concert featuring several of Braxton' ...

'' (hatART, 1995) – recorded 1978 *'' Piano Quartet, Yoshi's 1994'' (Music & Arts, 1996) – recorded 1994 *'' Knitting Factory (Piano/Quartet) 1994, Vol. 2'' (Leo, 2000) – recorded 1994 With John Carter * '' Castles of Ghana'' (Gramavision, 1986) * '' Dance of the Love Ghosts'' (Gramavision, 1987) * ''Fields'' (Gramavision, 1988) * '' Shadows on a Wall'' (Gramavision, 1989) With

Anthony Coleman Anthony Coleman (born August 30, 1955) is an avant-garde jazz pianist. During the 1980s and 1990s he worked with John Zorn on '' Cobra'', ''Kristallnacht'', '' The Big Gundown'', '' Archery'', and '' Spillane'' and helped push modern Jewish music ...

* ''

Lapidation Stoning, or lapidation, is a method of capital punishment where a group throws stones at a person until the subject dies from blunt trauma. It has been attested as a form of punishment for grave misdeeds since ancient times. The Torah and T ...

'' (New World, 2007) With the Julius Hemphill Sextet * '' Fat Man and the Hard Blues'' (Black Saint, 1991) * '' Five Chord Stud'' (Black Saint, 1994) * ''At Dr. King's Table'' (New World, 1997) * ''The Hard Blues: Live in Lisbon'' (Cleanfeed, 2004) With Michael Gregory Jackson * ''Gifts'' (Arista Novus, 1979) With Leroy Jenkins * ''

Mixed Quintet ''Mixed Quintet'' is an album by American jazz violinist Leroy Jenkins recorded in 1979 for the Italian Black Saint label.

'' (Black Saint, 1979) * '' Themes & Improvisations on the Blues'' (CRI, 1994) With John Lindberg * '' Dimension 5'' (Black Saint, 1981) With

*'' Even the Sounds Shine'' (Hat ART, 1995) With Roscoe Mitchell *'' Sketches from Bamboo'' (Moers Music, 1979) With

* '' Weather Clear, Track Fast'' (Enja, 1991) * ''

Hue and Cry In common law, a hue and cry is a process by which bystanders are summoned to assist in the apprehension of a criminal who has been witnessed in the act of committing a crime. History By the Statute of Winchester of 1285, 13 Edw. I statute 2. c ...

'' (Enja, 1993) With Don Grolnick * ''Nighttown (Blue Note, 1992)

Awards and nominations

ARIA Music Awards

The

ARIA Music Awards The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (commonly known informally as ARIA Music Awards, ARIA Awards, or simply the ARIAs) is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Austr ...

is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of

Australian music The music of Australia has an extensive history made of music societies. Indigenous Australian music forms a significant part of the unique heritage of a 40,000- to 60,000-year history which produced the iconic didgeridoo. Contemporary fusions of ...

. They commenced in 1987. ! , - ,

2000 File:2000 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Protests against Bush v. Gore after the 2000 United States presidential election; Heads of state meet for the Millennium Summit; The International Space Station in its infant form as seen from ...

, ''The Waiting Game'' (with

) , Best Jazz Album , , ARIA Award previous winners. , -

References

External links

Marty Ehrlich
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ehrlich, Marty American jazz saxophonists American male saxophonists American jazz clarinetists American jazz flautists Avant-garde jazz musicians Harvard University people Musicians from St. Louis Music of St. Louis Living people 1955 births Muse Records artists Palmetto Records artists Tzadik Records artists Enja Records artists 21st-century American saxophonists Jazz musicians from Missouri 21st-century clarinetists 21st-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians Human Arts Ensemble members 21st-century flautists