Tag Archives: Archie Shepp

Howard Johnson

On January 11, 2021, Howard Lewis Johnson died aged 79. He was musician (tuba, baritone saxophone, bass clarinet, trumpet), member and leader of the tuba ensembles Tuba Libre, Substructure, and Gravity. He recorded and performed with some of the world best known musicians and bands, including George Gruntz, Hank Crawford, Gil Evans, Charles Mingus, Hank Crawford, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Archie Shepp, Hank Mobley, Levon Helm, Tomasz Stanko, Gary Burton, Gábor Szabó, Bob Thiele, Charlie Haden, Jazz Composers, Andrew Hill, Leon Thomas, Johnny Coles, Taj Mahal, Charles Tolliver, The Band, Carla Bley, John Lennon, Sam Rivers, Gato Barbieri, Jaco Pastorius, Muddy Waters, Dexter Gordon, Clifford Jordan, David “Fathead” Newman,  James Taylor, Jack De Johnette, Jimmy Heath, Franco Ambrosetti, George Gruntz, Miles Davis, Quincy Jones, NDR Big Band, Ray Anderson, Barbara Dennerlein, John Scofield, T. S. Monk, Mario Pavone, and Chet Baker. As leader he released four albums.

John Coltrane: Ascension

On February 26, 1966, “Impulse” label released “Ascension”, the 21st John Coltrane album. It was recorded on June 28, 1965, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Bob Thiele.

Personnel:

  • Freddie Hubbard– trumpet
  • Dewey Johnson– trumpet
  • Marion Brown– alto saxophone
  • John Tchicai– alto saxophone
  • John Coltrane– tenor saxophone
  • Pharoah Sanders– tenor saxophone
  • Archie Shepp– tenor saxophone
  • McCoy Tyner– piano
  • Art Davis– bass
  • Jimmy Garrison– bass
  • Elvin Jones– drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – mastering
  • Robert Flynn – cover design
  • Joe Lebow – liner design
  • Charles Stewart – cover photography

Track listing:

  1. Ascension One – John Coltrane
  2. Ascension Two – John Coltrane

Lester Bowie

On November 8, 1999, Lester Bowie died aged 58. He was musician (trumpet) and composer, best known as co-founder and member of one of the most important groups in jazz history, “Art Ensemble of Chicago”. He was a also member of the” Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians”, “Lester Bowie’s Brass Fantasy”, “The Leaders” and “Lester Bowie’s Organ Ensemble”. In his career Bowie has performed and recorded with many big names of the popular and jazz music, among them  Archie Shepp,David Murray, Jack DeJohnette, Fela Kuti, Kahil El’Zabar, Defunkt, David Bowie, Sunny Murray, Chico Freeman, Arthur Blythe, Kirk Lightsey, Cecil McBee, James Carter, Brigitte Fontaine, Melvin Jackson, Wadada Leo Smith, Jimmy Lyons, Little Milton, Albert King, Solomon Burke, Joe Tex and Rufus Thomas.