September 7, 1931 – June 13, 2001

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Multi-instrumentalist and composer Ken McIntyre was born on September 7, 1931 in Boston, Massachusetts.

McIntyre, who played the saxophone, flute, oboe, bassoon, bass, piano, and drumset, (among other instruments) graduated from the Boston Conservatory and moved to New York City in 1960.

His style falls within the realm of post-bop, but his recordings, with musicians like Eric Dolphy, Cecil Taylor and Kenny Drew, show a wide variety of influences.

McIntyre would work with many top players including Nat Adderley, Jaki Byard, Eric Dolphy, Charlie Haden, Daoud A. Haroon, Richard Harper, Cecil Taylor, and Reggie Workman.

Over the course of his career he wrote over 400 compositions, and around 200 arrangements in addition to releasing thirteen albums.

In 1971 entered the world of jazz education as founder of the first African American Music program in the country at the State University of New York College at Old Westbury where he continued teaching for twenty-four years.

While performing in Zimbabwe during the early ’90s he changed his name to “Makanda” Ken McIntyre after he was reportedly handed a piece of paper with the word written on it by a stranger.

A moniker well suiting his instrumental versatility it means “many skins” in the Ndebele language.

From Ken McIntyre’s 1960 LP “Looking Ahead” with Eric Dolphy.

Personnel:

Ken McIntyre, alto sax & flute
Eric Dolphy, alto sax, flute, & bass clarinet
Walter Bishop Jr., piano
Sam Jones, bass
Art Taylor, drums 

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