Happy Birthday Henry Threadgill
February 15, 1944
A tribute to the very original alto saxophonist and composer
Altoist, flutist, composer and leader Henry Threadgill was born on February 15, 1944 in Chicago, Illinois.
Threadgill originally played percussion in his high school marching band before studying baritone sax, alto and flute; he majored in piano, flute and composition at Chicago’s American Conservatory of Music.
An original member of the AACM (Association for the Advancement Of Creative Musicians), he was always interested in creating his own fresh and original music.
Threadgill worked briefly in a gospel band and during 1967-69 was in the Army, playing with a rock band in Vietnam; otherwise he has primarily led his own groups.
Threadgill first became known for leading the trio Air and since that time he has headed many different ensembles, most of which have unusual instrumentation including such groups as X-75 (four reed players, four bassists and a singer), the Henry Threadgill Sextett (a septet with two drummers), Very Very Circus, Make a Move, Zooid and Ensemble Double Up.
In 2016 Threadgill, who is as highly respected for his arranging and compositions as for his playing, won the Pulitzer Prize for Music for “In For A Penny, In For A Pound.”
He is featured leading his 18-piece Society Situation Dance Band in the 1980s at the Hamburg Jazz Festival.
Personnel:
Henry Threadgill, conductor
John Stubblefield, tenor & soprano sax
Booker T. Williams, tenor sax
Ted Daniel, trumpet
E. J. Allen, trumpet
Craig Harris, trombone
Conrad Herwig, trombone
Leroy Jenkins, violin
Charles Burnham, violin
Terry Jenoure, violin
Bob Stewart, tuba
Diedre Murray, cello
Akua Turre Dixon, cello
Brandon Ross, guitar
Donald Nicksel, bass
Reggie Nicholson, drums
Bobby Sanabria, percussion
Drew Richards, vocal
Sherry Scott, vocal
-Scott Yanow
