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Oliver Lake

Born in Marianna, Arkansas in 1942, Oliver moved to St. Louis at the age of two. He began drawing at the age of thirteen (and paints daily, using oil, acrylics, wood, canvas, and mixed media), and soon after began playing cymbals and bass drum in various drum and bugle corps. At 17, he began to take a serious interest in jazz. Like many other members of BAG and its Chicago-based sister organization, the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), Lake moved to New York in the mid-'70s, working the fertile ground of the downtown loft scene and quickly establishing himself as one of its most adventurous and multi-faceted artists. A co-founder of the internationally acclaimed World Saxophone Quartet with Hemphill, Hamiet Bluiett and David Murray in 1977 (and recently celebrating its 26th anniversary with an album of Jimi Hendrix pieces for Justin Time Records), Oliver continued to work with the WSQ and his own various groups - including the groundbreaking roots/reggae ensemble Jump Up - and collaborating with many notable choreographers, poets and a veritable Who's Who of the progressive jazz scene of the late 20th century, performing all over the U.S. as well as in Europe, Japan, the Middle East, Africa and Australia.

While he has continued to tour regularly with his own groups, collaborations and guest appearances - in the last three months of 2003, he performed in Europe, Japan and various U.S. cities - Oliver recognized the changing trends and new challenges facing creative artists, especially those working in the jazz tradition. Always a strong proponent of artist self-empowerment and independence, in 1988 Lake founded Passin' Thru, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit, dedicated to fostering, promoting and advancing the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of jazz, new music and other disciplines in relation to music.

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Radio & Podcasts

Gretchen Parlato, Oliver Lake, JAUBI and more

Read "Gretchen Parlato, Oliver Lake, JAUBI and more" reviewed by David Brown


This week on the Jazz Continuum we have two featured artists. First, a set showcasing the liquid phrasing of acclaimed vocalist Gretchen Parlato. From there, a deep dive into works featuring master saxophonist, composer, painter, and poet Oliver Lake--known to many as the co-founder of the World Saxophone Quartet. We'll also take a look at Duke Ellington's “Paris Blues" Soundtrack, while wrapping up with new music from Pakistan's JAUBI quartet. Playlist Thelonious Monk “Esistrophy (Theme)" from Live at ...

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Radio & Podcasts

Lake/Landaeus/Osgood, Lisa Hoppe, & Aruan Ortiz

Read "Lake/Landaeus/Osgood, Lisa Hoppe, & Aruan Ortiz" reviewed by Maurice Hogue


With master saxophonist Oliver Lake not playing these days, hearing some new music from him is a treat. Back in 2017, in Lund, Sweden, he came together with Danish drummer Kresten Osgood and Swedish pianist Mathias Landaeus to create some memorable moments. Though each had worked with the others in the past, this was the first time as a trio. The results was a night of spontaneous magic. Spirit is well worth looking for. Also new this episode are albums ...

Album Review

Jean-Paul Bourelly: Black Lives - From Generation to Generation

Read "Black Lives - From Generation to Generation" reviewed by Vic Albani


Doppio CD o doppio vinile prodotto in HI-Res e con packaging di lusso dalla Jammin'colorS, agenzia per artisti jazz, world, funk, alternativi, hip-hop, electro e sperimentali nonché etichetta indipendente. Il lavoro che ha pubblicato in tanta pompa magna è un ampio collage di musica nera realizzato da 25 musicisti africani, caraibici e afroamericani guidati dalla visione creativa di Stefany Calembert (compagna del bassista jazz Reggie Washington) e produttrice estemporanea dell'etichetta belga. A tutti è stato chiesto di comporre ...

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Album Review

Various Artists: Black Lives - From Generation to Generation

Read "Black Lives - From Generation to Generation" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


Indeed, African Americans are the architects of several musical formations, hearkening back to Scott Joplin's development of 'ragged' rhythms i.e., Ragtime, along with blues, funk, jazz, and other genres, often evolving into various tangents and offshoots. And on this comprehensively entertaining set produced by Belgian Stefany Calembert with assistance from her husband and acclaimed bassist Reggie Washington, they righteously bestow Black Music as a “source of moral truth and potent weapon against racism." Numerous stars such as saxophonist ...

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Album Review

OGJB Quartet: Ode To O

Read "Ode To O" reviewed by John Sharpe


An assemblage of stars doesn't always result in a constellation. But astronomers will need to take note in the case of the OGJB Quartet, called after the forename initials of the four members: reedman Oliver Lake, cornetist Graham Haynes, bassist Joe Fonda and drummer Barry Altschul. On the venerable collective's second album Ode To O following their eponymous debut in 2019, one of the most striking traits is how much they sound like a band. As might be expected in ...

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Album Review

The OGJB Quartet: Ode To O

Read "Ode To O" reviewed by Jerome Wilson


The OGJB Quartet, a formidable all-star grouping of saxophonist Oliver Lake, cornetist Graham Haynes, bassist Joe Fonda and drummer Barry Altschul, are back with their second album, one even more wide-ranging and soulful than their first, Bamako, (TUM, 2019). The album combines tracks based on gutbucket rhythms with others full of exploratory abstractions. The album title, Ode To O, refers to Ornette Coleman and the title track, written by Altschul, has he and Fonda laying down an assured ...

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Album Review

Oliver Lake: Right Up On

Read "Right Up On" reviewed by Troy Dostert


Although he will always be known first and foremost as an uncompromising saxophonist who helped catalyze the jazz avant- garde from the 1970s onward, it's also worth recognizing Oliver Lake's ambition as a composer. He has a particular fondness for strings in this regard, actually, as he has composed extensively for string quartets for over twenty years, starting with his String Project on Movements, Turns and Switches, from 1996 on his own Passin' Thru label. But most of his work ...

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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Oliver Lake

Jazz Musician of the Day: Oliver Lake

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Oliver Lake's birthday today!

Born in Marianna, Arkansas in 1942, Oliver moved to St. Louis at the age of two. He began drawing at the age of thirteen (and paints daily, using oil, acrylics, wood, canvas, and mixed media), and soon after began playing cymbals and bass drum in various drum and bugle corps. At 17, he began to take a serious interest in jazz. Like many other members of BAG and its Chicago-based sister ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Oliver Lake

Jazz Musician of the Day: Oliver Lake

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Oliver Lake's birthday today!

Born in Marianna, Arkansas in 1942, Oliver moved to St. Louis at the age of two. He began drawing at the age of thirteen (and paints daily, using oil, acrylics, wood, canvas, and mixed media), and soon after began playing cymbals and bass drum in various drum and bugle corps. At 17, he began to take a serious interest in jazz. Like many other members of BAG and its Chicago-based sister ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Oliver Lake

Jazz Musician of the Day: Oliver Lake

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Oliver Lake's birthday today!

Born in Marianna, Arkansas in 1942, Oliver moved to St. Louis at the age of two. He began drawing at the age of thirteen (and paints daily, using oil, acrylics, wood, canvas, and mixed media), and soon after began playing cymbals and bass drum in various drum and bugle corps. At 17, he began to take a serious interest in jazz. Like many other members of BAG and its Chicago-based sister ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Oliver Lake

Jazz Musician of the Day: Oliver Lake

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Oliver Lake's birthday today!

Born in Marianna, Arkansas in 1942, Oliver moved to St. Louis at the age of two. He began drawing at the age of thirteen (and paints daily, using oil, acrylics, wood, canvas, and mixed media), and soon after began playing cymbals and bass drum in various drum and bugle corps. At 17, he began to take a serious interest in jazz. Like many other members of BAG and its Chicago-based sister ...

Video / DVD

StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: The eclectic artistry of Oliver Lake

StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: The eclectic artistry of Oliver Lake

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

This week, StLJN's video spotlight shines on musician, painter, poet, and former St. Louisan Oliver Lake, who's coming to town to perform in a concert sponsored by the Nu-Art Series and St. Louis University next Friday, March 22 at Xavier Hall on the SLU campus. Lake will joined for the performance by pianist Greg Mills, trumpeter and Nu-Art Series impresario George Sams, and dancers Antonio Douthis-Boyd and Kirven Douthis-Boyd, and, in keeping with the “Jazz 'N Tongues" theme of Nu-Art's ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Oliver Lake

Jazz Musician of the Day: Oliver Lake

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Oliver Lake's birthday today!

Born in Marianna, Arkansas in 1942, Oliver moved to St. Louis at the age of two. He began drawing at the age of thirteen (and paints daily, using oil, acrylics, wood, canvas, and mixed media), and soon after began playing cymbals and bass drum in various drum and bugle corps. At 17, he began to take a serious interest in jazz. Like many other members of BAG and its Chicago-based sister ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Oliver Lake

Jazz Musician of the Day: Oliver Lake

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Oliver Lake's birthday today!

Born in Marianna, Arkansas in 1942, Oliver moved to St. Louis at the age of two. He began drawing at the age of thirteen (and paints daily, using oil, acrylics, wood, canvas, and mixed media), and soon after began playing cymbals and bass drum in various drum and bugle corps. At 17, he began to take a serious interest in jazz. Like many other members of BAG and its Chicago-based sister ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Oliver Lake

Jazz Musician of the Day: Oliver Lake

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Oliver Lake's birthday today!

Born in Marianna, Arkansas in 1942, Oliver moved to St. Louis at the age of two. He began drawing at the age of thirteen (and paints daily, using oil, acrylics, wood, canvas, and mixed media), and soon after began playing cymbals and bass drum in various drum and bugle corps. At 17, he began to take a serious interest in jazz. Like many other members of BAG and its Chicago-based sister ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Oliver Lake

Jazz Musician of the Day: Oliver Lake

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Oliver Lake's birthday today! Born in Marianna, Arkansas in 1942, Oliver moved to St. Louis at the age of two. He began drawing at the age of thirteen (and paints daily, using oil, acrylics, wood, canvas, and mixed media), and soon after began playing cymbals and bass drum in various drum and bugle corps. At 17, he began to take a serious interest in jazz. Like many other members of BAG and its Chicago-based sister ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Oliver Lake

Jazz Musician of the Day: Oliver Lake

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Oliver Lake's birthday today!

Born in Marianna, Arkansas in 1942, Oliver moved to St. Louis at the age of two. He began drawing at the age of thirteen (and paints daily, using oil, acrylics, wood, canvas, and mixed media), and soon after began playing cymbals and bass drum in various drum and bugle corps. At 17, he began to take a serious interest in jazz. Like many other members of BAG and its Chicago-based sister ...

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Ode To O

TUM Records
2022

buy

Black Lives - From...

Jammin' Colors
2022

buy

Right Up On

Passin' Thru Records
2017

buy

Flow

NotTwo Records
2016

buy

Bombogenic -...

High Two Recordings
2016

buy

To Roy

Intakt Records
2015

buy

Ode to O

From: Ode To O
By Oliver Lake

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