8 Bold Souls

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8 Bold Souls is an American jazz ensemble, led by reedist Edward Wilkerson.

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The group was founded in 1985 by Wilkerson, also associated with the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians. They began at Chicago Filmmakers, a performance spot in Chicago, where they played on Thursdays. The performances were dubbed "New Music for 8 Bold Souls", and the group eventually adopted the shortened name for performances elsewhere. 8 Bold Souls were active intermittently through the 1990s, recording for Arabesque Records, and in 1999 released an album on Thrill Jockey, [1] following it with performances at the Chicago Symphony Center and at festivals. [2]

Mwata Bowden is among the musicians to play in the group. Other members include trumpeter Robert Griffin, trombonist Isaiah Jackson, original tubist Aaron Dodd and tubist Gerald Powell, cellist Naomi Millender, original bassist Richard Jess Brown, Jr. (also known as Jess Brown and R. Jess Brown, Jr.), bassist Harrison Bankhead, original percussionist Steve McCall and percussionist Dushun Mosley. [3]

Aaron Dodd died on June 17, 2010, due to complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In addition to his time with 8 Bold Souls, Dodd worked with Leroy Hutson, The Pharaohs and he recorded for Motown Records with Donny Hathaway. [4]

Naomi Millender died in 2018. Harrison Bankhead died in 2023.

Discography

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<i>8 Bold Souls</i> (album) 1987 studio album by 8 Bold Souls

8 Bold Souls is the debut album by the jazz group of the same name. It was recorded in 1986 in Chicago, and was released in 1987 by Sessoms Records. The album features performances by saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer Edward Wilkerson, saxophonist Mwata Bowden, trumpeter Robert Griffin, Jr., trombonist Isaiah S. Jackson, Jr., tubist Aaron Dodd, cellist Naomi Millender, bassist Richard Jess Brown, Jr., and drummer Dushun Mosley.

<i>Sideshow</i> (album) 1992 studio album by 8 Bold Souls

Sideshow is the second album by the jazz group 8 Bold Souls. It was recorded in November 1991 in Chicago, and was released in 1992 by Arabesque Records. The album features performances by saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer Edward Wilkerson, saxophonist Mwata Bowden, trumpeter Robert Griffin, Jr., trombonist Isaiah Jackson, tubist Aaron Dodd, cellist Naomi Millender, bassist Harrison Bankhead, and drummer Dushun Mosley.

<i>Ant Farm</i> (album) 1994 studio album by 8 Bold Souls

Ant Farm is the third album by the jazz group 8 Bold Souls. It was recorded in July and August 1994 in Chicago and was released later that year by Arabesque Records. The album features performances by saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer Edward Wilkerson, saxophonist Mwata Bowden, trumpeter Robert Griffin, Jr., trombonist Isaiah Jackson, tubist Aaron Dodd, cellist Naomi Millender, bassist Harrison Bankhead, and drummer Dushun Mosley.

<i>Last Option</i> 2000 studio album by 8 Bold Souls

Last Option is the fourth album by the jazz group 8 Bold Souls. It was recorded in August 1999 in Chicago, and was released in 2000 by Thrill Jockey. The album features performances by saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer Edward Wilkerson, saxophonist Mwata Bowden, trumpeter Robert Griffin, Jr., trombonist Isaiah Jackson, tubist Gerald Powell, cellist Naomi Millender, bassist Harrison Bankhead, and drummer Dushun Mosley.

<i>Morning Sun/Harvest Moon</i> 2011 studio album by Harrison Bankhead

Morning Sun/Harvest Moon is the debut album by American jazz double-bassist Harrison Bankhead. It was recorded in April 2010 in Chicago, and was released in 2011 by Engine Studios. On the album, Bankhead is joined by saxophonists Mars Williams and Edward Wilkerson, violinist James Sanders, percussionist Ernie Adams, and drummer Avreeayl Ra.

<i>Velvet Blue</i> (album) 2013 studio album by Harrison Bankhead

Velvet Blue is the second album by American jazz double-bassist Harrison Bankhead. It was recorded in March 2013 in Amherst, Massachusetts, and was released later that year by Engine Studios. On the album, Bankhead is joined by saxophonists Mars Williams and Edward Wilkerson, and drummer Avreeayl Ra.

<i>Frequency</i> (Frequency album) 2006 studio album by American jazz group

Frequency is the debut album by Chicago-based collective jazz quartet Frequency, featuring saxophonist Edward Wilkerson, flutist Nicole Mitchell, bassist Harrison Bankhead, and percussionist Avreeayl Ra. It was recorded at Riverside Studio in Chicago, and was released in 2006 by Thrill Jockey. The album includes compositions by all four musicians, along with group improvisations.

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