Frank Wright was an American free jazz musician, known for his frantic style of playing the tenor saxophone. Critics often compare his music to that of Albert Ayler, although Wright "offers his honks and squawks with a phraseology derived from the slower, earthier funk of R&B and gospel music." According to AllMusic biographer Chris Kelsey, Wright "never recorded even a single record under his own name for a major label; he was 'underground' his entire career." In addition to tenor saxophone, Wright also played the soprano saxophone and bass clarinet.
Muhammad Ali is an American free jazz drummer.
Noah Howard was an American free jazz alto saxophonist.
Bobby Few was an American jazz pianist and vocalist.
Arthur Doyle was an American jazz saxophonist, bass clarinettist, flutist, and vocalist who was best known for playing what he called "free jazz soul music". Writer Phil Freeman described him as having "one of the fiercest, most unfettered saxophone styles in all of jazz", "a player so explosive that it seems like microphones and recording equipment can barely contain him".
Black Gipsy is an album by jazz saxophonist Archie Shepp recorded in Europe in 1969 for the America label. The album was also issued by the Prestige label under the title Black Gypsy.
Pitchin Can is an album by jazz saxophonist Archie Shepp recorded in Paris, France, in 1969 and 1970 for the America label. The album features one track by Shepp with Clifford Thornton, Noah Howard, Julio Finn, Leroy Jenkins, Dave Burrell, Earl Freeman, Sunny Murray and Chicago Beau and one extended track by Shepp with Thornton, Lester Bowie, Alan Shorter, Bobby Few, Bob Reid, Muhammad Ali, Djibrill and Ostaine Blue Warner.
Uhuru na Umoja is an album by American free jazz saxophonist Frank Wright recorded in 1970 in Paris, originally released on the French America label and reissued on CD in 2004 by Universal France. Wright leads a quartet featuring alto saxophonist Noah Howard, who composed each of the tracks, pianist Bobby Few and bebop drummer Art Taylor in his first free jazz date. "Oriental Mood" and "Aurora Borealis" are the same compositions as "Mount Fuji" and "Queen Anne", from Howard's The Black Ark album.
Center of the World is an album by the Frank Wright Quartet, consisting of saxophonist Frank Wright, pianist Bobby Few, bassist Alan Silva and drummer Muhammad Ali. It was recorded live in 1972 and released on the French Center of the World label. The album was reissued on CD in 1999 by Fractal with two previously unreleased performances from a 1978 reunion.
Last Polka in Nancy? is the second album by the free jazz quartet Center of the World, consisting of saxophonist Frank Wright, pianist Bobby Few, bassist Alan Silva and drummer Muhammad Ali. It was recorded live in 1973 at the Nancy Jazz Pulsations Festival and released on the French Center of the World label. The album was reissued on CD in 1999 by Fractal with a previously unreleased performance from a 1978 reunion.
Live at Glenn Miller Café is a live album by saxophonist Arthur Doyle and drummer Sunny Murray. It was recorded in March 2000 at the Glenn Miller Café in Stockholm, Sweden, and was released in 2001 by Ayler Records. Although the album is credited to Doyle and Murray, the first three tracks are a duet between Murray and saxophonist Bengt Frippe Nordström, who died several months after the concert.
The Marzette Watts Ensemble is the second and final album by saxophonist and composer Marzette Watts. It was recorded in 1968 in New York City, and was released on LP by Savoy Records in 1969. On the album, Watts is joined by cornetist George Turner, trombonist Marty Cook, violinist Frank Kipers, vocalists Amy Schaeffer and Patty Waters, pianist Bobby Few, bassists Cevera Jeffries, Juny Booth, and Steve Tintweiss, and drummers J. C. Moses and Tom Berge. The album was produced by Bill Dixon, whose composition "octobersong" is featured, and who also provided liner notes and played piano on one track.
Unity is a live album by saxophonist Frank Wright. It was recorded at the Moers Festival in Moers, Germany on June 1, 1974, and was released in 2006 by ESP-Disk. On the album, Wright is joined by pianist Bobby Few, bassist Alan Silva, and drummer Muhammad Ali.
Noah Howard Quartet is the debut album by alto saxophonist Noah Howard. It was recorded in New York City during January 1966, and was released later that year by ESP-Disk. On the album, Howard is joined by trumpeter Ric Colbeck, bassist Scotty Holt, and percussionist Dave Grant.
Red Star is an album by alto saxophonist Noah Howard on which he is joined by drummer Kenny Clarke. It was recorded in Paris on May 16, 1977, and was released later that year by Mercury Records. The album also features trumpeter Richard Williams, pianist Bobby Few, and bassist Guy Pederson.
Burn Baby Burn is an album by trumpeter Norman Howard and saxophonist Joe Phillips, who are accompanied by bassist Walter Cliff and drummer Corney Millsap. It was recorded in Cleveland, Ohio, in November 1968 as part of a session that was originally intended for release by ESP-Disk as catalogue number 1073. However, the material was shelved until 1989, when some of the tracks were released by Homeboy Music, a label run by British musicologist Roy Morris, on a limited-edition cassette titled Signals. In 1993, Homeboy reissued the contents of Signals, along with additional tracks from the session, on a second cassette called Burn, Baby, Burn. In 2007, ESP-Disk issued eight of the tracks in remastered form on CD as Burn Baby Burn.
One for John is an album by saxophonist Frank Wright. Dedicated to Wright's mentor, John Coltrane, it was recorded at Studio Saravah in Paris on December 5, 1969, and was released in 1970 by BYG Records as part of their Actuel series. On the album, Wright is joined by saxophonist Noah Howard, pianist Bobby Few, and drummer Muhammad Ali.
Earl Cross was a free jazz trumpeter best known for his association with saxophonists Noah Howard and Charles Tyler and percussionist Juma Sultan, as well as with the 1970s loft jazz scene in New York City.
Space Dimension is an album by alto saxophonist Noah Howard. It was recorded during 1970 in Paris, and was released on vinyl in 1971 by America Records. In 2019, it was reissued by Eating Standing, an Italian label. On the album, Howard is joined by tenor saxophonist Frank Wright, pianist Bobby Few, and drummer Art Taylor. Drummer Muhammad Ali also appears on one track. Space Dimension is one of four albums recorded in Paris by the group, the others, credited to Wright, being Uhuru na Umoja, One for John, and Church Number Nine.
GratHovOx is a live album by clarinetist and saxophonist Frank Gratkowski, pianist Fred Van Hove, and percussionist Tony Oxley. It was recorded on November 14, 2000, at Erholunghaus Bayer in Leverkusen, Germany, and was released in 2002 by Nuscope Recordings.
