Oliver Lake is an American jazz saxophonist, flutist, composer, poet, and visual artist. He is known mainly for alto saxophone, but he also performs on soprano and flute. During the 1960s, Lake worked with the Black Artists Group in St. Louis. In 1977, he founded the World Saxophone Quartet with David Murray, Julius Hemphill, and Hamiet Bluiett. He worked in the group Trio 3 with Reggie Workman and Andrew Cyrille. He has appeared on more than 80 albums as a bandleader, co-leader, and side musician. He is the father of drummer Gene Lake. Lake has been a resident of Montclair, New Jersey.
Herman Davis "Dave" Burrell is an American jazz pianist. He has played with many jazz musicians including Archie Shepp, Pharoah Sanders, Marion Brown and David Murray.
Jessica Jennifer Williams was an American jazz pianist and composer.
John Josephus Hicks Jr. was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. He was leader of more than 30 recordings and played as a sideman on more than 300.
Fred Hopkins was an American double bassist who played a major role in the development of the avant-garde jazz movement. He was best known for his association with the trio Air with Henry Threadgill and Steve McCall, and for his numerous performances and extensive recordings with major jazz musicians such as Muhal Richard Abrams, Arthur Blythe, Oliver Lake, and David Murray. He was a member of the AACM, and a frequent participant in the loft jazz scene of the 1970s. He also co-led a number of albums with the composer and cellist Diedre Murray. Gary Giddins wrote that Hopkins' playing "fused audacious power with mercuric reflexes." Howard Reich, writing in the Chicago Tribune, stated that "many connoisseurs considered [Hopkins] the most accomplished jazz bassist of his generation" and praised him for "the extraordinarily fluid technique, sumptuous tone and innovative methods he brought to his instrument."
Ray Drummond is a jazz bassist and teacher. He also has an MBA from Stanford University, hence his linkage to the Stanford Jazz Workshop. He can be heard on hundreds of albums and co-leads The Drummonds with Renee Rosnes and Billy Drummond.
Ricky Ford is an American jazz tenor saxophonist.
Dances and Ballads is an album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet, released in 1988 and featuring performances by Hamiet Bluiett, Julius Hemphill, Oliver Lake and David Murray.
Shakill's Warrior is an album by David Murray released on the DIW/Columbia label in 1991. It features eight quartet performances by Murray with Stanley Franks, Don Pullen, and Andrew Cyrille.
Fast Life is an album by David Murray released on the DIW/Columbia label in 1991. It features four quartet performances by Murray with John Hicks, Ray Drummond, and Idris Muhammad and two tracks with saxophonist Branford Marsalis guesting.
Ballads for Bass Clarinet is an album by David Murray, recorded in 1991 and released by DIW Records.
Ming's Samba is an album by David Murray released on the Portrait label in 1988. It features five quartet performances by Murray with John Hicks, Ray Drummond and Ed Blackwell.
Like a Kiss that Never Ends is an album by David Murray released on the Canadian Justin Time label. Recorded in 2000 and released in 2001, the album contains performances by Murray, Andrew Cyrille, John Hicks and Ray Drummond.
MX is an album by David Murray released on the Red Baron label in 1993. It features performances by Murray, Ravi Coltrane, Bobby Bradford, John Hicks, Fred Hopkins and Victor Lewis. The album is dedicated to the memory of Malcolm X.
Saxmen is an album by David Murray on the Red Baron label released in 1993. It features performances by Murray, John Hicks, Ray Drummond and Andrew Cyrille.
Benjamin Alexander Riley Jr. was an American jazz drummer known for his work with Thelonious Monk, as well as Alice Coltrane, Stan Getz, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Ahmad Jamal, and as a member of the group Sphere. During the 1970s and 1980s he was a member of the New York Jazz Quartet.
Lover Man: A Tribute to Billie Holiday is a trio album led by pianist John Hicks, recorded in 1993.
Friends Old and New is an album led by pianist John Hicks, recorded in 1992.
I Remember Miles is an album by saxophonist/composer Benny Golson, featuring compositions associated with or inspired by Miles Davis, that was recorded in 1992 and originally released by the Japanese Alfa Jazz label before being reissued in the US on Evidence Music in 1996.
Exploration is an album by trombonist and composer Grachan Moncur III. It was recorded in June 2004, and was released by Capri Records later that year. On the album, Moncur is accompanied by saxophonists Gary Bartz, Gary Smulyan, and Billy Harper, trumpeter Tim Hagans, trombonist Dave Woodley, horn player John Clark, bassist Ray Drummond, and drummer Andrew Cyrille. The music was arranged by Mark Masters. It was Moncur's first album after a lengthy hiatus, during which he wrote, taught, and dealt with dental issues.
