Frank Lowe
Encyclopedia
Frank Lowe was an American
avant-garde jazz
saxophonist
and composer
.
Born and brought up in Memphis, Tennessee
, Lowe took up the tenor saxophone
and then moved to San Francisco. On visits to New York
, he began playing with Sun Ra
and then Alice Coltrane
, with whom he recorded in 1971.
Lowe was a tenor saxophonist who was extremely influenced by the first and second waves of free jazz throughout the 1960s. On September 19, 2003, Frank Lowe died of lung cancer. His legacy was a varied body of recordings and memorable performances.
His composition "Spirits in the Field" was performed on Arthur Blythe
's 1977 album The Grip
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
avant-garde jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
saxophonist
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
.
Born and brought up in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, Lowe took up the tenor saxophone
Tenor saxophone
The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
and then moved to San Francisco. On visits to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, he began playing with Sun Ra
Sun Ra
Sun Ra was a prolific jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, poet and philosopher known for his "cosmic philosophy," musical compositions and performances. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama...
and then Alice Coltrane
Alice Coltrane
Alice Coltrane, née McLeod was an American jazz pianist, organist, harpist, and composer.-Biography:...
, with whom he recorded in 1971.
Lowe was a tenor saxophonist who was extremely influenced by the first and second waves of free jazz throughout the 1960s. On September 19, 2003, Frank Lowe died of lung cancer. His legacy was a varied body of recordings and memorable performances.
His composition "Spirits in the Field" was performed on Arthur Blythe
Arthur Blythe
Arthur Blythe is an American jazz alto saxophonist and composer. His stylistic voice has a distinct vibrato and he plays within the post-bop subgenre of jazz.- Biography :...
's 1977 album The Grip
The Grip
-Track listing:# "The Grip" - 7:15# "Spirits in the Field" - 8:36# "Sunrise Service" - 7:54# "Lower Nile" - 4:02# "As of Yet" - 12:37# "My Son Ra" - 3:22*Recorded at the Brook in New York City on February 26, 1977.-Personnel:...
.
As leader
- 1973: Duo Exchange with Rashied AliRashied AliRashied Ali, born Robert Patterson was an American free jazz and avant-garde jazz drummer best known for playing with John Coltrane in the last years of Coltrane's life.-Biography:...
- 1973: Black Beings with Joseph JarmanJoseph JarmanJoseph Jarman , is a jazz musician, composer and Shinshu Buddhist priest. He is perhaps best known as one of the first members of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians and the Art Ensemble of Chicago.-Early life:Jarman grew up in Chicago, Illinois...
, Rashid Sinan, Raymund Cheng, William ParkerWilliam Parker (musician)William Parker is an American free jazz double bassist, poet and composer.-Biography:Parker was not formally trained as a classical player, though he did study with Jimmy Garrison, Richard Davis, and Wilbur Ware and learned the tradition. Parker is one of few jazz bassists who regularly plays arco... - 1974 Fresh with Lester BowieLester BowieLester Bowie was an American jazz trumpet player and composer. He was a member of the AACM, and cofounded the Art Ensemble of Chicago.-Biography:...
Joseph BowieJoseph BowieJoseph Bowie is an American bandleader, trombonist, and founder of the seminal jazz fusion band, Defunkt. The group has been blending jazz with funk and punk music for more than three consecutive decades....
, Abdul WadudAbdul Wadud (musician)Abdul Wadud , is an American cellist known for his work in jazz and classical settings.His son Is R&B Singer Raheem DeVaughn.-As leader:*1977: By Myself Bishara...
, Steve ReidSteve ReidSteve Reid was an American jazz drummer who played with a wide range of artists including Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, James Brown, Fela Kuti and Sun Ra, and as a session drummer for Motown.- Biography :... - 1975: The FlamThe FlamThe Flam is an album by American jazz saxophonist Frank Lowe recorded in 1975 for the Italian Black Saint label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4½ stars stating "The very explorative and rather emotional music holds one's interest throughout...
with Joseph Bowie, Leo SmithWadada Leo SmithIshmael Wadada Leo Smith is a trumpeter and composer working primarily in the fields of avant-garde jazz and free improvisation.-Biography:...
, Alex BlakeAlex BlakeAlex Blake is a post bop jazz double-bassist who began his career with Sun Ra in his band Arkestra. A live performance compilation was released by Bubble Core Records in 2000 titled Now Is the Time: Live at the Knitting Factory...
, Charles Bobo Shaw (Black Saint) - 1976: Tricks of the Trade with Butch MorrisButch MorrisLawrence D. "Butch" Morris is an American jazz cornetist, composer and conductor.-Biography:Before his musical career, Morris served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War....
, Didier LevalletDidier LevalletDidier Levallet is a French jazz double bassist, composer, arranger and leader.A self-taught bassist, Levallet made his professional debut in Paris in 1969, working with such artists as Ted Curson, Johnny Griffin, Kenny Clarke, Mal Waldron, Hank Mobley, Archie Shepp, Tony Oxley, Steve Lacy, Harry...
, George Brown - 1976: The Other Side with Butch Morris, Didier Levallet, George Brown
- 1977: Doctor Too-Much with Olu DaraOlu DaraOlu Dara Jones is an American cornetist, guitarist and singer.-History:...
, Leo SmithWadada Leo SmithIshmael Wadada Leo Smith is a trumpeter and composer working primarily in the fields of avant-garde jazz and free improvisation.-Biography:...
, Phillip Wilson, Fred WilliamsFred WilliamsFrederick Ronald Williams OBE was an Australian painter and printmaker. He was one of Australia’s most important artists, and one of the twentieth century’s major painters of the landscape... - 1977: Lowe & Behold with Joseph Bowie, Butch Morris, Arthur WilliamsArthur WilliamsArthur or Art Williams may refer to:*Arthur Williams , actor*Arthur Williams , Anglican colonial bishop*Arthur Williams , American boxer*Arthur Williams...
, Billy Bang, Polly BradfieldPolly BradfieldPolly Bradfield is a violinist from the New York City free improvisation scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Her closest musical associates were Eugene Chadbourne and John Zorn. She also played on records by William Parker and Frank Lowe. Her music career ended when she moved to California...
, Eugene ChadbourneEugene ChadbourneEugene Chadbourne is an American improvisor, guitarist and banjoist. Highly eclectic and unconventional, Chadbourne's most formative influence is free jazz. He has also been a reviewer for Allmusic and a contributor to Maximum RocknRoll.Chadbourne started out playing rock and roll guitar, but...
, John LindbergJohn LindbergJohn Lindberg is an American jazz double-bassist.Lindberg studied at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and moved to New York City in 1977. There he played with the Human Arts Ensemble alongside Joseph Bowie and Bobo Shaw, and he was in ensembles with Anthony Braxton from 1978-1985...
, Phillip Wilson, John ZornJohn ZornJohn Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer...
, Peter Kuhn - 1977: Don't Punk Out with Eugene Chadbourne
- 1979: Sweet Space with the Billy Bang Sextet: Billy Bang, Luther ThomasLuther Thomasthumb|right|upright=2|Dizzazz in June 1981. From left to right : Luther Thomas , Danny Petroni , Donald Nicks , Marvin Neal , Warren Benbow , John K. Mulkerin and Billy "Spaceman" Paterson...
, Butch Morris, Curtis ClarkCurtis Clark- Life and career :Clark was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1950, but moved to Los Angeles where he spent his student years and started composing and playing the piano. After Clark graduated in music theory and composition from the California Institute of Arts in Valencia, he set out for New York City...
, Wilber MorrisWilber MorrisWilber Morris was an American jazz double bass player and bandleader. He was the brother of the cornetist, composer, and conductor Butch Morris....
, Steve McCallSteve McCallStephen Harold "Steve" McCall is a retired English footballer who now works as a scout for Ipswich Town.A defensive midfielder during his playing days, McCall built a reputation as a cultured midfield player, with immaculate passing ability. He began his career with Ipswich Town and quickly... - 1981: Skizoke with Butch Morris, Damon Choice, Larry Simon, Wilber Morris, Tim Pleasant
- 1981: Exotic Heartbreak with Butch Morris, Amina Claudine MyersAmina Claudine MyersAmina Claudine Myers in Blackwell, Arkansas; is an American jazz pianist, organist, vocalist, composer, and musical arranger.-Biography:...
, Wilber Morris, Tim Pleasant - 1982: Live from Soundscape with Lawrence Butch Morris, Amina Claudine Myers, Wilber Morris, Tim Pleasant
- 1984: Isle in the Ocean with Billy Bang, Frank Wollny, Heinz Wollny, A. R. Penck
- 1984: Decision In Paradise with Don CherryDon Cherry (jazz)Donald Eugene Cherry was an innovative African-American jazz cornetist whose career began with a long association with saxophonist Ornette Coleman. He went on to live in many parts of the world and work with a wide variety of musicians.-Biography:Cherry was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and...
, Grachan Moncur IIIGrachan Moncur IIIGrachan Moncur III is an American jazz trombonist who has mostly played free jazz, as well as being a prolific composer. He is the son of jazz bassist Grachan Moncur II and the nephew of jazz saxophonist Al Cooper.-Biography:...
, Geri AllenGeri AllenGeri Allen is an American composer/pianist educator jazz pianist, raised in Detroit, Michigan, and educated in the Detroit Public Schools. Allen has worked with many of the greats of modern music, including Ornette Coleman, Ron Carter, Ravi Coltrane, Tony Williams, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette,...
, Charnett MoffettCharnett MoffettCharnett Moffett is an American jazz musician who plays piccolo bass, double bass and bass guitar.Moffett's given name was created as a combination of that of his father and that of Ornette Coleman...
, Charles MoffettCharles MoffettCharles Moffett was a free jazz drummer.Moffett began his musical career as a trumpeter before switching to drums. He is probably best known for his part in Ornette Coleman's trio with David Izenzon in the 1960s. He also appeared on other important albums of that period, such as Archie Shepp's... - 1991: Inappropriate Choices with James Carter, Michael MarcusMichael MarcusMichael Marcus is a commodities trader who, in less than 20 years, is reputed to have turned his initial $30,000 into $80 million. Marcus met his mentor Ed Seykota while working as an analyst and learned money management from him. Later while working...
, Carlos WardCarlos WardCarlos Ward is a jazz alto saxophonist and flautist. He is best known as a sideman.His first instrument was the clarinet at age 13 when he lived in Seattle, Washington...
, Phillip Wilson - 1992: Out of Nowhere with Philip Wilson
- 1995: Bodies & Soul mikt Charles MoffettCharles MoffettCharles Moffett was a free jazz drummer.Moffett began his musical career as a trumpeter before switching to drums. He is probably best known for his part in Ornette Coleman's trio with David Izenzon in the 1960s. He also appeared on other important albums of that period, such as Archie Shepp's...
, Tim FloodTim FloodThomas Timothy Flood , is a former professional baseball player who played second base for the St... - 1996: After the Demon's Leaving with Bernard Santacruz, Denis CharlesDenis Charles-Biography:Charles was born in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, and first played bongos at age seven with local ensembles in the Virgin Islands. In 1945 he moved to New York, and gigged frequently around town. In 1954 he began working with Cecil Taylor, and the pair collaborated through 1958. Following...
- 1997: Vision Blue with Steve Neil, Anders GriffenAnders GriffenAnders Griffen is a drummer, composer, and trumpet player from Brooklyn, New York. Griffen works in a range of contexts including folk, jazz, pop, improvised music, and modern dance theater.-Career:...
- 1998: Soul Folks with Bertha Hope, Jack WalrathJack WalrathJack Walrath is an American post-bop jazz trumpeter and musical arranger known for his work with Ray Charles, Gary Peacock, Charles Mingus and Glenn Ferris, among others....
, Steve Neil, Ralph Peterson - 1998: One for Jazz with Billy Bang, Ed SchullerEd SchullerEdwin G. Schuller is an American jazz bassist and composer.Schuller was born in New York City; his father is Gunther Schuller and his younger brother is drummer George Schuller. Schuller learned clarinet and guitar as a child and switched to bass at age 15; that same year he had his first...
, Abbey Rader - 1999: Short Tales with Bernard Santacruz
- 2000: Don't Punk Out with Eugene Chadbourne
- 2002: Lowe Down & Blue with Bern NixBern NixBern Nix is a jazz guitarist. He has recorded and performed with Ornette Coleman, notably playing alongside fellow guitarist Charlie Ellerbee in Coleman's Prime Time group on their key recordings from Dancing in Your Head in the mid-1970 to In All Languages in 1987.He has released CDs including ...
, Dominic DuvalDominic DuvalDominic Duval is an American free jazz bassist.Since the 1990s, Duval has been active principally on the New York City jazz scene. He did not begin recording regularly until the 1990s, but since then has appeared on a very large number of albums, particularly on the labels CIMP, Cadence Jazz, and...
, Michael CarvinMichael CarvinMichael W. Carvin is an American jazz drummer. He has performed with Mickey Bass, Charles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, B. B. King, Jackie McLean, Pharoah Sanders, Lonnie Liston Smith, and Clive Stevens.- Notes :...
As sideman
With Billy BangBilly Bang
Billy Bang was an American free jazz violinist and composer.-Biography:...
- Valve No. 10Valve No. 10Valve No. 10 is an album by the American jazz violinist Billy Bang recorded in 1988 and released on the Italian Soul Note label.-Reception:...
(Soul Note, 1988)