George Haslam
Encyclopedia
George Haslam is an English avant-garde jazz
saxophonist. Haslam's horns of choice are the baritone saxophone
and the tárogató
.
Haslam performed in the free improvisation
al scene around London
from the late 1960s, but did not begin recording until the 1980s. His first recording was issued in 1984, having been recorded while on tour in Hungary
. His ensemble, called the Siger Band, included Paul Rutherford
, Pete McPhail, Tony Moore
, and Nigel Morris
. He played in Mexico
in 1986 and in Cuba
soon after; his was the first British jazz ensemble to play in the latter country. He won the same distinction in Argentina
before the end of the decade, and has returned repeatedly to this country to perform and record. He founded Slam Records in 1989 to issue his own music; the label also releases material by Steve Lacy
and Mal Waldron
, among others. During this time his collaborations included work with Lol Coxhill
, Paul Hession, Laszlo Gardony
, Ruben Ferrero, and Evan Parker
.
Haslam founded the British Saxophone Quartet in 1992, with Paul Dunmall
, Elton Dean
, and Simon Picard rounding out the membership. He also founded an ensemble called Meltdown in 1997, which issued its first record in 2001.
Avant-garde jazz
Avant-garde jazz is a style of music and improvisation that combines avant-garde art music and composition with jazz. Avant-jazz often sounds very similar to free jazz, but differs in that, despite its distinct departure from traditional harmony, it has a predetermined structure over which ...
saxophonist. Haslam's horns of choice are the baritone saxophone
Baritone saxophone
The baritone saxophone, often called "bari sax" , is one of the largest and lowest pitched members of the saxophone family. It was invented by Adolphe Sax. The baritone is distinguished from smaller sizes of saxophone by the extra loop near its mouthpiece...
and the tárogató
Tárogató
The tárogató refers to two different Hungarian woodwind instruments: the ancient tárogató and the modern tárogató...
.
Haslam performed in the free improvisation
Free improvisation
Free improvisation or free music is improvised music without any rules beyond the logic or inclination of the musician involved. The term can refer to both a technique and as a recognizable genre in its own right....
al scene around London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
from the late 1960s, but did not begin recording until the 1980s. His first recording was issued in 1984, having been recorded while on tour in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. His ensemble, called the Siger Band, included Paul Rutherford
Paul Rutherford (trombone player)
Paul William Rutherford was an English free improvising trombonist.-Biography:Born in Greenwich, South East London, Rutherford initially played saxophone but switched to trombone...
, Pete McPhail, Tony Moore
Tony Moore
Tony Moore may refer to:* Tony P. Moore, Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly* Tony Moore , comic book artist on titles such as The Walking Dead, Fear Agent, and The Exterminators...
, and Nigel Morris
Nigel Morris
Nigel Morris is a businessman who co-founded Capital One with Richard Fairbank, and retired as COO in 2004.He lent the Labour Party £1,000,000 as part of the Cash for peerages affair....
. He played in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
in 1986 and in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
soon after; his was the first British jazz ensemble to play in the latter country. He won the same distinction in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
before the end of the decade, and has returned repeatedly to this country to perform and record. He founded Slam Records in 1989 to issue his own music; the label also releases material by Steve Lacy
Steve Lacy
Steve Lacy , born Steven Norman Lackritz in New York City, was a jazz saxophonist and composer recognized as one of the important players of soprano saxophone....
and Mal Waldron
Mal Waldron
Malcolm Earl Waldron was an American jazz and world music pianist and composer, born in New York City.Like his contemporaries, Waldron's roots lie chiefly in the hard bop and post-bop genres of the New York club scene of the 1950s; but with time, he gravitated more towards free jazz and composition...
, among others. During this time his collaborations included work with Lol Coxhill
Lol Coxhill
Lowen Coxhill, generally known as Lol Coxhill is a free improvising saxophonist and raconteur...
, Paul Hession, Laszlo Gardony
Laszlo Gardony
Laszlo Gardony is an American jazz pianist / composer born in Hungary who has released nine albums and leads his own trio.-Biography:Gardony studied at the Béla Bartók Conservatory in Budapest, graduating in 1979....
, Ruben Ferrero, and Evan Parker
Evan Parker
Evan Shaw Parker is a British free-improvising saxophone player from the European free jazz scene.Recording and performing prolifically with many collaborators, Parker was a pivotal figure in the development of European free jazz and free improvisation, and has pioneered or substantially expanded...
.
Haslam founded the British Saxophone Quartet in 1992, with Paul Dunmall
Paul Dunmall
Paul Dunmall is a British jazz saxophonist who plays tenor and soprano saxophone as well as the baritone and the more exotic Saxello and the Northumbrian pipes.He has a long discography on the Duns Limited Edition label....
, Elton Dean
Elton Dean
Elton Dean was an English jazz musician who performed on alto saxophone, saxello and occasionally keyboard....
, and Simon Picard rounding out the membership. He also founded an ensemble called Meltdown in 1997, which issued its first record in 2001.
Discography
- The Siger Band Live in Hungary (Spotlite RecordsSpotlite RecordsSpotlite Records is a British jazz record label. It was founded in 1968, originally as an outlet for Charlie Parker's Dial recordings.- External links :*...
, 1984) - 1989 - And All That (Slam Records, 1989)
- Out of School (Slam, 1989)
- Level Two (Slam, 1992)
- Waldron-HaslamWaldron-HaslamWaldron-Haslam is an album by jazz pianist Mal Waldron and baritone saxophonist George Haslam recorded in 1994 and released on the English Slam label.-Reception:...
with Mal WaldronMal WaldronMalcolm Earl Waldron was an American jazz and world music pianist and composer, born in New York City.Like his contemporaries, Waldron's roots lie chiefly in the hard bop and post-bop genres of the New York club scene of the 1950s; but with time, he gravitated more towards free jazz and composition...
(Slam, 1994) - Argentine Adventures, Vol. 1 (Slam, 1994?)
- Two NewTwo NewTwo New is an album by jazz pianist Mal Waldron and baritone saxophonist George Haslam recorded in 1995 and released on the English Slam label.-Reception:...
with Mal Waldron (Slam, 1995) - Argentine Adventures, Vol. 2 (Slam, 1996)
- Communications (Slam, 1998)
- Duos:East West (Slam, 1998)
- Argentine Adventures, Vol. 3 (Slam, 1999)
- Harmonance (Slam, 1999)
- Meltdown (Slam, 2001)
- Pendle Hawk Carapace (Slam, 2002)
- The Mahout (Slam, 2004)
- Freetime 2002*2003*2004 (Slam, 2005)