Oliver Lake
Encyclopedia
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
, flutist, 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...
and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
. He is known mainly on alto saxophone
Alto saxophone
The alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in 1841. It is smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and is the type most used in classical compositions...
but also performs on soprano saxophone
Soprano saxophone
The soprano saxophone is a variety of the saxophone, a woodwind instrument, invented in 1840. The soprano is the third smallest member of the saxophone family, which consists of the soprillo, sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, contrabass and tubax.A transposing instrument pitched in...
and flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
.Allmusic biography
During the 1960s Lake worked with the Black Artists Group
Black Artists Group
The Black Artists Group was a multidisciplinary arts collective that existed in St. Louis, Missouri from 1968 to 1972.Members included saxophonists Julius Hemphill, Oliver Lake, J. D...
.
In 1977 Lake co-founded the World Saxophone Quartet
World Saxophone Quartet
The World Saxophone Quartet is a jazz ensemble founded in 1977, implementing elements of free funk and African jazz into their musical routines.-History:...
, with David Murray, Julius Hemphill
Julius Hemphill
Julius Arthur Hemphill was a jazz composer and saxophone player. He performed mainly on alto saxophone; less often soprano and tenor saxophones and flute.-Biography:...
and Hamiet Bluiett
Hamiet Bluiett
Hamiet Bluiett is an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer. His primary instrument is the baritone saxophone, and he is considered one of the finest living players of this instrument...
.
Lake is a resident of Montclair, New Jersey
Montclair, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 38,977 people, 15,020 households, and 9,687 families residing in the township. The population density was 6,183.6 people per square mile . There were 15,531 housing units at an average density of 2,464.0 per square mile...
. His son is jazz drummer Gene Lake (b. 12 January 1966).
As leader
- 1971: Ntu: The Point From Which Freedom Begins (Freedom RecordsFreedom RecordsFreedom Records was a jazz record label linked with the producer Alan Bates, as with his Black Lion Records.Individual recordings were distributed via Polydor Records and Transatlantic Records during the early 1970s before the company was bought by Arista Records.-Discography:*1000 Albert Ayler &...
) - 1974: Passin' Thru (Passin' Thru)
- 1975: Heavy Spirits (Freedom)
- 1976: Holding TogetherHolding TogetherHolding Together is an album by American jazz saxophonist Oliver Lake recorded in 1975 for the Italian Black Saint label.-Reception:The Allmusic review awarded the album 4 stars.-Track listing:# "Trailway Shake/Sad Lo-Uis" - 10:04# "Hasan" - 4:12...
(Black Saint) - 1978: Shine (Arista Novus)
- 1978: Life Dance Of Is (Arista Novus)
- 1979: Zaki (hat Art)
- 1980: ProphetProphet (Oliver Lake album)Prophet is an album by American jazz saxophonist Oliver Lake recorded in 1980 for the Italian Black Saint label. The album is a tribute to Eric Dolphy-Reception:...
(Black Saint) - 1981: Jump Up (Gramavision)
- 1981: Clevont FitzhubertClevont FitzhubertClevont Fitzhubert is an album by American jazz saxophonist Oliver Lake recorded in 1981 for the Italian Black Saint label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 3 stars calling it a "consistently stimulating set.....
(Black Saint) - 1982: Plug It (Gramavision)
- 1984: Expandable LanguageExpandable LanguageExpandable Language is an album by American jazz saxophonist Oliver Lake recorded in 1984 for the Italian Black Saint label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4½ stars stating "This free bop session is one of altoist Oliver Lake's more rewarding sessions".-Track...
(Black Saint) - 1986: Gallery (Gramavision)
- 1987: Impala (Gramavision)
- 1989: Otherside (Gramavision)
- 1991: Again and Again (Gramavision)
- 1992: Virtual Reality (Gazell Records))
- 1992: Zaki (Hat-Hut Records)
- 1994: Edge-ingEdge-ingEdge-ing is an album by American jazz saxophonist Oliver Lake recorded in 1993 for the Italian Black Saint label.-Reception:The Allmusic review awarded the album 4 stars.-Track listing:# "Edge-ing" - 9:08# "Scene One" - 8:42# "Shiffs" - 11:18...
(Black Saint) - 1996: Dedicated to DolphyDedicated to DolphyDedicated to Dolphy is an album by American jazz saxophonist Oliver Lake recorded in 1994 for the Italian Black Saint label. The album is Lake's second tribute to multi-instrumentalist Eric Dolphy following Prophet .-Reception:...
(Black Saint) - 1996: Matador Of 1st & 1st (Passin' Thru)
- 1996: Movements, Turns & Switches (Passin' Thru)
- 2000: Talkin' Stick (Passin' Thru)
- 2001: Have Yourself A Merry (Passin' Thru)
- 2003: Cloth (Passin' Thru)
- 2004: Dat Love (Passin' Thru)
- 2005: Oliver Lake Quartet Live (Passin' Thru)
- 2008: Plan (Passin' Thru)
- 2010: Oliver Lake Quartet Live (Passin' Thru)
- 2011: For a little Dancin' (Intakt Records)
As sideman
With World Saxophone QuartetWorld Saxophone Quartet
The World Saxophone Quartet is a jazz ensemble founded in 1977, implementing elements of free funk and African jazz into their musical routines.-History:...
| Title | Year | Label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Point of No Return Point of No Return (WSQ album) -Track listing:# "Dar el Sudan" - 2:48# "Bajou Scetches" - 10:13# "Point of No Return" - 10:32# "Sacred Sheetless" - 24:26# "Hymn for the Old Year" - 3:38-Personnel:*Hamiet Bluiett — baritone saxophone... |
1977 | Moers Music | ||
| Steppin' with the World Saxophone Quartet Steppin' with the World Saxophone Quartet -Track listing:# "Steppin'" - 9:06# "Ra-Ta-Ta" - 5:26# "Dream Scheme" - 7:18# "P.O. in Cairo" - 10:47# "Hearts" - 3:01# "R&B" - 8:39-Personnel:*Hamiet Bluiett — baritone saxophone... |
1979 | Black Saint Black Saint/Soul Note Black Saint and Soul Note are two affiliated Italian jazz independent record labels. Since their conception in the 1970s, they have released albums from a variety of influential jazz musicians, particularly in the genre of free jazz.-History:... |
||
| W.S.Q. W.S.Q. -Track listing:# "Sundance" - 2:38# "Plainsong" - 4:19# "Connections" - 8:06# "W.S.Q." - 5:15# "Pillars Latino" - 5:19# "Suite Music: The Key/Ballad for Eddie Jefferson/Pam-Maw/Hattie Wall" - 5:24... |
1981 | Black Saint | ||
| Revue Revue (WSQ album) -Track listing:# "Revue" - 8:00# "Affairs of the Heart" - 5:40# "Slide" - 3:41# "Little Samba" - 5:26# "I Heard That" - 3:23# "Hymn for the Old Year" - 4:24# "Ming" - 4:21... |
1982 | Black Saint | ||
| Live in Zurich Live in Zurich -Track listing:# "Hattie Wall" - 1:40# "Funny Paper" - 4:45# "Touchic" - 5:21# "My First Winter" - 6:54# "Bordertown" - 7:30# "Steppin'" - 7:15# "Stick" - 5:18... |
1984 | Black Saint | ||
| Live at Brooklyn Academy of Music Live at Brooklyn Academy of Music -Track listing:# "One/Waltz/Time" - 3:51# "Great Peace" - 14:58# "Kinda' Up" - 3:50# "Paper Works" - 8:07# "Open Air " - 10:14# "Georgia Blue" - 6:35-Personnel:... |
1986 | Black Saint | ||
| Plays Duke Ellington Plays Duke Ellington Plays Duke Ellington was the seventh album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet, released in 1986.The album marked a departure for the quartet, in that their first six albums had been of music written by the four musicians themselves; this was their first venture into jazz standards.-Track... |
1986 | Elektra Elektra Records Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009.... / Nonesuch Nonesuch Records Nonesuch Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed by Warner Bros. Records.-Company history:Nonesuch was founded in 1964 by Jac Holzman to produce "fine records at the same price as a trade paperback", which would be half the price of a normal LP... |
||
| Dances and Ballads Dances and Ballads -Track listing:# "Sweet D" - 6:35# "For Lester" - 4:20# "Belly Up" - 6:44# "Cool Red" - 5:12# "Hattie Wall" - 4:04# "Adjacent" - 4:49# "West African Snap" - 3:41... |
1987 | Elektra / Nonesuch | ||
| Rhythm and Blues Rhythm and Blues (WSQ album) -Track listing:# "For the Love of Money" - 4:13# "Let's Get It On" - 5:33# "I Heard That" - 4:48# "Loopology" - 3:09# " The Dock of the Bay" - 4:30... |
1989 | Elektra / Nonesuch | ||
| Metamorphosis Metamorphosis (WSQ album) -Track listing:# "Holy Men" - 2:48# "Lullaby" - 4:51# "Metamorphosis" - 3:28# "Su Mama Ah Zumu" - 6:25# "Africa" - 8:54# "Ballad For The Blackman" - 7:52# "Masai Warrior's Dance" - 5:14... |
1991 | Elektra / Nonesuch | ||
| Moving Right Along Moving Right Along -Track listing:# "Antithesis" - 7:11# "Baba 2" - 4:34# "N.T." - 4:10# "Astral Travels" - 1:15# "Land of Mystery" - 4:24# "Movin' On" - 6:15# "Amazing Grace, Pt... |
1993 | Black Saint | ||
| Breath of Life Breath of Life (WSQ album) -Track listing:# "Jest a Little" - 9:14# "Cairo Blues" - 1:11# "Suffering with the Blues" - 5:39# "You Don't Know Me" - 6:35# "Picasso" - 5:52... |
1994 | Elektra / Nonesuch | ||
| Four Now Four Now Four Now is the thirteenth album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet and their first on the Canadian Justin Time label. The album features performances by Hamiet Bluiett, John Purcell, Oliver Lake and David Murray, with guests Chief Bey, Mor Thiam, and Mar Gueye on African drums.-Track... |
1996 | Justin Time | ||
| Takin' It 2 the Next Level Takin' It 2 the Next Level -Track listing:# "Wiring" - 6:28# "Soft Landing" - 1:11# "Rio" - 7:30# "The Peace Before" - 1:23# "Blues for a Warrior Spirit" - 13:08# "The Desegregation of Our Children" - 12:35... |
1996 | Justin Time | ||
| Selim Sivad: a Tribute to Miles Davis Selim Sivad: a Tribute to Miles Davis -Track listing:# "Seven Steps To Heaven" - 6:12# "Selim" - 7:30# "Freddie Freeloader" - 6:48# "The Road To Nefertiti" - 9:59# "Tutu" - 6:52# "Blue in Green" - 5:31# "All Blues" - 9:50-Personnel:... |
1998 | Justin Time | ||
| Requiem for Julius Requiem for Julius -Track listing:# "Ebony" - 7:45# "Free and Independent Thought" - 3:01# "All Praise" - 5:57# "Requiem for Julius" - 6:46# "Le Sport Suite" - 7:50# "Hurricane Floyd" - 10:46# "Potato Vamp" - 3:42... |
2000 | Justin Time | ||
| 25th Anniversary: The New Chapter 25th Anniversary: The New Chapter -Track listing:-Personnel:*Hamiet Bluiett — baritone saxophone*John Purcell — alto saxophone*Oliver Lake — alto saxophone*David Murray — tenor saxophone... |
2001 | Justin Time | ||
| Steppenwolf Steppenwolf (WSQ album) -Track listing:# "Intro" - 1:05# "The Crossing" - 12:39# "Intro" - 2:07# "Li'l Poki" - 15:23# "Intro" - 0:27# "Sunrise " - 9:14# "Giant Steps" - 3:15# "Intro" - 0:13# "Color for Duke" - 8:34... |
2002 | Justin Time | ||
| Experience Experience (WSQ album) -Track listing:# "Freedom" - 7:14# "If 6 Was 9" - 5:20# "Hey Joe" - 7:10# "Machine Gun" - 8:02# "Little Wing" - 7:34# "Foxy Lady" - 5:29# "Hear My Train a Comin'" - 8:34# "The Wind Cries Mary"- 7:38-Personnel:... |
2004 | Justin Time | ||
| Political Blues Political Blues -Track listing:# "Political Blues" - 9:04# "Hal's Blues" - 2:54# "Mannish Boy" - 7:26# "Let's Have Some Fun" - 7:23# "Amazin' Disgrace" - 5:55# "Bluocracy, Part 1" - 5:03... |
2006 | Justin Time | ||
| Yes We Can | 2010 | Jazzwerkstatt |
With Michael Gregory Jackson
Michael Gregory Jackson
Michael Gregory is an American jazz, Blues and Rock Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter, Composer and Producer.Gregory began playing guitar at the age of seven...
- Karmonic Suite (1978, Improvising ArtistsImprovising Artists-Discography:...
)
With James Blood Ulmer
- Are You Glad to Be in America?Are You Glad to Be in America?Are You Glad to Be in America? is an album by American guitarist James Blood Ulmer recorded in 1980 and originally released on the Rough Trade label in the UK in 1980 and the Artists House label in the US in 1981....
(1980. Artists HouseArtists House-Discography:...
)