Omaggio a Noah Howard (1943-2010).

Noah Howard was born on April 6, 1943, in the legendary New Orleans. As a child, became involved with music, being long a boys' choir of the Baptist Church. The trumpet, who played until the early '60s while he was serving in the army, went to alto sax, which became his instrument for life. His first big surprise was in a sound presentation of saxophonist Paul Gonsalves, when I was thirteen. Since then, I knew: it would make music his career. 

Not satisfied with what the New Orleans offered loudly, left his hometown of Mecca towards the nascent free jazz: New York. Once in the metropolis, he was greeted first by Sun Ra, who sheltered in his "Arkestra". The things that happened to quickly for the young saxophonist, at the beginning of 66, aged 22, would record his first session as leader. Who opened the door for Howard was Albert Ayler, who had been recommended to close and seal the ESP, who issued their debut. In the same year came the second offspring ("At Judson Hall"). Saxophonist close the decade with one of his greatest works, "Black Ark", 69.

 

But this apparent rapid rise never meant success or stability. Given the difficulties in surviving in their country, making music in which he believed, Howard began to concentrate increasingly in Europe: in 69 departed for Paris, where he spent much of the period extending up to 71. Together with his friend Frank Wright at that time formed a spectacular quartet that had no bottom, besides the two saxes, with battery (especially Muhammad Ali) and pianist Bobby Few.

 

This group is apparent in Wright's historic albums such as "Church Number Nine," "One for John" and "The Uhuru Umoja" (Howard says that the session "The Uhuru Umoja" was actually his, not Wright was credited as the disk. Howard would have gone into the studio with Art Taylor, with several songs written and just inviting Wright to attend the gig).

 

In 2006 interview, Howard recalled the period:

"Frank Wright went over to play with another band, But Me and Bobby Muhammad and cam together, and then we co-opted him and Brought him into The Thing. It was a strange thing, because we did not Have the bass player. At That point, we could not figured out who smoke here fit into the compositions We Were writing, so we said fuck it, we do not need a bass player. There was only two groups living in Paris at the time, Between 69 and 71-72, two American bands playing this new music, and we ruled the universe. That was Our group and the Art Ensemble of Chicago. "

The advance of the 70 represented a progressive worsening scenario for musicians free. Noah was not different. Passing seasons in Africa, tested elements of fusion and R & B. Reached the 80, things have cooled further and the musician has just forgotten by many: that decade, only released the album "Traffic." In this context, was to change from time to Brussels, where he opened a studio and a jazz club.

The revival of free in 90 years turned out to be crucial for the rescue of the saxophonist's name. Returning to remember and / or being discovered by the younger generation, Howard went on to record more constant, and has, at the turn of 90/2000, some of his major albums published for the first time on CD. In recent years, could be seen in action in the traditional "Knitting Factory" and "Vision Fest." That revival eventually found the last chapter in 2010. On holiday in southern France, the saxophonist passed away. It was on September 3. Noah Howard was 67.

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