Sunday, December 26, 2010

Omaggio a Fred Anderson (1929-2010)

Despite being one of the most memorable names when it comes to the Chicago scene, Fred Anderson was from the town of Monroe, Louisiana, where he was born on March 22, 1929. Having studied music formally at the Conservatory Roy Knapp, Anderson was a founder of the legendary AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians), which left Anthony Braxton and the Art Ensemble of Chicago. However, if not for the redemption of her name occurred in the 90s, the saxophonist probably would have died without having had even a shadow of recognition his work deserved.

Owns a career marked by long periods of silence, Anderson began to appear even in the 60 discs of fellow AACM, as Joseph Jarman. But his involvement with the bustling scene in Chicago has never represented any softening of the difficulties to survive. Work as a carpet installer was what gave support to him and his family for most of 60/70. " Music's always been like a hobby to me. I played the music because I love it ", he said in an interview, recalling the problematic option of trying to live by his music.


Only in the late 70s, who was nearly 50 years of age, was that he began recording as a leader. The shoot first, released in 1978, was called "Another Place" and never received digital reissue. To make matters worse, his belated debut would be interrupted too soon.

Between "The Milwaukee Tapes" (1980) and "Black Horn Long Gone" (recorded in 1993 but unpublished until last year), Anderson has largely disappeared, concentrating on his bar-club, the Velvet Lounge, which opened in 82. While performing in his bar, the musician took up this period of little more than a decade the business and education, leaving aside stages and studios.
Anderson was one of the most veteran rediscovered the excitement of free music from the 1990s. Ken Vandermark was among those who rescued the veteran saxophonist, bringing him to his circle, recording and touring with him. Hamid Drake was another key figure in this process. But with Drake, the ratio was more ancient and visceral. In his albums at the turn of 70/80, Anderson recruited very young drummer to take the drumsticks. In "Another Place", for example, Drake was only 23 years. When the 90 arrived, Drake, already a mature and respected drummer in the middle, Anderson has incorporated into its different projects.


The sonic texture of Anderson is among the most turbulent of his generation. Saxophonist, dedicated to the tenor, has always respected jazz strains, reusing them in their search improvised. A musician free, in connection with what the modern emerged from the 60s, but always aware of what came before. Weighed in their training, he said, names like Coleman Hawkins and Gene Ammons.

After the rediscovery of his name, Anderson went through almost two decades of intense activity, while still lit his "Velvet Lounge. From mid-1990 onwards, his name stamped at least some three dozen albums. In 2009, in commemoration of its 80 years, released "21st Century Chase: 8oth Birthday Bash, Live at the Velvet Lounge," a disc with lots of energy, attended the drummer Chad Taylor and the saxophonist Kidd Jordan. About a year later, on June 24, 2010, Fred Anderson would suffer a massive heart attack, ending a career that has received in its final stage, the recognition it deserves.

This debut album as a leader Fred Anderson brings a quintet in its lineup, which had already complied with the trombonist George Lewis and then-rookie Hamid Drake on drums. There was even a third blow the trumpet of Billy Brimfield. At the time, as evidenced by other records ("Dark Day", "The Milwaukee Tapes"), the saxophonist was working constantly and Billy Drake.Themes Long, where you can enjoy wandering with the rich sound (almost lost!) Anderson.

Side A - Saxoon The Bull
Side B - Another Place Another Place B-Side

* Fred Anderson: tenor
*George Lewis: trombone
* Billy Brimfield: trumpet
* Brian Smith: bass
* Hamid Drake: drums
Recorded Live at 7th International New Jazz Festival, 1978, Moers.

Complete: http://freeformfreejazz.blogspot.com/2010/12/ommagio-fred-anderson-1929-2010.html

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Tribute To F-R-E-D

It’s a hot summer evening at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. Inside, patrons enjoy a new exhibit featuring the work of Alexander Calder. Outside, on the museum’s terrace, it’s Tuesday, so that means a packed house to hear live jazz.
(Photo: Frank Alkyer)

For the past several summers, the MCA has hosted its Tuesdays on the Terrace series, a fine combination of a free jazz concert, the ambiance of the museum’s beautiful backyard sculpture garden and internationally themed cuisine from Puck’s Cafe. The terrace has been the place to hear a variety of the city’s top jazz artists, everyone from trumpeter Corey Wilkes to AACM stalwart Mwata Bowden to local radio DJ and baritone saxophonist Barry Winograd.

On Tuesday, July 27, the MCA featured one of Chicago’s up-and-comers, tenor and soprano saxophonist Kevin Nabors, who’s been making a name for himself as a sideman with the likes of Wilkes, Ernest Dawkins and Ari Brown. Nabors led his own quartet through a crisp set of post-bebop standards before launching into an inspired suite of tunes, titled “F-R-E-D,” that he wrote a few months back to honor one of his musical mentors, Fred Anderson, the legendary Chicago saxophonist and club owner who passed away in late June.

Upcoming MCA Tuesdays At The Terrace shows include:
Aug. 3: Fred Lonberg-Holm
Aug. 10: Robert Irving III
Aug. 17: Jason Adasiewicz
Aug. 24: Fred Anderson tribute with Tatsu Aoki
Aug. 31: Charles Heath
Sept. 7: Barry Winograd
Sept. 14: Tomeka Reid
Sept. 21: Josh Berman
Sept. 28: World Music Festival
For more info go to mcachicago.org

Complete on  >>  http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=news&subsect=news_detail&nid=1584

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Fred Anderson dies at the age of 81

Fred Anderson, the father and the heart of Chicago's free jazz scene, died at the age of 81 from a heart attack.

Anderson is one of my favorite musicians, as regular readers will know. He was an avant-garde player, yet his playing was always full of deepfelt soul, full of blues, and funk at times, rhythmic in his phrasing, emotional and spiritual.

Fred Anderson was one of the founders of the Association for the Advancement Of Creative Musicians (AACM) in Chicago. He was one of the most important figures of the Chicago free jazz scene, with his own club, The Velvet Lounge, where he mostly played and recorded. You can find his biography on allmusic.

Here is his discography
1967 Joseph Jarman, Song For (Delmark Records DS-410); also on CD (Delmark Records DD-410).

1968 Joseph Jarman, As If It Were the Seasons (Delmark Records DS-714); also on CD (Delmark Records DD-417).

1977 Neighbours, Accents (EMI-Electrola 06632854).

1978 Fred Anderson Quintet, Another Place (Moers Music 01058).

1979 Fred Anderson Quartet, Dark Day (Message Records 0004).

1984 Fred Anderson, The Missing Link (Nessa Records N-23); also on CD (Nessa Records NCD-23).

1994 Fred Anderson and Steve McCall, Vintage Duets (Okka Disk OD12001).

1995 Fred Anderson Quartet, Birdhouse (Okka Disk OD12007).

1996 Fred Anderson, Marilyn Crispell, and Hamid Drake, Destiny (Okka Disk OD12003).

1997 Fred Anderson/DKV Trio, Fred Anderson/DKV Trio (Okka Disk OD12014).

1997 Fred Anderson, Fred: Chicago Chamber Music (Southport Records S-SSD 0043).

1999 Fred Anderson Trio, Live at the Velvet Lounge (Okka Disk OD12023).

1999 Fred Anderson Quartet, Volume One (Asian Improv Records AIR 0049).

2000 Fred Anderson Quartet, The Milwaukee Tapes Vol. 1 (Atavistic UMS/ALP 204CD).

2000 Fred Anderson, Hamid Drake, “Kidd” Jordan, and William Parker, 2 Days in April (Eremite Records MTE023/024).

2000 Fred Anderson Quartet, Volume Two (Asian Improv Records AIR 0054).

2001 Fred Anderson Quartet, Dark Day + Live in Verona (Atavistic UMS/ALP 218CD).

2001 Robert Barry and Fred Anderson, Duets 2001 (Thrill Jockey THRILL 101)

2001 Fred Anderson, On the Run: Live at the Velvet Lounge (Delmark Records DG-534).

2003 Fred Anderson, Back at the Velvet Lounge (Delmark Records DG-549).

2004 Fred Anderson and Hamid Drake, Back Together Again (Thrill Jockey THRILL 139); with companion video CD.

2005 Fred Anderson, Hamid Drake, and William Parker, Blue Winter (Eremite Records MTE047/048).

2006 Fred Anderson, Harrison Bankhead, and Hamid Drake, Timeless: Live at the Velvet Lounge (Delmark Records DE-568); also on DVD (Delmark DE-1568).
2007 Fred Anderson and Hamid Drake, From the River to the Ocean (Thrill Jockey THRILL 183).

2007 Fred Anderson and Harrison Bankhead, The Great Vision Concert (Ayler Records aylCD-052).

2007 Irene Schweizer, Fred Anderson, and Hamid Drake, Willisau & Taktlos (Intakt Records INTAKT CD 104).

2007 Territory Band 6 with Fred Anderson, Collide (Okka Disk OD12090).

2008 Fred Anderson Quartet, Volume Three (Asian Improv Records AIR 0074).

2008 Matana Roberts, The Chicago Project (Central Control International 6).

2009 Fred Anderson Trio, Birthday Live 2000 (Asian Improv Records AIR 0075).

2009 Fred Anderson Trio, A Night at the Velvet Lounge: Made in Chicago 2007 (Estrada Poznańska MIC01).

2009 Fred Anderson, Staying in the Game (Engine Studios e029).

2009 Fred Anderson, 21st Century Chase: 80th Birthday Bash, Live at the Velvet Lounge (Delmark Records DE-589); also on DVD (Delmark DE-1589).

2010 Fred Anderson, Black Horn Long Gone (Southport Records S-SSD 0128).

no date Art Ensemble of Chicago with Fred Anderson, Peace Be Unto You: Live in Seattle (AECO 0013LE).

He recorded a lot, and last year several albums and a DVD were released to celebrate his 80th birthday.

My favorite albums are "Blue Winter", with William Parker and Hamid Drake, and "The Milwaukee Tapes, Vol. 1", but most of his albums are easy to recommend. His style of playing is quite his own, very recognizable and often within the same stylistic range. The second video below gives a nice example of this. So deep, so real, so much him.
We will miss him and his music.

Thank you, Fred