Only three jazz artists have won a Pulitzer Prize. In spring 2016, Henry Threadgill joined Ornette Coleman and Wynton Marsalis as Pulitzer laureates, when he was honored for In For A Penny, In For A Pound (Pi, 2015), the latest album by Zooid, his unconventional quintet (reeds, acoustic guitar, cello, tuba, drums).
“Unconventional” describes not just Henry Threadgill’s music, but his life.
Threadgill studied at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago and Governors State University, University Park, Illinois. In the 1960s he played gospel music on a national tour, rock music in a U.S. Army entertainment troupe, and blues in a Chicago band.
He joined the cooperative Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM). Threadgill, with Fred Hopkins (bass) and Steve McCall (drums), formed the trio Air in 1971 to play Scott Joplin rags and original works. The group became noted for its close ensemble interplay and for Threadgill’s own large-sounding flutes and clarinets and rugged, sometimes violent alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones. He also recorded with Roscoe Mitchell, Muhal Richard Abrams, and others.
DISC ONE
1. Card Two: The Jick or Mandrill’s Cosmic Ass (A) 7:29
2. Card Five: Open Air Suit (A) 10:18
3. Card Four: Strait White Royal Flush…78 (A) 6:14
4. Card One: Cutten (2 Knuckles, 2 Widows, 2 Tricks)/3 X 1 (A) 15:30
5. Let’s All Go Down To The Footwash (B) 10:25
6. Abra (B) 13:00
DISC TWO
1. Suisse Air (B) 15:23 (Threadgill-Hopkins-McCall)
2. The Ragtime Dance (C) 9:19 (Scott Joplin – arranged by Threadgill-Hopkins-McCall)
3. Buddy Bolden’s Blues (C) 9:28 (Jelly Roll Morton)
4. King Porter Stomp (C) 3:48 (Jelly Roll Morton)
5. Paille Street (C) 2:19
6. Weeping Willow Rag (C) 11:36 (Scott Joplin – arranged by Threadgill-Hopkins-McCall)
DISC THREE
1. Sir Simpleton (D) 6:28
2. Celebration (D) 13:30
3. Air Song (D) 10:22
4. Fe Fi Fo Fum (D) 13:03
5. Luap Nosebor (E) 11:34
6. Salute To The Enema Bandit (E) 10:21
7. Melin (E) 6:29
DISC FOUR
1. Bermuda Blues (F) 9:27
2. Silver And Gold Baby, Silver And Gold (F) 5:44
3. Theme From Thomas Cole (F) 6:40
4. Good Times (F) 6:35
5. To Be Announced (F) 6:29
6. Paille Street (F) 4:26
7. Those Who Eat Cookies (F) 6:19
8. I Can’t Wait Till I Get Home (G) 4:08 (Olu Dara)
9. Black Hands Bejewelled (G) 7:05
10. Spotted Dick Is Pudding (G) 8:54
DISC FIVE
1. Let Me Look Down Your Throat or Say Ah (G) 7:12
2. My Rock (G) 8:11
3. Hall (dedicated to Muhal Richard Abrams) (G) 4:15
4. Award The Squadtett (G) 7:02
5. Off The Rag (H) 12:42
6. The Devil Is On The Loose And Dancin’ With a Monkey (H) 6:42
7. Gift (H) 5:44
8. Sweet Holy Rag (H) 13:23
DISC SIX
1. Come Carry The Day (I) 6:16
2. Growing A Big Banana (I) 3:30
3. Vivjanrondirkski (I) 5:55
4. Between Orchids Lillies Blind Eyes and Cricket (I) 7:48
5. Hyla Crucifer…Silence Of (I) 6:11
6. Jenkins Boys Again, Wish Somebody Die, It’s Hot (I) 7:40
DISC SEVEN
1. Noisy Flowers (J) 6:42
2. Like It Feels (J) 11:17
3. Official Silence (J) 8:54
4. Retired Poverty (J) 9:04
5. Make Hot And Give (J) 7:56
6. The Mockingbird Sin (J) 12:13
7. Dirty In The Right Places (J) 8:11
DISC EIGHT
1. 100 Year Old Game (K) 10:55
2. Laughing Club (K) 5:00
3. Where’s Your Cup? (K) 11:15
4. And This (K) 13:40
5. Feel’s Like It (K) 6:39
6. The Flew (K) 9:50
7. Go To Far (K) 8:56
All compositions by Henry Threadgill, unless otherwise noted.
Personnel:
(A) AIR – OPEN AIR SUIT
Henry Threadgill, alto, tenor and baritone sax, flute;
Fred Hopkins, bass, maracas, stick;
Steve McCall, drums, percussion.
Recorded at CI Recording Studios, New York City on February 21 & 22, 1978
All titles issued on Arista Novus (LP) AN 3002
(B) AIR – MONTREUX SUISSE AIR
Henry Threadgill, alto, tenor and baritone sax, hubkaphone;
Fred Hopkins, bass;
Steve McCall, drums, percussion.
Recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival on July 22, 1978 by Mountain Recording Studio.
All titles issued on Arista Novus (LP) AN 3008
(C) AIR – AIRLORE
Henry Threadgill, alto and tenor sax, flute;
Fred Hopkins, bass;
Steve McCall, drums, percussion.
Recorded at CI Recording Studios, New York City on May 11 & 12, 1979
All titles issued on Arista Novus (LP) AN 3014
(D) HENRY THREADGILL – X-75, Volume 1
Douglas Ewart, Joseph Jarman, Henry Threadgill, Wallace McMillan, reeds;
Amina Claudine Myers, voice;
Leonard Jones, Brian Smith, Rufus Reid, Fred Hopkins, basses.
Recorded at CI Recording Studios, New York City on January 13, 1979
All titles issued on Arista Novus (LP) AN 3013
(E) HENRY THREADGILL – X-75, Volume 2
Douglas Ewart, Joseph Jarman, Henry Threadgill, Wallace McMillan, reeds;
Leonard Jones, Brian Smith, Rufus Reid, Fred Hopkins, basses.
Recorded at CI Recording Studios, New York City on January 15, 1979
All titles previously unissued
(F) HENRY THREADGILL SEXTETT – YOU KNOW THE NUMBER
Henry Threadgill, alto and tenor sax; bass flute;
Rasul Siddik, trumpet;
Frank Lacy, trombone;
Deidre Murray, cello;
Fred Hopkins, bass;
Pheeroan Aklaff, Reggie Ncholson, percussion.
Recorded at Uptown Chelsea Studios, New York City on October 12 and 13, 1986.
All titles except “Paille Street” issued on RCA Novus (LP) 3013-1-N
All titles issued on RCA Novus (CD) 3013-2-N
(G) HENRY THREADGILL SEXTETT – EASILY SLIP INTO ANOTHER WORLD
Henry Threadgill, alto and tenor sax; clarinet;
Rasul Siddik, trumpet;
Frank Lacy, trombone, French horn, fluegelhorn;
Deidre Murray, cello;
Fred Hopkins, bass;
Pheeroan Aklaff, Reggie Ncholson, drums, percussion.
Recorded at Mediasound Studio, New York City on September 20, 1987.
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Aisha Putli, voice, overdubbed on September 21, 1987
All titles except “Let Me Look…”” issued on RCA Novus (LP) 3025-1-N
All titles issued on RCA Novus (CD) 3025-2-N
(H) HENRY THREADGILL SEXTETT – RAG, BUSH AND ALL
Henry Threadgill, alto sax; bass flute;
Ted Daniel, trumpet, fluegelhorn;
Bill Lowe, bass trombone;
Deidre Murray, cello;
Fred Hopkins, bass;
Newman Baker, Reggie Nicholson, percussion.
Recorded at Clinton Recording Studios, New York City in December 1988
All titles issued on RCA Novus (CD) 3025-2-N
(I) HENRY THREADGILL – CARRY THE DAY
Henry Threadgill, alto sax, flute, bass flute;
Mark Taylor, French horn;
Brandon Ross, electric and soprano guitars;
Masujaa, electric guitar;
Edwin Rodriguez, Marcus Rojas, tubas;
Gene Lake, drums.
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Wu Man, pipa;
Tony Cedras, accordion;
Jason Hwang, violin;
Johnny Rudas, percussion, vocals;
Sentienla Toy, vocal;
Mossa Bildner, vocals.
Recorded at The Power Station, New York City in 1994
All titles issued on Columbia (CD) CK 66995
(J) HENRY THREADGILL – MAKIN’ A MOVE
Henry Threadgill, alto sax;
Mark Taylor, French horn;
Brandon Ross, electric guitar, nylon string soprano guitar;
Ed Cherry, electric guitar, steel string acoustic guitar;
Edwin Rodriguez, Marcus Rojas, tubas;
Pheeroan Aklaff, drums.
Myra Melford, piano;
James Emery, steel string soprano guitar;
Ayodele Aubert, classical guitar.
Michelle Kinney, Deidre Murray, Akua Dixon, cellos
Recorded at Electric Lady Studios, New York City in June 1995
All titles issued on Columbia (CD) CK 67214
(K) HENRY THREADGILL & MAKE A MOVE – WHERE’S YOUR CUP?
Henry Threadgill, alto sax, flute;
Brandon Ross, electric and classical guitars;
Tony Cedras, accordion, harmonium;
Stomu Takeshi, 5-string fretless bass;
J. T. Lewis, drums.
Recorded at East Side Sound, New York City in August 1996
All titles issued on Columbia (CD) CK 67617
