Steve Lacy – The Straight Horn Of Steve Lacy (CD)
Product Details
Steve Lacy came to the soprano saxophone through an unlikely path, spending years immersed in Thelonious Monk's compositions before recording this 1961 session, a deep engagement that shaped his angular, unpredictable phrasing in ways that set him apart from every other horn player of his generation. Recorded for the short-lived but influential Candid label, this date captures Lacy at a pivotal moment, translating his hard-won command of a notoriously unforgiving instrument into something wholly his own.
The Straight Horn Of Steve Lacy by Steve Lacy - The "straight horn" referred to in the title of this superb album from 1961 is the soprano saxophone, and Lacy is recognized as one of the greatest to ever play the instrument, ranking alongside John Coltrane and Sidney Bechet. Because of the difficulty involved in mastering it's pitch challenges, very few jazzmen concentrated on it. Lacy is widely considered the first "modern" musician to specialize on the instrument. Lacy had long and prolific career and a fascinating style trajectory. At sixteen he began playing Dixieland with the likes of Pee Wee Russell. In the mid 1950's he played free jazz with Cecil Taylor, and appeared with his groundbreaking quartet at the 1957 New Port Jazz Festival. He made a notable appearance on the 1959 Gil Evens, Great Jazz Standards album. Along the way, Lacy became obsessed with the music of Thelonious Monk, working with him several times including the 1963 Big Band and Quartet in Concert album, and devoted much of this life's work to the interpretation of Monk's materiel.
Tracklist
UPC: 708857321124
Label: Candid
Release Date: 7.21.23
Format: CD