Arthur Blythe (July 5, 1940 – March 27, 2017) was an American jazz alto sax… Read Full Bio ↴Arthur Blythe (July 5, 1940 – March 27, 2017) was an American jazz alto saxophonist and composer. His instrumental voice had a vibrato and was within the post-bop subgenre of jazz.
Born in Los Angeles, Blythe lived in San Diego, returning to Los Angeles when he was 19 years old. He took up the alto saxophone at the age of nine, playing R&B until his mid-teens when he discovered jazz. In the mid-1960s, Blythe was part of The Underground Musicians and Artists Association (UGMAA), founded by Horace Tapscott, on whose 1969 The Giant Is Awakened he made his recording debut.
After moving to New York in the mid-70s, Blythe worked as a security guard before being offered a place as sideman for Chico Hamilton (75–77). He subsequently played with Gil Evans' Orchestra (1976–78), Lester Bowie (1978), Jack DeJohnette (1979) and McCoy Tyner (also 1979). Blythe's group – John Hicks, Fred Hopkins and Steve McCall – played Carnegie Hall and the Village Vanguard in 1979.
Blythe began to record as a leader in 1977 for the India Navigation label and then for Columbia records from 1978 to 1987. Albums such as The Grip and Metamorphosis (both on the label) offered capable, highly refined jazz fare with a free angle which seemed "out there". Blythe played on many pivotal albums of the 1980s, among them Jack DeJohnette's Special Edition on ECM. Blythe was a member of the all-star jazz group The Leaders and, after the departure of Julius Hemphill, he joined the World Saxophone Quartet. Beginning in 2000 he made recordings on Savant Records which included Exhale (2003) with John Hicks (piano), Bob Stewart (tuba), and Cecil Brooks III (drums).
Discography
As leader
Year Title Label
1977 The Grip India Navigation
1977 Metamorphosis India Navigation
1977 Bush Baby Adelphi
1978 In the Tradition Columbia
1978 Lenox Avenue Breakdown Columbia
1980 Illusions Columbia
1981 Blythe Spirit Columbia
1982 Elaborations Columbia
1983 Light Blue: Arthur Blythe Plays Thelonious Monk Columbia
1984 Put Sunshine in It Columbia
1986 Da-Da Columbia
1987 Basic Blythe Columbia
1996 Calling Card Enja
1996 Synergy In + Out
1991 Hipmotism Enja
1997 Today's Blues CIMP
1997 Night Song Clarity
2000 Spirits in the Field Savant
2001 Blythe Byte Savant
2002 Focus Savant
2003 Exhale Savant
Collaborations
With Synthesis
Six by Six (Chiaroscuro, 1977), with Olu Dara, a.o.
Segments (Ra, 1979), with Olu Dara, David Murray, a.o.
With The Leaders
Mudfoot (Black Hawk, 1986)
Out Here Like This (Black Saint, 1987)
Unforeseen Blessings (Black Saint, 1988)
Slipping and Sliding (Sound Hills, 1994)
Spirits Alike (Double Moon, 2006)
With Roots
Salutes the Saxophone – Tributes to John Coltrane, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins and Lester Young (In & Out, 1992)
Stablemates (In & Out, 1993)
Say Something (In & Out, 1995)
With Santi Debriano and Billy Hart
3-Ology (Konnex, 1993)
With Jeff Palmer, John Abercrombie, Victor Lewis
Ease On (AudioQuest Music, 1993)
With David Eyges and Bruce Ditmas
Synergy (In & Out, 1997)
With John Abercrombie, Terri Lyne Carrington, Anthony Cox, Mark Feldman, Gust Tsilis
Echoes (Alessa, 2005)
As sideman
With Joey Baron
Down Home (Intuition, 1997) with Ron Carter and Bill Frisell
We'll Soon Find Out (Intuition, 1999) with Ron Carter and Bill Frisell
With Lester Bowie
The 5th Power (Black Saint, 1978)
African Children (Horo, 1978)
With Jack DeJohnette
Special Edition (ECM, 1979)
With Gil Evans
Gil Evans Live at the Royal Festival Hall London 1978 (RCA, 1979)
The Rest of Gil Evans Live at the Royal Festival Hall London 1978 (Mole Jazz, 1981)
Parabola (Horo, 1979)
Live at the Public Theater, Vol. 1 & 2 (Trio (Japan)/Storyville (Sweden), 1980)
Priestess (Antilles, 1983)
Sting and Gil Evans – Strange Fruit (ITM, 1993), three tracks with Blythe rec. 1976 without Sting
With John Fischer
6 × 1 = 10 Duos for a New Decade (Circle, 1980)
With Chico Freeman
Luminous (Jazz House, 1989)
Focus (Contemporary, 1995)
With Chico Hamilton
Peregrinations (Blue Note, 1975)
Chico Hamilton and the Players (Blue Note, 1976)
With Craig Harris
Cold Sweat Plays J. B. (JMT, 1999)
With Julius Hemphill
Coon Bid'ness (Freedom, 1972)
With Azar Lawrence
Bridge into the New Age (Prestige, 1974)
With the Music Revelation Ensemble
In the Name of... (DIW, 1994)
Knights of Power (DIW, 1996)
With Woody Shaw
The Iron Men with Anthony Braxton (Muse, 1977)
With Horace Tapscott
The Giant is Awakened (Flying Dutchman, 1969)
With Gust William Tsilis & Alithea
Pale Fire (Enja, 1988)
With McCoy Tyner
Quartets 4 X 4 (Milestone, 1980)
44th Street Suite (Red Baron,1991)
With the World Saxophone Quartet
Metamorphosis (Elektra Nonesuch, 1990)
Breath of Life (Elektra Nonesuch, 1992)
Born in Los Angeles, Blythe lived in San Diego, returning to Los Angeles when he was 19 years old. He took up the alto saxophone at the age of nine, playing R&B until his mid-teens when he discovered jazz. In the mid-1960s, Blythe was part of The Underground Musicians and Artists Association (UGMAA), founded by Horace Tapscott, on whose 1969 The Giant Is Awakened he made his recording debut.
After moving to New York in the mid-70s, Blythe worked as a security guard before being offered a place as sideman for Chico Hamilton (75–77). He subsequently played with Gil Evans' Orchestra (1976–78), Lester Bowie (1978), Jack DeJohnette (1979) and McCoy Tyner (also 1979). Blythe's group – John Hicks, Fred Hopkins and Steve McCall – played Carnegie Hall and the Village Vanguard in 1979.
Blythe began to record as a leader in 1977 for the India Navigation label and then for Columbia records from 1978 to 1987. Albums such as The Grip and Metamorphosis (both on the label) offered capable, highly refined jazz fare with a free angle which seemed "out there". Blythe played on many pivotal albums of the 1980s, among them Jack DeJohnette's Special Edition on ECM. Blythe was a member of the all-star jazz group The Leaders and, after the departure of Julius Hemphill, he joined the World Saxophone Quartet. Beginning in 2000 he made recordings on Savant Records which included Exhale (2003) with John Hicks (piano), Bob Stewart (tuba), and Cecil Brooks III (drums).
Discography
As leader
Year Title Label
1977 The Grip India Navigation
1977 Metamorphosis India Navigation
1977 Bush Baby Adelphi
1978 In the Tradition Columbia
1978 Lenox Avenue Breakdown Columbia
1980 Illusions Columbia
1981 Blythe Spirit Columbia
1982 Elaborations Columbia
1983 Light Blue: Arthur Blythe Plays Thelonious Monk Columbia
1984 Put Sunshine in It Columbia
1986 Da-Da Columbia
1987 Basic Blythe Columbia
1996 Calling Card Enja
1996 Synergy In + Out
1991 Hipmotism Enja
1997 Today's Blues CIMP
1997 Night Song Clarity
2000 Spirits in the Field Savant
2001 Blythe Byte Savant
2002 Focus Savant
2003 Exhale Savant
Collaborations
With Synthesis
Six by Six (Chiaroscuro, 1977), with Olu Dara, a.o.
Segments (Ra, 1979), with Olu Dara, David Murray, a.o.
With The Leaders
Mudfoot (Black Hawk, 1986)
Out Here Like This (Black Saint, 1987)
Unforeseen Blessings (Black Saint, 1988)
Slipping and Sliding (Sound Hills, 1994)
Spirits Alike (Double Moon, 2006)
With Roots
Salutes the Saxophone – Tributes to John Coltrane, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins and Lester Young (In & Out, 1992)
Stablemates (In & Out, 1993)
Say Something (In & Out, 1995)
With Santi Debriano and Billy Hart
3-Ology (Konnex, 1993)
With Jeff Palmer, John Abercrombie, Victor Lewis
Ease On (AudioQuest Music, 1993)
With David Eyges and Bruce Ditmas
Synergy (In & Out, 1997)
With John Abercrombie, Terri Lyne Carrington, Anthony Cox, Mark Feldman, Gust Tsilis
Echoes (Alessa, 2005)
As sideman
With Joey Baron
Down Home (Intuition, 1997) with Ron Carter and Bill Frisell
We'll Soon Find Out (Intuition, 1999) with Ron Carter and Bill Frisell
With Lester Bowie
The 5th Power (Black Saint, 1978)
African Children (Horo, 1978)
With Jack DeJohnette
Special Edition (ECM, 1979)
With Gil Evans
Gil Evans Live at the Royal Festival Hall London 1978 (RCA, 1979)
The Rest of Gil Evans Live at the Royal Festival Hall London 1978 (Mole Jazz, 1981)
Parabola (Horo, 1979)
Live at the Public Theater, Vol. 1 & 2 (Trio (Japan)/Storyville (Sweden), 1980)
Priestess (Antilles, 1983)
Sting and Gil Evans – Strange Fruit (ITM, 1993), three tracks with Blythe rec. 1976 without Sting
With John Fischer
6 × 1 = 10 Duos for a New Decade (Circle, 1980)
With Chico Freeman
Luminous (Jazz House, 1989)
Focus (Contemporary, 1995)
With Chico Hamilton
Peregrinations (Blue Note, 1975)
Chico Hamilton and the Players (Blue Note, 1976)
With Craig Harris
Cold Sweat Plays J. B. (JMT, 1999)
With Julius Hemphill
Coon Bid'ness (Freedom, 1972)
With Azar Lawrence
Bridge into the New Age (Prestige, 1974)
With the Music Revelation Ensemble
In the Name of... (DIW, 1994)
Knights of Power (DIW, 1996)
With Woody Shaw
The Iron Men with Anthony Braxton (Muse, 1977)
With Horace Tapscott
The Giant is Awakened (Flying Dutchman, 1969)
With Gust William Tsilis & Alithea
Pale Fire (Enja, 1988)
With McCoy Tyner
Quartets 4 X 4 (Milestone, 1980)
44th Street Suite (Red Baron,1991)
With the World Saxophone Quartet
Metamorphosis (Elektra Nonesuch, 1990)
Breath of Life (Elektra Nonesuch, 1992)
Odessa
Arthur Blythe Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Odessa' by these artists:
Adam Nowak Raz któryś lecę z Moskwy do Odessy I znowu psiakrew odwołali…
Aesop Rock Shhh Dose: Well or, And this is, new york city Ae…
aiden gore Lately you been down and out And maybe you don't see…
Astronauts etc. Taking it slow, saving up she Before she knows it, all…
Bee Gees Fourteenth of February , eighteen ninety nine. The British …
Blunt Bangs Are you in a room full of people singing with…
Caribou Taking it slow, saving up she Before she knows it, all…
Caribou (Manitoba) Taking it slow, saving up she Before she knows it, all…
Charley Crockett I've got Odessa on my mind, I stay worried all…
Dope Smoker You, you Your eyes, your eyes You, you Your eyes, your eyes…
Flin Flon Strong arm, nice heart Strong arm, a la carte Strong arm, …
Gallows I couldn't blur it all out if I had a…
Kosma Fourteenth of February , eighteen ninety nine. The British…
M.Shufutinskiy Пахнет морем, и луна висит над самым Лонжероном и каштаны…
Makhno Project Одесса-мама Как только лето прийдёт, мы сядем все в самолёт…
Olenka & the Autumn Lovers Oh Odessa, winter′s coming and your mother's hungry. Watch h…
Ready Revolution I'm on these city streets alone She makes a point to…
Rome it is but a dated flower i bring to you it…
Ronnie Hawkins Well, if you see Odessa tell her I′m Comin' home (Odessa,…
Ryan Brun Girl i ain't got nothing but time And i don't wanna…
Savvy Ani Yeah the suns fallin in the desert Stumble through the sand …
Sylvie Vartan Je laisse derriere Toute une famille qui pleure Je passe l…
The Cinematic Orchestra Fourteenth of February , eighteen ninety nine. The British…
Tiger Lou Move your hands If move them you must At a steady pace Ev…
Tulipunaruusut Kun päivä laskee hämärä jo kohta maille Ja Mustanmeren ranta…
Ulf Lundell Jag gr dom hr gatorna p dagarna Jag gr dom p…
Vast Conduit The whistle blows While the doors close As I watch her depar…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Arthur Blythe:
Come Sunday Ooh Lord, dear Lord above, God almighty, God of love, pl…
In A Sentimental Mood In A Sentimental Mood I can see the stars come…
Just Friends Just friends, lovers no more Just friends, but not like befo…
Straighten Up and Fly Right The buzzard took the monkey for a ride in the…
The Christmas Song Chestnuts roasting on an open fire Jack Frost nipping at yo…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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windel12002
Album was released in 1979 on Columbia Records (now SONY).
Arthur Blythe – alto saxophone, mixing
James Newton – flute
Bob Stewart – tuba
James "Blood" Ulmer – guitar
Cecil McBee – bass
Jack DeJohnette – drums
Guillermo Franco – percussion
Bob Thiele – producer, mixing.
Kevin12559
thank you! soul music for sure
sweetpapajazz
Love the use of the tuba ( Bob Stewart ) maybe James Blood Ulmer on guitar ???? Ah growing up in New Orleans in the early 80's listening to WTUL......... fond memories.
windel12002
Yes, its Bob and James..
Jim Dwyer
Want to live in one of the back 5 apts here. Front 2 way too noisy! But what sweet noise!