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)
The Christmas Song
Arthur Blythe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yule-tide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos.
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
They know that Santa's on his way
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
And every mother's child is gonna spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly.
And so I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it's been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you!
Arthur Blythe's song The Christmas Song is a beautiful, nostalgic description of Christmas traditions that are familiar to many people. The opening lines paint a cozy, inviting picture of a fireplace crackling as chestnuts roast, with Jack Frost nipping outside. The following lines describe the joyous sounds of carols being sung and people gathering in festive clothing, evoking a warm sense of community and holiday spirit.
The chorus describes the iconic, jovial images that are emblematic of Christmas. A turkey and mistletoe help set the mood, while young children are filled with excitement and anticipation as they eagerly wait for Santa's arrival. The final verse features the singer offering a simple message of holiday cheer, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, regardless of age or background.
Overall, Blythe's interpretation of The Christmas Song captures the essence of the holiday season, with its emphasis on family, tradition, and wonder. The song's timeless lyrics and beautiful melody make it a cherished classic that continues to be enjoyed by people around the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
A heartwarming sight of chestnuts roasting on open fire symbolizes the cozy and cheerful atmosphere of Christmas that allows people to come together and celebrate.
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
The cold winter season brings Jack Frost that bites down one's nose, defining how people have to keep themselves warm and care for each other.
Yule-tide carols being sung by a choir
The choir singing Yule-tide carols creates a sense of joy and harmony among the people, and symbolizes the religious aspect that the festival holds.
And folks dressed up like Eskimos.
People dressing up like Eskimos symbolizes the cultural diversity that Christmas brings forth, and how people from different cultures come together to celebrate the same occasion.
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
The presence of turkey and mistletoe signifies the feast and the celebratory mood that the arrival of Christmas invariably brings forth.
Help to make the season bright
The presence of these things makes the season brighter and more joyous, by bringing warmth and love to everyone around.
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
The sparkling eyes of the tiny children reveal their excitement and anticipation of what the occasion holds for them, and brings a sense of innocence and purity to festivities.
Will find it hard to sleep tonight.
The excitement and enthusiasm of the children make it difficult for them to sleep, since they are eager to wake up early and enjoy the festivities.
They know that Santa's on his way
Children believe that Santa Claus brings gifts and happiness on this occasion, and his arrival is awaited eagerly every year.
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
Santa Claus brings with him toys and goodies that he distributes among the children, bringing delight and laughter to their lives.
And every mother's child is gonna spy
Every child is eagerly waiting to catch a glimpse of Santa Claus, who they imagine is flying on his sleigh and distributing gifts to all.
To see if reindeer really know how to fly.
Children are excited to see the reindeer that draw Santa's sleigh, and are left in wonder and awe to know how they fly in the sky.
And so I'm offering this simple phrase
Arthur Blythe offers a simple phrase as a wish for everyone to enjoy the festival in peace and prosperity.
To kids from one to ninety-two
The wish is not just for kids, but for every person from any age group and walks of life, to celebrate the festival and its joyous essence.
Although it's been said many times, many ways
Even though the wish has been conveyed multiple times and in a variety of ways, the joy and delight it brings remain unchanged.
Merry Christmas to you!
The phrase 'Merry Christmas to you' holds warmth and affection, and is the simplest way to convey the heartfelt greetings and wishing happiness to everyone.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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