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Jimmy Lyons

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Jimmy Lyons
Lyons in 1978
Lyons in 1978
Background information
Birth nameJames Lyons
Born(1931-12-01)December 1, 1931
Jersey City, New Jersey,US
DiedMay 19, 1986(1986-05-19)(aged 54)
GenresJazz,free jazz,avant-garde jazz
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentAlto saxophone
LabelsBlack Saint/Soul Note

Jimmy Lyons(December 1, 1931 – May 19, 1986)[1]was an Americanalto saxophoneplayer. He is best known for his long tenure in theCecil TaylorUnit. Lyons was the only constant member of the band from the mid-1960s until his death. Taylor never worked with another musician as frequently as he did with Lyons. Lyons' playing, influenced byCharlie Parker,kept Taylor'savant-garde musictethered to thejazztradition.[2]

Biography

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Lyons was born inJersey City, New Jersey,United States,[1]and raised there until the age of nine, when his mother moved the family toHarlemand then theBronx.He obtained his first saxophone in the mid-1940s and took lessons fromBuster Bailey.[3]

After high school, Lyons was drafted into theUnited States Armyand spent 21 months oninfantryduty in Korea. He then spent a year playing in army bands. Once discharged he attendedNew York University.[4]By the end of the 1950s, Lyons was supporting his interest in music by working for theUnited States Postal Service.

In 1960, Lyons followedArchie Sheppinto the saxophone role in the Cecil Taylor Unit.[1]His post-Parker sound and strong melodic sense became a defining part of the sound of that group,[5]from the 1962Cafe Montmartresessions onwards.[6]

During the 1970s, Lyons also ran his own ensemble, withbassoonistKaren BorcaandpercussionistPaul Murphy.They often performed in the loft jazz movement aroundStudio Rivbea.Lyons' group and Cecil Taylor Unit continued a parallel development throughout the 1970s and 1980s, often involving the same musicians, includingtrumpeterRaphe Malik,bassistWilliam Parkerand percussionist Murphy.

In 1976, Lyons performed in a production ofAdrienne Kennedy'sA Rat's Massdirected byCecil TayloratLa MaMa Experimental Theatre Clubin theEast Village of Manhattan.MusiciansRashid Bakr,Andy Bey,Karen Borca,David S. Ware,andRaphe Malikalso performed in the production. Taylor's production combined the original script with a chorus of orchestrated voices used as instruments.[7]

Lyons died fromlung cancerin 1986 at the age of 54.[1]He did not publish many recordings with his own ensemble, thoughAyler Recordsdid release a five-CDbox setof recordings from 1972 to 1985.

Discography

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As leader

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Compilations

As sideman

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References

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  1. ^abcdColin Larkin,ed. (1992).The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music(First ed.).Guinness Publishing.p. 1541.ISBN0-85112-939-0.
  2. ^Kelsey, Chris.Jimmy LyonsAllMusic
  3. ^Young, Ben (2003),Jimmy,Ayler Records, pp. 4–6
  4. ^Young (2003),Jimmy,pp. 9–10
  5. ^Jost, Ekkehard (1975).Studies in Jazz Research: Free Jazz.Universal Edition. p. 78.ISBN3-7024-0013-3.
  6. ^Litweiler, John (1984).The Freedom Principle: Jazz after 1958.New York: Da Capo Press. pp. 208–220.ISBN0-306-80377-1.
  7. ^La MaMa Archives Digital Collections."Production:Rat's Mass, A(1976) ". Accessed August 8, 2018.ArchivedMay 17, 2018, at theWayback Machine
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