Oliver Lake, The Long Blues

Oliver Lake has been both an iconoclast and leader in the jazz music community for more than five decades. The alto saxophonist and composer is known for a nasal tone that conveys ferocity, tenderness, and jubilation. For the inaugural episode of Expandable Sound, Lake reflects on his origins, his music, and the drive to self-produce and create. Oliver Lake grew up in St. Louis, where in the late 1960’s he helped found the Black Artist’s Group, one of America’s first collectives of experimental black artists. Since then, he has continued to collaborate with many of the great jazz improvisers of the past 40 years in his groups including the World Saxophone Quartet, Trio 3, the Oliver Lake Big Band, and so many more. In this episode, you will hear: Oliver Lake feat. Donel Fox - Ballad from Lake/Fox: Boston Duets (2006) Charlie Parker Septet - Ornithology from Ornithology (1946) Oliver Lake - Africa from NTU: Point From Which Creation Begins (1976) World Saxophone Quartet - Sundance from W.S.Q (1981) Oliver Lake / Christian Weber / Dieter Ulrich - All Decks from All Decks (2013) Oliver Lake Big Band - Is It Real from Wheels (2013) Expandable Sound is a series of musical portraits exploring how knowledge is created and shared in jazz and improvised music. Radio producers and musicians Alex Lewis and Jake Nussbaum weave intimate interviews of visionary musicians together with their music as well as the music of their peers. A rare chance to listen to iconic musicians tackle their deepest questions head-on, and discover new music in the process.

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