Steve Lacy With Don Cherry Evidence

One of the great soprano saxophonists of all time (ranking up there with Sidney Bechet and John Coltrane), Steve Lacy's career was fascinating to watch develop. He originally doubled on clarinet and soprano (dropping the former by the mid-'50s), inspired by Bechet, and played Dixieland in New York with Rex Stewart, Cecil Scott, Red Allen, and other older musicians during 1952-1955. He debuted on record in a modernized Dixieland format with Dick Sutton in 1954. However, Lacy soon jumped over several styles to play free jazz with Cecil Taylor during 1955-1957. They recorded together and performed at the 1957 Newport Jazz Festival. Lacy recorded with Gil Evans in 1957 (they would work together on an irregular basis into the 1980s), was with Thelonious Monk's quintet in 1960 for four months, and then formed a quartet with Roswell Rudd (1961-1964) that exclusively played Monk's music; only one live set (for Emanen in 1963) resulted from that very interesting group. 6 original albums from the soprano sax maestro including works with Don Cherry & Gil Evans; Soprano Sax, Plays Theloniuous Monk, Straight Horn Of.., Evidence, Gil Evans & Ten, Great Jazz Standards.

Avid Jazz continues with its Four Classic album series with a re-mastered 2CD release by Steve Lacy, complete with original artwork and liner notes.
“Soprano Sax”; “Reflections - Steve Lacy Plays Thelonious Monk” “The Straight Horn Of Steve Lacy”; and “Evidence”.
Born in New York City, Steven Norman Lackritz (better known to jazz fans as Steve Lacy ) was one of a rare breed of jazz men to play the soprano sax, almost exclusively. Other famously few players include Sidney Bechet, Johnny Hodges and occasionally John Coltrane. For a musician starting life in a Dixieland jazz band playing alongside such greats as Henry “Red” Allen and Pee Wee Russell, Steve Lacys jazz journey may look an unexpected one…