The ever increasing abundance of saxophonists over the years can make it easy to overlook important figures of the past. While many of these figures were well known names for their day some fall by the way side due to changing times. One such figure was always a forward thinker and continued his own path of original music and composing regardless of the number of people listening.

“Ive been writing every day since 1959. I’ve written more music that Duke Ellington and Fats Waller combined, but the difference is I live in an age where the era of recognition for jazz composers has passed. Of course I get excited by playing, and inspired and stimulated. But it’s a different kind of satisfaction from hearing your work performed. I have a creative approach to composing. I rarely use the piano to compose, because it limits the ear. I try and write at a level where my brain takes me directly ro a further level in the music. It’s an intellectual exercise for me. I believe that composing is a science, whereas performing is an art.”

This musician was brought back into the public eye in the late 1990’s with the help of fellow saxophonist Steve Coleman and younger players such as Greg Osby and Branford Marsalis. He followed this period with a series of record releases from his big band, two of which were nominated for a Grammy.

Who was this month’s saxophonist/composer and what were the titles of his albums nominated for a Grammy?

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