Air | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Chicago, Illinois |
| Genres | Jazz,free jazz |
| Years active | 1971–1986 |
| Labels | Novus |
| Past members | |
Air was afree jazz trio founded by saxophone playerHenry Threadgill, double bassistFred Hopkins, and drummerSteve McCall in 1971.[1][2]
Threadgill was asked byColumbia College in Chicago to arrange a number ofScott Joplin songs.[2] Joplin was so strongly associated with piano that the musicians enjoyed the challenge of performing his trademark songs without piano. They opted to play them as rags and as a basis for jazz improvization.
The albumAir Lore contains improvizations over songs by Scott Joplin as well as selections byJelly Roll Morton.[3]
Air broke up and reformed several times, and after McCall's death,Andrew Cyrille performed as part of the trio. They released two albums with drummerPheeroan Aklaff as New Air onBlack Saint Records.[4]
| Album | Label | Year of release | Year Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Song | Why Not | 1975 | 1975 |
| Air Raid | Why Not | 1976 | 1976 |
| Wildflowers 1: The New York Loft Jazz Sessions | Douglas | 1977 | 1976 |
| Open Air Suit | Arista Novus | 1978 | 1978 |
| Montreux Suisse | Arista Novus | 1978 | 1978 |
| Air Time | Nessa | 1978 | 1977 |
| Air Lore | Arista Novus | 1979 | 1979 |
| Live Air | Black Saint | 1980 | 1976 & 1977 |
| Air Mail | Black Saint | 1981 | 1980 |
| 80° Below '82 | Antilles | 1982 | 1982 |
| (As New Air)Live at Montreal International Jazz Festival | Black Saint | 1984 | 1983 |
| (As New Air)Air Show No. 1 | Black Saint | 1986 | 1986 |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
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