Jemeel Moondoc (August 5, 1946 – August 29, 2021)[1][2] was a jazz saxophonist who played alto saxophone.[3] He was a proponent of a highly improvisational style.
Jemeel Moondoc | |
|---|---|
 Moondoc performing at Studio Rivbea July, 1976 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | August 5, 1946 Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Died | August 29, 2021 (aged 75) |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Alto saxophone, clarinet, piano |
| Website | https://www.jemeelmoondoc.com/ |
He was born in Chicago, Illinois, United States,[2] and studied clarinet and piano before settling on saxophone at sixteen. He became interested in jazz largely due to Cecil Taylor and at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, he was a student of Taylor's. After that he moved to New York City, where he founded "Ensemble Muntu" with William Parker, Roy Campbell, Jr., and Rashid Bakr.[2] The group also had its own Muntu record label, but eventually faced financial difficulties. In 1984, he formed the Jus Grew Orchestra, which secured a residency at the Neither/Nor club in the Lower East Side.[2] He worked with Parker again in 1998's album, New World Pygmies.[4]
He died in August 2021, at the age of 75 from the effects of sickle cell anemia.[1]
Discography edit
As leader edit
- First Feeding (Muntu, 1977)
- The Evening of the Blue Men (Muntu, 1979)
- New York Live! (Cadence Jazz, 1981)
- The Intrepid Live in Poland (Poljazz, 1981)
- We Don't (Eremite, 1981; issued 2003) - with Denis Charles
- Judy's Bounce (Soul Note, 1982)
- The Athens Concert (Praxis, 1982)
- Konstanze's Delight (Soul Note, 1983)
- Nostalgia in Times Square (Soul Note, 1986)
- Tri-P-Let (Eremite, 1996)
- Fire in the Valley (Eremite, 1997)
- New World Pygmies (Eremite, 1998)
- Revolt of the Negro Lawn Jockeys (Eremite, 2001)
- New World Pygmies vol. 2 (Eremite, 2002)
- Live at Glenn Miller Café Vol 1 (Ayler, 2002)
- Live in Paris (Cadence, 2003)
- Muntu Recordings (NoBusiness, 2009) reissue of First Feeding and The Evening of the Blue Men plus previously unreleased live material
- Two (Relative Pitch, 2012) - with Connie Crothers
- Yellow Back Radio Breakdown (Six Gallery Press, 2013) - with Michael Hafftka
- The Zookeeper's House (Relative Pitch, 2014)
- Cosmic Nickelodeon (Relative Pitch, 2016) - with Hilliard Greene
- The Astral Revelations (RogueArt, 2018)
- with the Jus Grew Orchestra
- Spirit House (Eremite, 2001)
- Live at the Vision Festival (Ayler, 2003)
As sideman edit
- with Active Ingredients (Chad Taylor, Moondoc, Tom Abbs, Steve Swell)
- Titration (Delmark, 2002 [2003])
- with Denis Charles
- Captain of the Deep (Eremite, 1998)
- with Steve Swell
- This Now! (Cadence Jazz, 2003)
- Swimming in a Galaxy of Goodwill and Sorrow (RogueArt, 2007)
References edit
- ^ a b "Jemeel Moondoc, Intrepid Saxophonist and Composer Who Carved a Path Through the Avant-Garde, Is Dead at 76". Wbgo.org. September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 291–2. ISBN 0-85112-580-8.
- ^ Such, David Glen (1993). Avant-garde jazz musicians: performing "out there". University of Iowa Press. pp. 67–70. ISBN 978-0-87745-435-9.
- ^ "New World Pygmies - Jemeel Moondoc | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
External links edit
- All Music
- Jazz map at the Wayback Machine (archived April 12, 2008)
- Jazz Weekly Interview at the Wayback Machine (archived July 18, 2001)