Henry Threadgill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry Threadgill
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Henry Threadgill at Keystone Korner, San Francisco CA 4/5/79 w/AIR, including Fred Hopkins & Steve McCall
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Henry Luther Threadgill |
| Born | February 15, 1944 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, avant-garde jazz, free jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer |
| Instruments | Saxophone, flute |
| Years active | 1960s–present |
| Labels | Arista/Novus, About Time, Black Saint, Columbia, Pi |
| Associated acts | AACM, Air, Muhal Richard Abrams, Billy Bang, Anthony Braxton, Craig Harris, Leroy Jenkins, Roscoe Mitchell |
Henry Threadgill (born February 15, 1944) is an American musician and composer. He plays the saxophone and flute. He became well-known in the 1970s for leading music groups that mixed jazz with other types of music. These groups often used unusual instruments.
Henry Threadgill has played and recorded with many different groups. Some of his famous groups include Air, Very Very Circus, and Zooid. In 2016, he won the Pulitzer Prize for Music for his album In for a Penny, In for a Pound. This is a very important award for music.
In 2023, he wrote a book about his life in music. It is called Easily Slip into Another World: A Life in Music. The book was chosen as a top book by The New York Times and other major news groups.
Contents
A Musician's Journey
Early Life and Training
Henry Threadgill started playing music when he was young. In high school, he played percussion in the marching band. Later, he learned to play the baritone saxophone, alto saxophone, and flute.
He went to the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. There, he studied piano, flute, and how to compose music. He learned from talented teachers like Gail Quillman and Stella Roberts.
Starting with AACM
Henry Threadgill was one of the first members of the Experimental Band. This group was a start for the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM). The AACM is a famous group in Chicago that helps musicians create new and experimental music. He worked with Muhal Richard Abrams, a very important musician.
Before joining the army, he toured with a gospel music band. In 1967, he joined the U.S. Army. He played with a rock band in Vietnam during 1967 and 1968. He left the army in 1969.
Forming New Groups
After returning to Chicago, Threadgill joined two other AACM members. They were bassist Fred Hopkins and drummer Steve McCall. Their trio eventually became the group called Air.
Later, he moved to New York City. There, he started his first group as a leader, called X-75. This group had nine musicians. It included four reed players, four bass players, and a singer.
The Henry Threadgill Sextett
In the early 1980s, Henry Threadgill formed a group that became very popular. It was called the Henry Threadgill Sextett. Even though it was called a "Sextett," it actually had seven members. He counted the two drummers as one percussion unit.
This group recorded six albums. One of their well-known albums is You Know the Number. The group used unusual instruments. It had two drummers, a double bass, a cello, a trumpet, and a trombone. Threadgill himself played alto saxophone and flute.
Exploring New Sounds
In the 1990s, Threadgill continued to push musical limits. He formed a group called Very Very Circus. This group had two tubas, two electric guitars, a trombone or French horn, and drums. He added other instruments like Latin percussion, violin, and accordion.
He also composed music for other unique instrument combinations. For example, he wrote for a group of four flutes. He also wrote for four cellos and four acoustic guitars on his album Makin' a Move.
He recorded three albums with Columbia Records. After Very Very Circus, Threadgill continued to create music with groups like Make a Move and Zooid. Zooid is his main group in the 2000s. It includes tuba, acoustic guitar, cello, drums, and bass guitar.
In 2018, Threadgill wrote a string quartet called "Sixfivetwo." The famous Kronos Quartet recorded this piece.
Awards and Recognition
Major Honors
Henry Threadgill has received many important awards for his music. In 2016, his composition In for a Penny, In for a Pound won the Pulitzer Prize for Music. This is one of the highest honors for music in the United States.
In July 2016, he received the Vietnam Veterans of America Excellence in the Arts Award. This award recognized his artistic achievements.
Other Achievements
Many of Threadgill's compositions have been performed in famous places. "Run Silent, Run Deep, Run Loud, Run High" and "Mix for Orchestra" were both first played at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
He has also received commissions to create music for various groups. These include Carnegie Hall, the New York Shakespeare Festival, and the Bang on a Can All-Stars.
In May 2020, the University of Pennsylvania gave him an honorary doctor of music degree. This recognized his great contributions to music.
In October 2020, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) honored him. He was named one of the NEA Jazz Masters Fellowships recipients. This award celebrates musicians who have made huge contributions to jazz music throughout their lives.
In 2024, he received a PEN Oakland – Josephine Miles Award for his autobiography. He wrote this book with Brent Hayes Edwards.
Personal Life
Henry Threadgill was born in Chicago. He studied music at the American Conservatory of Music and Governors State University. He was part of the US Army Concert Band and served in Vietnam. He is married to Senti Toy, who is also a recording artist and studies music from different cultures.
Discography
As a Leader or Co-Leader
Air
- 1975: Air Song
- 1976: Air Raid
- 1977: Live Air
- 1977: Air Time
- 1978: Open Air Suit
- 1978: Montreux Suisse
- 1979: Air Lore
- 1980: Air Mail
- 1982: 80° Below '82
- 1983: Live at Montreal International Jazz Festival (as New Air)
- 1986: Air Show No. 1 (as New Air with Cassandra Wilson)
X-75
- 1979: X-75 Volume 1
Henry Threadgill Sextett
- 1982: When Was That?
- 1983: Just the Facts and Pass the Bucket
- 1984: Subject to Change
- 1987: You Know the Number
- 1988: Easily Slip Into Another World
- 1989: Rag, Bush and All
Very Very Circus
- 1990: Spirit of Nuff...Nuff
- 1991: Live at Koncepts
- 1993: Too Much Sugar for a Dime
- 1993: Song Out of My Trees
- 1994: Carry the Day
- 1995: Makin' a Move
Make a Move
- 1996: Where's Your Cup?
- 2001: Everybodys Mouth's a Book
Zooid
- 2001: Up Popped the Two Lips
- 2005: Pop Start the Tape, StoP
- 2009: This Brings Us to Volume 1
- 2010: This Brings Us to Volume 2
- 2012: Tomorrow Sunny / The Revelry, Spp
- 2015: In for a Penny, In for a Pound
- 2021: Poof
Ensemble Double Up
- 2016: Old Locks and Irregular Verbs
- 2018: Double Up, Plays Double Up Plus
14 or 15 Kestra: Agg
- 2018: Dirt… And More Dirt
Henry Threadgill Ensemble
- 2023: The Other One
As a Sideman (Playing with Others)
- With Muhal Richard Abrams: Young at Heart/Wise in Time (1969), 1-OQA+19 (1977)
- With Anthony Braxton: For Trio (1978)
- With Chico Freeman: Morning Prayer (1976)
- With Roscoe Mitchell: Nonaah (1977), L-R-G / The Maze / S II Examples (1978)
- With David Murray: Ming (1980), Home (1981), Murray's Steps (1982)
- With Material / Bill Laswell: Memory Serves (1981), The Third Power (1991)
- With Sly & Robbie / Bill Laswell: Rhythm Killers (1987)
- With Carlinhos Brown / Bill Laswell: Bahia Black: Ritual Beating System (1991)
- With Leroy Jenkins: Themes & Improvisations on the Blues (1992)
- With Kip Hanrahan: Darn It! (1992), A Thousand Nights and a Night (Shadow Night – 1) (1996)
- With Billy Bang: Hip Hop Be Bop (1993), Vietnam: Reflections (2005)
- With Flute Force Four: Flutistry (1990, released 1997)
- With Jean-Paul Bourelly: Boom Bop (2000), Trance Atlantic – Boom Bop II (2001)
- With Ejigayehu "Gigi" Shibabaw: Gigi (2001)
- With Lucky Peterson: Black Midnight Sun (2002)
- With Dafnis Prieto: Absolute Quintet (2006)
- With Wadada Leo Smith: The Great Lakes Suites (2012, released 2014), The Chicago Symphonies (2021)
- With Jack DeJohnette: Made in Chicago (2013 [2015])
