James Newton facts for kids

James W. Newton, born on May 1, 1953, is a talented American musician. He is known for playing the flute in both jazz and classical music styles. He is also a composer and a bandleader.

About James Newton

Early Life and Musical Journey

James Newton was born in Los Angeles, California. Growing up, he was surrounded by African-American music like blues, rhythm and blues, and gospel. When he was a teenager, he played electric bass guitar, alto saxophone, and clarinet. In high school, he started playing the flute. He was inspired by another famous flutist, Eric Dolphy.

Newton took lessons in classical flute music. He also studied jazz with musician Buddy Collette. He finished his music education at California State University, Los Angeles.

Musical Groups and Collaborations

From 1972 to 1975, James Newton was part of a band called Black Music Infinity. Other members included David Murray and Bobby Bradford.

Later, from 1978 to 1981, Newton lived in New York. There, he led a trio with pianist Anthony Davis and cellist Abdul Wadud. This group played a special kind of music called chamber jazz. It mixes jazz with classical music styles. Newton and Davis also formed a quartet and toured Europe.

After that, Newton performed with many different musicians. He also released four recordings where he played solo flute improvisations. Since the 1990s, Newton has worked with musicians from various cultures. These include Jon Jang and Gao Hong. He has been part of many projects that combine different musical traditions.

Performances and Teaching

James Newton has performed with many famous groups. These include the New York Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Master Chorale. He has also played with the San Francisco Ballet.

For five years, he was the Musical Director and Conductor of the Luckman Jazz Orchestra. He has also taught music at several universities. These include the University of California, Irvine and the California Institute of the Arts.

Newton has also written books about music. In 1989, he published The Improvising Flute. In 2007, he released Daily Focus For The Flute.

Compositions

Besides playing, James Newton also writes classical music. He has composed pieces for orchestras and smaller groups. He has also created electronic music. In 1997, he wrote an opera called The Songs of Freedom. He often writes chamber music and pieces for unusual groups of instruments. He has also written a symphony and music for ballet and modern dance. In 2006, he composed a Latin Mass, which was first performed in Italy in 2007.

Awards and Recognition

James Newton has received many important awards. These include fellowships from the Guggenheim and Rockefeller foundations. He also won the Montreux Grande Prix Du Disque. The magazine Down Beat named one of his albums the International Critics Jazz Album of the Year.

Lawsuit with Beastie Boys

In 2000, James Newton was involved in a legal case with the music group Beastie Boys. The Beastie Boys had used a very short part of Newton's 1978 song "Choir" in their song "Pass the Mic". This short part was a six-second, three-note flute sound.

Newton said that using this small part of his song without his full permission was wrong. The Beastie Boys had paid a fee to the record company, ECM Records, for the sound recording. However, Newton felt they also needed permission for the musical composition itself.

The court looked at the case. In 2002, the court decided in favor of the Beastie Boys. The court said that the Beastie Boys had done what they needed to do by getting permission for the sound recording. They also said that a very small part of a song, like three notes, might not need a separate license from the composer.

Newton appealed the decision, meaning he asked a higher court to review it. But in 2003, the higher court also agreed with the Beastie Boys.

Discography

As leader

• 1977: Solomon's Sons (Circle)
• 1977: Binu (Circle, with Mark Dresser, Tylon Barea, Rudolf Kreis)
• 1978: Paseo del Mar (India Navigation)
• 1979: Hidden Voices (India Navigation) with Anthony Davis
• 1979: The Mystery School (India Navigation)
• 1981: Axum (ECM)
• 1982: James Newton (Gramavision)
• 1982: Portraits (India Navigation)
• 1983: Luella (Gramavision)
• 1984: Echo Canyon (Celestial Harmonies)
• 1985: The African Flower (Blue Note)
• 1987: Romance and Revolution (Blue Note)
• 1984: In Venice (Celestial Harmonie)
• 1990: If Love (with Billy Hart, Anthony Cox, Mike Cain)
• 1990: Trio2 with Anthony Davis, Abdul Wadud (Gramavision)
• 1994: Suite for Frida Kahlo (Sledgehammer Blues)
• 1996: David Murray/James Newton Quintet (DIW) with David Murray
• 1997: Above Is Above All (Contour)

As sideman

With Arthur Blythe

• Lenox Avenue Breakdown (Columbia, 1979)

With John Carter

• Dauwhe (Black Saint, 1982)

With Buddy Collette

• Flute Talk (Soul Note, 1988)

With Andrew Cyrille

• X Man (Soul Note, 1994)
• Good to Go, with a Tribute to Bu (Soul Note, 1997)

With Chico Freeman

• Peaceful Heart, Gentle Spirit (Contemporary, 1980)

With Leroy Jenkins

• Mixed Quintet (Black Saint, 1979)

With David Murray

• Creole (Justin Time, 1998)

With Sirone

• Artistry (Of The Cosmos, 1979)