Jimmy Lyons facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jimmy Lyons
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Lyons in 1978
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | James Lyons |
| Born | December 1, 1931 Jersey City, New Jersey, US |
| Died | May 19, 1986 (aged 54) |
| Genres | Jazz, free jazz, avant-garde jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Alto saxophone |
| Labels | Black Saint/Soul Note |
| Associated acts | Cecil Taylor |
Jimmy Lyons (born December 1, 1931 – died May 19, 1986) was a talented American alto saxophone player. He is best known for playing with the famous jazz musician Cecil Taylor for many years. Lyons was the only musician who stayed with Taylor's band, called the Cecil Taylor Unit, from the mid-1960s until he passed away.
Jimmy Lyons's playing style was influenced by the legendary jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker. His music helped connect Cecil Taylor's unique and experimental "avant-garde" jazz sound to the more traditional jazz styles.
Contents
Early Life and Music Journey
Jimmy Lyons was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States. He lived there until he was nine years old. Then, his family moved to Harlem and later the Bronx in New York City. He got his first saxophone in the mid-1940s and took lessons from a teacher named Buster Bailey.
After finishing high school, Lyons joined the United States Army. He spent almost two years serving in Korea as an infantry soldier. After that, he played in army bands for a year. Once he left the army, he went to New York University. By the end of the 1950s, Jimmy worked for the United States Postal Service to support himself while he followed his passion for music.
Playing with Cecil Taylor
In 1960, Jimmy Lyons joined the Cecil Taylor Unit, taking over the saxophone role from Archie Shepp. Lyons's sound was very special. It had a strong sense of melody and was influenced by Charlie Parker's style. This sound became a very important part of the group's music, starting with their recordings at the Cafe Montmartre in 1962.
Leading His Own Band
During the 1970s, Jimmy Lyons also led his own music group. This group included Karen Borca on bassoon and Paul Murphy on percussion. They often performed in places called "lofts" during a time known as the "loft jazz movement," especially around a place called Studio Rivbea.
Lyons's own group and the Cecil Taylor Unit often developed their music side-by-side throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Sometimes, the same musicians would play in both groups. These musicians included trumpet player Raphe Malik, bassist William Parker, and percussionist Paul Murphy.
In 1976, Lyons performed in a play called A Rat's Mass. This play was directed by Cecil Taylor at a theater called La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club in New York City. Other musicians also performed in the play, which combined the original story with a chorus of voices used like musical instruments.
Later Years and Legacy
Sadly, Jimmy Lyons passed away in 1986 from lung cancer. He was 54 years old. He didn't release many recordings with his own band while he was alive. However, a record company called Ayler Records later released a special collection of five CDs called The Box Set. This collection featured recordings of his live performances from 1972 to 1985.
Selected Recordings
Jimmy Lyons recorded several albums both as a band leader and as a sideman (playing with other artists).
As a Leader
- 1969: Other Afternoons
- 1978: Push Pull
- 1980: Riffs
- 1980: Jump Up / What to Do About
- 1981: Something in Return
- 1982: Burnt Offering
- 1983: Wee Sneezawee
- 1985: Give It Up
Compilations
- The Box Set (2003) – a collection of live recordings
- The Complete Remastered Recordings on Black Saint & Soul Note (2014)
As a Sideman
Jimmy Lyons played on many important albums with Cecil Taylor, including:
- Nefertiti, the Beautiful One Has Come (1963)
- Unit Structures (1966)
- Conquistador! (1968)
- The Great Concert of Cecil Taylor (1977)
- Winged Serpent (1985)
He also played with other notable musicians and groups such as the Jazz Composer's Orchestra, Joel Futterman, Paul Murphy, Andrew Cyrille, Eddie Gale, and Gil Evans.
