Paul Bley, Piano, 1932, Montreal, Canada
As a very young child Paul studied the violin but took up the piano at the age of eight. By the early '50s Paul was in New York working with groups led by Jackie McClean, Donald Byrd, Doug Watkins, and Art Taylor. In the mid '50s he moved to Los Angeles and led a group of his own that included Ormette Coleman and Don Cherry as sidemen. From about 1957 Paul was married to Carla Bley for ten years. He later returned to New York and worked with Steve Swallow, Charles Mingus, and Don Ellis, among others. During most of the '60s Bley remained in New York working with trios of his own. In 1964 he was a founding member of the Jazz Composers Guild. During the early '70s he performed on the electronic keyboard, sometimes in collaboration with his second wife, Annette Peacock who also played the electronic keyboard. He later established the record company," Improvising Artists". Paul Bley's playing is notable for its strong linearity, and unpredictable pulse.
Hubert Laws, Flute, 1939, Houston, TX
Hubert has had two musical careers, one in jazz and one in classical. He studied and performed classical music in Houston, and at the same time performed with the Crusaders. During the '60s and '70s he recorded extensively for Atlantic and CTI. He also played in the New York Jazz Sextet for severl years in the mid '70s. During this time he was also a member of the Metropolitan Opea Orchestra in New York and played with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Law's clear, full sound and accurate intonation have made him widely popular both in jazz and classical music. He is one of the few musicians in jazz that play the flute exclusively.
Houston Person, Tenor Saxophone, 1934, Florence, SC
Houston began to play the saxophone when he was in his teens, although he did receive piano lessons from his mother when he was younger. Like many musicians, he gained experience while playing in service bands while stationed in Europe. Fellow musicians/soldiers he played with were Eddie Harris, Lanny Morgan, Leo Wright, Cedar Walton, and Lex Humphries. After he left the service he attended the Hartt School of Music, and then worked for Johnny Hammond, as he seemed to prefer working with organists during this phase of his career. He performed and recorded with groups of his own, and also took part in sessions with Groove Holmes and Charles Earland. Rhythm-and -blues are very evident in Houston's playing. He has a full-toned sound and a direct swinging style.
Billy May, Arranger, 1906, Pittsburgh, PA
Andrew Cyrille, Drums, 1939, New York, NY
