On Sunday February 15, multi-wind instrumentalist and composer Henry Threadgill turns 82 years of age. Henry, one of the living legends of the jazz avant-garde, is most well known for his work as a composer, band leader, flutist and saxophonist. Born in Chicago, Mr. Threadgill joined Chicago's AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians) led by Muhal Richard Abrams in the mid 60's before joining the US Army, initially as an army band director, but later sent to the front lines in Vietnam after top brass officials objected to his arrangements of The Star Spangled Banner and God Bless America, calling the music "blasphemous", firing him from the band and sending him to battle.
Henry would return to Chicago and helped form the cooperative trio AIR where he played alto, baritone and tenor saxophones, a variety of flutes and introduced the HUBKAPHONE to the music, an array of tuned hubcaps. Over the years, Mr. Threadgill has become known as one of the most prolific composers in this music, winning multiple poll awards as he continued his work with bands such as his seven piece Sextett, Very Very Circus, Make a Move and Zooid. Henry has also served as an integral voice to the recordings of Muhal Richard Abrams, David Murray Octet, Wadada Leo Smith and many others.
Please join us on Sunday February 15 from 4:00-7:00pm EST for PART ONE of an in-depth excursion into the music of Henry Threadgill in his various projects over the years stemming from the 1975 AIR SONG recording up to the present day as he continues to write and perform his music. The music can be heard locally (Dearborn/Detroit) on WHFR Radio (89.3fm) and worldwide at http://whfr.fm.
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WHFR PRESENTS airs every Sunday beginning (usually) at 4:00 pm with a rotating cast of WHFR DJs, taking in-depth looks into the many genres of music that WHFR has to offer. Tune in at 89.3 on the FM dial in Dearborn/Detroit and surrounding communities, or listen anywhere via our online streamer.
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