Join us in celebrating our newest gallery exhibition on the evening of January 8th at 6pm!
Now I’m Breakin’ Glass by Oliver Lake
A poet, painter and performance artist, Oliver Lake has exhibited and sold his paintings and unique painted-sticks around the world, published two books of poetry and toured the country with his one-man performance piece, Matador of 1st and 1st. Although his greatest reputation exists in the world of jazz, Lake’s eclectic artistic approach is best expressed by his popular poem SEPARATION: put all my food on the same plate!
Whether composing commissioned works for Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra and the Brooklyn Philharmonic; creating chamber pieces for Arditti and Flux String Quartets, Amherst Sax Quartet and San Francisco Contemporary Players ; arranging for Bjork, Lou Reed and A Tribe Called Quest; collaborating with poets Amiri Baraka and Ntozake Shange; choreographers Ron Brown and Marlies Yearby; vocalist Mary Redhouse, kumongo player Jin Hi Kim, and bamboo flute player Shuni Tsou; performing with Patricia Williams; sharing the stage with Mos Def and Me'shell Ndegeocello; or leading his own Organ Quartet, Big Band and cooperative ensembles the World Saxophone Quartet and Trio 3; Oliver views it all as parts of the same whole.
Born in Marianna, Arkansas in 1942, Oliver’s family moved to St. Louis two years later. He began drawing at the age of thirteen, and soon after began playing cymbals and bass drum. At 17, he began to take a serious interest in jazz. Like many other members of St. Louis; Black Artists Group, Lake moved to New York in the mid 1970s, quickly establishing himself as one of its most adventurous and multi-faceted artists on the scene. As a co-founder of the acclaimed World Saxophone Quartet (with Julius Hemphill, Hamiet Bluiett and David Murray in 1977), Oliver has continued to work with the WSQ and his own groups while collaborating with choreographers, poets, artists and a Who’s Who of the progressive jazz scene.
In 1988, Lake founded Passin’ Thru, Inc., a non-profit foundation dedicated to fostering, promoting and advancing the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of jazz, new music and other disciplines in relation to music. Under his artistic direction, Passin’; Thru has commissioned new works and sponsored performances by emerging artists. The organization also operates Passin' Thru Records, which has recently issued its 22nd recording.
A recipient of a prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship, Lake is one of the most heavily commissioned composers to emerge from the jazz tradition. He has created works for Meet The Composer, Library of Congress, Rockefeller Foundation, ASCAP, International Association for Jazz Education, Composers Forum, McKim Foundation, Mary Flagler Cary Trust, Lila Wallace Arts Partners Program, Wheeling Symphony, New York New Music Ensemble, and Pulse Percussion Ensemble of New York. Additionally, Oliver received the 2006 Mellon Jazz Legacy Award at the Kennedy Center in October of 2006. One of Oliver’s most notable artistic accomplishments is a result of a near ten year collaboration with the City of Asylum organization in Pittsburgh, PA. After helping create their first Jazz Poetry Concert in 2005, Oliver began work on the Jazz House in 2011, with its completion realized in 2012. Oliver designed the intricately painted exterior and provided works of art for the interior, including a programed saxophone doorbell, which includes samples of his music.
In 2014, Oliver received the prestigious Doris Duke Artist Award, a multi-year grant awarded to only 19 American artists in the fields of jazz, theater and dance. His string quartet cd “Right Up On” featuring Flux Quartet made New York Times 25 best classical recording list of 2017. In 2022 Oliver received Lifetime Achievement Award from New York Vision Festival. As such, the coming year promises to be an exciting one, poetry performances, new compositions and visual art.
Free Event; No tickets needed.
SPONSORSHIP
The Jazz Gallery is a not-for-profit arts organization presenting emerging artists who challenge convention, take creative risks, and lead their field as performers, composers and thinkers. We provide a platform for artists to discover their unique voice and a home for established musicians to continue to experiment and grow. At The Jazz Gallery, artists and audiences come together from around the world to explore new creative ideas, collaborate and celebrate jazz as a dynamic art form that reflects our ever-changing world.
We rely on the generosity of our members and community to keep the music playing, thank you for your continued and much appreciated support! If you would like to sponsor a Livestream Concert, please use the links above or be in touch with our Executive Director, Janet Luhrs, here.