Born: January 10, 1950 Primary Instrument: Reeds
Larry Ankrum is an American jazz musician and composer. He plays tenor, alto and soprano saxophones, flute, alto flute, piccolo, and clarinet. He grew up in a musical family in Minnesota and began studying music at the age of 8. He started playing professionally when he was only 12 years old.
In addition to The Larry Ankrum Quartet, performance credits include The Albert-Ankrum Project, Karrin Allyson, The Temptations, Prince, Higher Ground, Kermit Ruffins, Penny Mathisen, Annette Wardell, Peter Fisher, Leslie Blackshear Smith, The Naked Orchestra, New Orleans Street Beat, Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, Charmaine Neville, Kevin Odegard, and Red Gallagher.
As a leader, he has released albums on the CDL, Fora Sound, and Lakefront Digital record labels. His albums have received luminous reviews worldwide. His compositions are eclectic and intriguing. His ballads are particularly sensuous.
Larry Ankrum currently resides in the Los Angeles area and continues to perform internationally.
“... lush and vibrant, never transparent or monotonous.”
— Aaron LaFont, Offbeat Magazine
About It Cannot Be Exhausted By Use
“... a nice find of an album... a solid disc from a talented quartet.”
— Bob Young, Jazziz Magazine
“...on this labor of love, Ankrum's lithe, light-toned tenor delights, and his multihued compositions are stellar.”
— Tom Surowicz, Twin Cities Reader
“The music is quiet yet driving, subtle and expansive...”
— Richard B. Kamins, Cadence Magazine
About Albert-Ankrum Project
“...a band of musicians ready to dig into the music...”
— Geraldine Wyckoff, Offbeat Magazine
“...a session of creative modern jazz, tempered now and then with some swinging rhythms and even adding a dash of New Orleans tabasco jazz now and then”
— By Dave Nathan, All About Jazz
