Archie Shepp

Archie Shepp was born in 1937 in Fort Lauderdale in Florida.
He grew up in Philadelphia, studied piano and saxophone and attended high school in Germantown; he went to college, became involved with theatre, met writers and poets, among them, Leroy Jones and wrote: «The Communist», an allegorical play about the situation of black Americans. In the late fifties, Archie Shepp also met the most radical musicians of the time: Lee Morgan, Bobby Timmons, Jimmy Garrison, Ted Curson, Beaver Harris ... his political consciousness found an expression in plays and theatrical productions which barely allowed him to make a living. In the beginning sixties he met Cecil Taylor and did two recordings with him which were determining.
In 1962 he signed his first record with Bill Dixon as co-leader. During the following year, he created the New York Contemporary Five with John Tchichai, made four records for Fontana, Storyville and Savoy and travelled to Europe with this group. Starting in August 1964, he worked with Impulse and made 17 records among which, Four For Trane, Fire Music, and Mama Too Tight, some of the classics of Free Music. His collaboration with John Coltrane materialized further with Ascension in 1965, a real turning point in Avant- Garde music. His militancy was evidenced by his participation in the creation of the Composers Guild with Paul and Carla Bley, Sun RA, Roswell Rudd and Cecil Taylor.
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Album Review
- Let My People Go by Mark Corroto
- Consequences Revisited by Mark Corroto
In Pictures
Album Review
- Archie Shepp And The New York Contemporary Five by Chris Mosey
Extended Analysis
Album Review
- The New York Contemporary Five by Jerry D'Souza
- The New York Contemporary Five by John Barron
Interview
Album Review
- Kwanza by Chris May
May 24, 2020
Jazz Musician of the Day: Archie Shepp
May 24, 2019
Jazz Musician of the Day: Archie Shepp
May 24, 2018
Jazz Musician of the Day: Archie Shepp
May 14, 2018
The 39th Edition Of Montreal's International Jazz Fest starts on June...
October 20, 2017
Jazz Vinyl Lover? Sign Up For "Vinyl Me, Please" Classics Club
May 24, 2017
Jazz Musician of the Day: Archie Shepp
April 20, 2017
Hear Palmer 2016 Featuring the Archie Shepp Quartet
May 24, 2016
Jazz Musician of the Day: Archie Shepp
May 24, 2015
Jazz Musician of the Day: Archie Shepp
December 07, 2014
Grammy Nomination for Archie Shepp Attica Blues Orchestra “Live – I...
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