Quentin Coaxum

Biography
Articles

One of Chicago’ brightest young trumpeters, Quentin Coaxum is one of our most thoughtful composers. He is inspired by great literary voices including James Baldwin, Maya Angelou and Nikki Giovanni, the civil rights movement and “the dynamics of human relationships in America’s current social climate.” His deeply moving song, “Alton Sterling,” honors the memory of the African American shot to death two years ago by white police officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Coaxum, who grew up outside of St. Louis, is heavily influenced by the soulful post-bop styles of the late '50s and early '60s, but as evidenced on his well-received 2014 debut album, Current, his music has a contemporary edge.

Lucas Gillan's Many Blessings: Chit-Chatting with Herbie

Read "Chit-Chatting with Herbie" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi

by Angelo Leonardi
August 17, 2020

Questo nuovo omaggio a Herbie Nichols è stato pubblicato nel 2019, nel centenario della nascita del grande pianista. Protagonista è il batterista di Chicago Lucas Gillan, al suo secondo album col gruppo Many Blessings. Originario dell'Arizona, Gillan opera da alcuni anni nella Windy City e il suo pianoless quartet coniuga un'ampia serie di influenze: l'impronta dello storico organico di Ornette Coleman è piuttosto evidente ma non mancano relazioni col vasto retroterra di blues e soul music del ...