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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZAIR (Black Music Trio)Black music trio formed in Chicago in 1971 to play in a theatrical production: Henry Threadgill, saxophones, flutes, hubkaphone (an array of auto hubcaps); Fred Hopkins, bass; Steve McCall, percussion. They were all alumni of the AACM; playing free jazz with wit and energy, displaying deep roots in all forms of black music, as well as Eastern influences. They went to NYC '75, toured internationally; contributed 'USO Dance' to the Wildflower project in 1976. They did not get enough work but managed to make albums including Japanese releases '75-6 (Air Song and Air Raid) later on India Navigation and also on Alan Bates's Candid label. Their first USA release was Air Time '78 on Nessa (on CD in 1996), named the best of all their recordings by George E. Lewis in his book A Power Stronger Than Itself: The AACM and American Experimental Music (2008). Air's live sets included Live Air '76-7 and Air Mail '80, both on Black Saint; Live At Montreux 1978 on Novus/Arista; Air Lore '79 on that label examined ragtime/early jazz roots (the CD came out on Bluebird '87 after Novus changed hands); 80 degrees Below '82 was on Antilles. McCall left c'83; the name changed to New Air with Pheeroan akLaff on Black Saint, and the new trio made Live At Montreal International Jazz Festival '83, and Air Show Vol. 1 '86 had vocalist Cassandra Wilson on half the tracks. Threadgill went on to form new groups; see his entry. The highly regarded Chicago musician Stephen McCall IV d 24 May 1989 aged 55; he had studied with Specs Wright, lived in Europe '67-71, had also played with Anthony Braxton, Cecil Taylor, Roscoe Mitchell etc and with singer Jeanne Lee. Fred Hopkins d 7 January 1999 aged 51, much too early, and like McCall is still greatly missed. |