“A jazz innovator who leads from the center to the edge.” - The Washington Post
David Murray in Gorée Island, Dakar, Senegal by Fabrice Monteiro
DAVID MURRAY & CLASS STRUGGLE
..make their return to..
8:30pm & 10:30pm
featuring
David Murray, reeds
Craig Harris, trombone
Lafayette Gilchrist, piano
Mingus Murray, guitar
Rashaan Carter, bass
Russell Carter, drums
David Murray & Class Struggle mark their return for their second run this decade to New York’s Village Vanguard, completing Mr. Murray’s return to the New York jazz scene, from Tuesday, June 19 through Sunday, June 24, 2018. Class Struggle features the legendary trombonist Craig Harris, a long time fiery member of the infamous Murray Octets of the 80s and 90s; pianist Lafayette Gilchrist, an ascending pioneer of the Baltimore go-go scene; David’s son, guitarist Mingus Murray bringing a fresh new perspective to his father’s music; and brothers Rashaan and Russell Carter on bass and drums bringing a cohesiveness to this band of family and brethren. The Village Vanguard is located at 178 7th Avenue South, New York, NY 10014. Tickets may be purchased on line or by calling (212) 255-4037. Set times are 8:30pm and 10:30pm.
David Murray is one of the most successful musicians of his generation. Few musicians in jazz history have proven more vigorously productive and resourceful than Murray. Since last year’s initial return to his old stomping grounds, the Village Vanguard, Murray has expanded his Suite for Albert Murray (Stomping the Blues), to include new compositions, “Roots and Wings” and “Scooter and The Blues as Such." During this momentous week, David will also premiere brand new compositions, in preparation for his forthcoming debut recording of Class Struggle.
From the moment he first visited New York in 1975 as a 20-year-old student, playing in a walkup loft, David has careened forward in a cool, collected, rocket-fueled streak. He has released over 150 albums under his own name and contributed to hundreds. Yet more impressive than the numbers is the consistency of two abiding achievements: as a tenor saxophonist, he has perfected an instantly recognizable approach to improvisation that even in its freest flights acknowledges the gravity of a tradition he honors more than most; and he has altered the context for his improvisations as an infinite mosaic of musical challenges and explorations. A master of the tenor saxophone, clarinet, and bass clarinet, as well as a prolific composer, and leader with groups including the World Saxophone Quartet and Clarinet Summit. The son of Baptist parents, raised in Berkeley, California, David studied music at Pomona College (where in 2012 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music degree) before moving to New York in 1975.
Discovering the Negro spiritual style in the time of Coltrane and during Ayler's best period, not to be political right down to his tenor-playing fingertips. He won a Grammy in 1988, a Guggenheim Fellowship for composition in 1989, and was voted Musician of the Decade by the Village Voice for the 1980s. In 1991, David became the second recipient of Denmark’s Jazzpar Prize.
