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Jodie Christian (February 2, 1932 – February 13, 2012) [1] was an American jazz pianist, noted for bebop and free jazz.

Early life

Christian was born in Chicago, Illinois. [1] His "father was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, into a share-cropper's family. Realizing the futility of that life, Christian's grandfather sold his livestock and sent his family to Chicago, where Christian was born in 1932 on 44th Street and Prairie Avenue." [2] Christian's mother, a church pianist, helped him with music. [3] When she became director of the church choir, he took over on the piano; sometimes they played organ–piano duets in the church. [3] His father "also sang and played the blues on piano in speakeasies and rent parties, but ultimately stopped performing and followed his wife into the church". [4] Christian attended Wendell Phillips High in Chicago. [5]

Later life and career

Christian was one of the founders of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians ( AACM) with pianist Muhal Richard Abrams, drummer Steve McCall, and composer Phil Cohran. He and Abrams were also part of the Experimental Band. [1] Christian worked at the Jazz Showcase club in Chicago and performed with Eddie Harris, Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, Gene Ammons, Roscoe Mitchell, Buddy Montgomery, and John Klemmer. Christian led a group on albums. [1] [6] He died on February 13, 2012, aged 80, in Chicago. [1]

Discography

[7]

As leader or co-leader

As sideman

With Gene Ammons

With Von Freeman

  • Never Let Me Go ( Steeplechase, 1992)
  • Lester Leaps In (Steeplechase, 1993)
  • Dedicated to You (Steeplechase, 1994)

With Brad Goode

  • Shock of the New (Delmark, 1988)
  • Toy Trumpet (SteepleChase, 2000)

With Lin Halliday

With Eddie Harris

With John Klemmer

  • Involvement: The John Klemmer Quartets (Cadet, 1967)
  • And We Were Lovers (Cadet, 1968)

With Roscoe Mitchell

With Ira Sullivan

With others

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Thedeadrockstarsclub.com - accessed February 14, 2012
  2. ^ Lewis 2008, p. 4.
  3. ^ a b Lewis 2008, p. 10.
  4. ^ Lewis 2008, pp. 10–11.
  5. ^ Lewis 2008, p. 11.
  6. ^ "Who's Who Chicago". Archived from the original on 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2008-05-31.
  7. ^ "Jodie Christian discography". JazzLists. Retrieved January 16, 2023.

Bibliography

  • Lewis, George E. (2008). A Power Stronger Than Itself: The AACM and American Experimental Music. University of Chicago Press.

External links

Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Jodie_Christian&oldid=1218365594"