List Of Artists

List of Artists

The musicians here are some of those that I have become familiar with over the course of the past 25 years of listening with intent and started to photograph along the way. The list is definitive in no way. There are many others I hope to add in time, making this at least a partial reference for spiritually oriented music that is needlessly hard to find in general.
- K W Billerts

small photo images link to larger images

Other Links as well, more to come

Muhal Richard Abrams
Piano, clarinet, saxophone, composer, arranger, founder of AACM (Association for the
Advancement of Creative Music).

Ahmed Abdullah
Trumpet player, composer, leader of Diaspora, former leader of Solomonic Sextet, performer with Sun Ra Arkestra. Try an audio sample of 'Ebony Queen'.

Gary Bartz
Alto, soprano Saxophonist, composer, has played w/ McCoy Tyner, Pharoah Sanders in past, a truly lyrical musician.
John Blake Philadelphia based violinist.

Hamiet Bluiett
NYC based baritone saxophonist, flute, clarinet, composer, member of the World Saxophone Quartet.

Owen Brown
Philadelphia based violinist, former member of the Sun Ra Arkestra.

Dave Burrell
One of Philly's resident piano wizards, has played with everyone.

Ted Curson
Trumpet, part time European resident, formerly with Mingus, Cecil Taylor.
Hamiet Bluiett
NYC based baritone saxophonist, flute, clarinet, composer, member of the World Saxophone Quartet.
Owen Brown
Philadelphia based violinist, former member of the Sun Ra Arkestra.

Dave Burrell
One of Philly's resident piano wizards, has played with everyone.
Ted Curson
Trumpet, part time European resident, formerly with Mingus, Cecil Taylor.
Rufus Harley
Philadelphia's own jazz bagpipe player, saxophone, scholar of freedom.

Julius Hemphill
Recently deceased ('95), alto saxophonist, reeds, composer, member of World Saxophone Quartet.
Khan Jamal
Philadelphia vibraphonist, marimbas, composer. Presently Director of Philadelphia Jazz Composer's Forum based at the Painted Bride in Philly.
Byard Lancaster
Philadelphia, sometime Chicago based alto saxophonist, reeds. Used to be able to catch him playing on Chestnut near 17th or Broad in Philly, why not practice in public? Sounds of Newest Africa Dance Band are among his projects. Try an audio sample of 'Keno'
David Murray
NYC based tenor saxophonist, reeds, composer. Recorded extensively, a proverbial tenor 'monster'.
Sunny Murray
Part time Philly resident, world traveler, drums, one of the originators of 'free time' drumming, worked with Albert Ayler, Cecil Taylor.
Odean Pope
Philadelphia based tenor sax, reeds, leader of Saxophone Choir, Odean Pope Trio, plays with Max Roach, the 'mastro' of multiphonics.
Pharoah Sanders
Oakland based tenor saxophonist, reeds, composer, Coltrane compatriot, headed some of the finest bands of all time.
Archie Shepp
Originally from Philly, now Amherst Mass based, tenor saxophonist, reeds, composer, playwright, once termed the 'High Priest of Voodoo Jazz', amazing repertoire.
Sun Ra Arkestra
Though Sun Ra has departed and his successor John Gilmore as well, the band lives on under the direction of Marshall Allen and should not be missed.
Jamaladeen Tacuma
Bass player from Philly,much in demand in NYC, formerly with Ornette Coleman, heads Basso Nouveau bass quartet, they put on the best show I've heard in the past 6 months.
Leon Thomas
Former vocalist with Pharoah Sanders, beautiful voice with trademark 'yodeling' his instrumentalism, 'The Creator Has a Master Plan', 'China Doll', many other classics.
Joe Lee Wilson
Singer with enormous power and expressive range, European resident, look for him when in Paris if you're ever there, rumored to be in Brighton, England now.

more to come:

Edgar Bateman
Philadelphia master drummer