Clifford Thornton

Biography

Probably one of the most underrated and criminally overlooked free of charge jazz trumpet/trombone players remains to be to become Clifford Thornton. Delivered in Philadelphia sometime in 1936, Thornton examined with hard bop trumpeter Donald Byrd through the middle-’50s and used numerous various other jazz musicians, like the great tuba participant Ray Draper. After signing up for the military, Thornton resolved down in NEW YORK — showing up on albums by various other artists (Sunlight Ra’s Art Types of Proportions Tomorrow, Sunny Murray’s Homage to Africa, etc.). But Thornton wasn’t completely satisfied with getting just a employed weapon, as he became a composer, instructor, and bandleader by himself, issuing many out-of-print solo albums during this time period, in addition to creating his very own record label, UNDER-DEVELOPED Information. It’s his past due-’60s/early-’70s recordings which are widely thought to be his finest — including 1967’s Independence & Unity (documented your day after John Coltrane’s funeral) and 1972’s Marketing communications. Thornton wasn’t scared to tone of voice his political sights either, which got him prohibited from France if they suspected he was a Dark Panther. Thornton ultimately relocated to European countries, where he passed away in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1989. In 2001, Independence & Unity was reissued in the Atavistic label.

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