The best player you've never heard of who made an album with Eric Dolphy, Makanda Ken McIntyre is still active on the music scene. He's recorded more than a few discs of classic straight-ahead bop & post-bop, and his later recordings add a pleasing blend of Caribbean and other musics. Makanda Ken McIntyre is the best player you've never heard of who is a master virtuoso, an original and provocative composer, and a soul of great depth.
A conservatory-trained musician, Makanda performs with flowing creativity and abundant versatility on soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones; piccolo, C, alto and bass flutes; B-flat, alto and bass clarinets; oboe, English horn and bassoon; piano, bass and drums. He projects a life force in his playing that is energetic and intense, yet melodic, beautiful and sensual. His extraordinary original rhythmic and lyrical style is reminiscent of his muse, Charlie Parker.
Although Makanda came of age in the avant-garde era (when he recorded not only with Dolphy, but also with luminaries including Cecil Taylor and Beaver Harris) his compositions reflect the whole history of African American music -- spirituals, blues, swing, calypso, bebop, and avant-garde.
Makanda's joyous images and bright melodies shine forth through intricate forms and
rhythm structures, creating a personality that is charismatic, upbeat and compelling.
Having recently retired after many years as a professor at the State University of New
York/College at Old Westbury, Makanda is now wooing his first love full-time --
performance. As a leader, he has 11 albums on the market. Most recently there's Scenes From a Speeding Train, (MapleShade Records). It includes four suites, one for each family of woodwind instruments. The album, produced by Hamiet Blueitt, also includes Alonzo Gardner on strings and Andrei Strobert on percussion.
Makanda Ken McIntyre is one of those performers whose career and ability spans such an astonishing spectrum that not to hear him is to miss a large part of the greatness of jazz.
Go to Makanda Ken McIntyre unsung recordings reviews.
