Home » Search Center » Results: Willie Akins
Results for "Willie Akins"
Results for pages tagged "Willie Akins"...
Willie Akins
Born:
Willie Akins began playing music on a simple recorder-type instrument. Before long he was playing the saxophone. Attracted by the music opportunities and challenges of New York City, Willie Akins moved to that city in 1957. He was there for eleven years and returned to St. Louis, shortly after his father’s death. Since then, Akins has worked to raise the standard of jazz musicianship in St. Louis. He and his Willie Akins Quartet perform regularly at Spruill’s nightclub in St. Louis. In 1998 Akins and the quartet released their first music compact disc entitled, “Alima” (Catalyst Productions)
Willie Akins 1939 - 2015
Friends and musical colleagues of Willie Akins reported Friday night on social media that the veteran saxophonist has died. He was 76, and had battled heart disease for more than a decade. A native of Webster Groves, Akins gained early experience with local bands including Eddie Randle's Blue Devils and a group led by his music ...
11th Annual Brubeck Festival to Explore Communities
Dave Brubeck created community both on and off-stage from the moment he began performing. Trios, quartets, octets and even orchestras and choirs became vehicles for Dave's music. Off-stage he and Iola worked to bring groups out of the clubs, onto college campuses and into concert halls. As momentum grew so did the community until Brubeck sounds ...
Willie Akins: Alima
by Dave Nathan
A well kept secret for over 40 years, Willie Akins cut his jazz teeth in New York playing with such jazz giants as Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane at Mintons and Small's Paradise. Working out of St. Louis for the last several years, the Catalyst label has given Mr. Akins his first crack at an album ...
Willie Akins Quartet: Alima
by Mike Neely
Saxophonist Willie Akins and his quartet play straight ahead jazz with plenty of heart. Their Alima is a satisfying performance by a group of musicians who display a chemistry that could only arise out of the mutual respect of attentive listening. Akins plays a warm tenor, at times reminiscent of Hank Mobley and early John Coltrane. ...