Jazz Articles about George Cartwright

Mahakala Music: Murmuration

by Fran Kursztejn
March 28, 2025

"Birds from the east coast meet birds from the midwest," reads Mahakala Music's description for saxophonist Dave Sewelson's newest release. Sewelson himself is a bicoastal phenomenon: born in Oakland, then traipsing into the New York scene circa 1977. Like his frequent bandleader collaborator William Parker, he acts as a magnetic center to attract a variety of local and international performers alike. Murmuration's line-up consists of another fellow New Yorker-violinist Gabby Fluke-Mogul, and three Minneapolitans, bassist Anthony Cox, drummer Steve Hirsh ...

George Cartwright: Stick Insect

by George Cartwright
January 22, 2023

Recently, Davey Williams spoke up to me and he said: “George that's dang good band ys got there in the frozen zen like neither atmospheres three up way up there and:" It was pretty good there down in Lower Alabama. The frog of time has hopped about on my memory of the show or even when the two of us got together. Two bedroom apt, Dave was working a country band playing drums and playing the ...

George Cartwright: Barrier Islands Bird

by Gordon Marshall
September 13, 2010

George Cartwright can't be forgotten. The triple sax threat is part of the archaeology of modern New York. The downtown scene, just like New Orleans or 52 Street, has its mythology, and, as much as John Zorn, Cartwright figures in that, having come to the city fresh out of The Creative Music Studio in Woodstock, New York in the late 1970s, bringing with him his trio featuring the equally crucial percussionist David Moss and reed player Michael Lytle.

George Cartwright: Send Help

by Glenn Astarita
July 10, 2009

Saxophonist George Cartwright's prominence in the development of New York City's downtown scene, and lengthy affiliation with the cutting-edge progressive, jazz-rock unit Curlew, spawn an imprint of musical authenticity. Cartwright surges forward with this 2008, quartet-based effort recorded at The Cedar Cultural Center and The Walker Art Center's festival in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where the Mississippi-born artist takes up residence these days.

Raw, wild and often captivating, the quartet also injects a prominent fun-factor into the program. At times, ...

George Cartwright: Black Ants Crawling

by Frank Rubolino
July 25, 2003

Deep, husky, sonic vapors rise from the tenor of George Cartwright as he connects with bassist Adam Linz and drummer Alden Ikeda for an extended romp into the unbridled world of free improvisation. Cartwright suggests the strange presence of warmth through his full and robust tonality; he lassoes a surging bull and purposefully proceeds to lay down an ultra-plush carpet of sound having a meaty core; yet, his fiery expulsions project the semblance of melodiousness devoid of cacophony often heard ...

George Cartwright: The Memphis Years

by Glenn Astarita
February 1, 2000

Saxophonist/composer George Cartwright’s musical heritage or persona may represent somewhat of an anomaly. Born and reared in blues-orientated Mississippi, Cartwright went on to study with the likes of notable modern jazz icons such as, Anthony Braxton, Oliver Lake, Wadada Leo Smith and others while subsequently reeking havoc on the New York Downtown scene by forming the jazz/prog-rock/improvising band, “Curlew”. During the late 70’s, early 80’s Cartwright entrenched himself among New York City’s “downtown movement” rank and file while demonstrating his ...