School of Rock
Random article All articles A–Z
2 languages

Jimmy Lyons

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Jimmy Lyons was an American alto saxophonist, born in Jersey City in 1931 and raised in Harlem and the Bronx. He got his first saxophone in the mid-1940s and took lessons with Buster Bailey. After school he was drafted into the army and served 21 months as an infantryman in Korea. He then played for a year in army bands, studied at New York University and, in the late 1950s, worked for the United States Postal Service to pay for his music.

Music and breakthrough

In 1960 he succeeded Archie Shepp as saxophonist in the Cecil Taylor Unit. From the sessions at the Café Montmartre in 1962 onwards, his sound was a defining part of the group. From the mid-1960s he was the only permanent member, until his death. Taylor never worked as often with any other musician. Lyons played in a style that grew out of Charlie Parker and kept Taylor's avant-garde music connected to the jazz tradition, with a strong melodic sense.

Influence

In the 1970s he also led his own group with bassoonist Karen Borca and drummer Paul Murphy. It often performed on the loft jazz scene around Studio Rivbea. In 1976 he took part in A Rat's Mass, a theatre production directed by Taylor. Lyons died of lung cancer in 1986. He made few records under his own name. Ayler Records later released a five-CD box set of recordings from 1972 to 1985.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to a recording by the Cecil Taylor Unit and notice Lyons's alto saxophone: between Taylor's wild piano sounds, his melody rings out remarkably clear and bluesy.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

Categories: Artists