Kenny Wheeler

Kenny Wheeler曾经是英国自发艺术团体的骨乾成员，早年演奏的是猛烈恣肆的自由爵士作品，当1975年他作为乐队挂头牌者在ECM录制专辑时，大家可以听到他的声音已经柔和平静了不少。   柔号（Flugehorn），是爵士乐中一样独特的乐器，从字面翻译这一乐器也可被称作“翼号”，柔号的得名来自于它的音色，这一乐器通常被安排在大乐队里演奏柔和舒缓气氛的片段，声音相当好听，一般乐队中都由小号手来兼任柔号手，Wheeler本来也正好是小号手。   by Steve Huey Veteran trumpeter/flügelhornist Kenny Wheeler has long been one of the most advanced voices on his instrument. Blessed with a full, lovely tone and an astounding range, Wheeler sounds equally at home in fiery free jazz explorations or softer, more lyrical post-bop meditations. Wheeler was born in 1930 in St. Catherines (near Toronto), Ontario, and began playing trumpet at age 12. After studying at Torontos Royal Conservatory, he moved to London in 1952, where he gigged with swing and dance bands. He appeared with John Dankworths orchestra at the 1959 Newport Festival and remained with that group until 1965. In 1966, Wheeler discovered free jazz, and, fascinated, joined John Stevens Spontaneous Music Ensemble for the next four years. In addition, he played jazz-rock fusion with the Mike Gibbs Orchestra from 1969-1975, and joined Tony Oxleys sextet (along with free jazz giants like Derek Bailey and Evan Parker) from 1969-1972. Through the latter, Wheeler was invited to join German pianist Alexander von Schlippenbachs groundbreaking free jazz big band the Globe Unity Orchestra in 1970, an association Wheeler maintained for years to come. During the first half of the 70s, Wheeler played with Anthony Braxton, which became his primary focus. In 1975, he signed with the ECM label and recorded the well-received Gnu High, which established him as a solo artist of note; the following year, he left Braxton and joined the trio Azimuth. Wheeler turned out a series of excellent ECM albums, including 1977s Deer Wan and 1983s Double, Double You (that year, Wheeler also began a four-year run with the Dave Holland Quintet). Several more generally fine outings followed in the 90s, including the ECM dates Music for Large and Small Ensembles and The Widow in the Window (both recorded in 1990), plus other recordings for Justin Time and Soul Note later in the decade.