Steve Lacy (1934-2004)

Wishing to answer the question, "what music clip would be the most opposite of Trintje Oosterhuis singing Burt Bacharach & Carole Bayer Sager's awfully sappy but lovely That's What Friends Are For?", my uncontrollable muse responds with reflections of a favorite jazz musician, the great Steve Lacy.

Lacy was a true maverick and giant among giants of jazz, as well as my favorite soprano sax player - Bechet, Sam Rivers, Wayne (Shorter) n' Coltrane not withstanding.



Steve was also one of the finest, most contemplative interpreters of the music of Thelonious Monk and the less known but equally amazing Herbie Nichols; last time I heard him in person, he explored the amazing architecture of Monk's music with the great Mal Waldron on piano.

Here he is, circa mid-1980's, supported by one of his best bands, featuring:

• Steve Potts - alto sax


• Bobby Few - piano


• Irene Aebi (Mrs. Lacy) - violin and vocals


• Jean-Jacques Avenel - upright bass


• Oliver Johnson - drums

We speak Jazz here.