Swing, funk, blues, energy, improvisation, rhythm, excitement, harmony, humour, humilty, compassion and love of humankind: Arthur Blythe brings it all to the table. When he plays the music, his unique interpretations and the profoundly distinctive voicings thereof, delinerate and expound upon the past/present/future orientation quintessential to that which we call JAZZ.
Arthur Blythe was born 1940 in Los Angeles and grew up in San Diego where his parents moved 1944. He still performs the same altosaxophone that he and his mother bought 1957 in a second-hand store. He started playing in school bands and later studied with Kirtland Bradford, a former lead alto saxophonist with the Jimmy Lunceford Orchestra. After returning to Los Angeles, in 1960, he began to work with Horace Tapscott, with whom he appeared regularly until 1974. From there Arthur moved to New York, where he played with Chico Hamilton (1974-77) and Gil Evans (1976-80) and performed in lofts with own groups. From 1978 to 1980 he frequently appeared with Lester Bowie and in Jack DeJohnette's Special Edition.
Blythe rose prominence as the leader of two very different groups. The earlier of these based its repertory on the tradition of swing and bop and included Fred Hopkins, Steve McCall, and either Stanley Cowell or John Hicks. The other, which played in more modern styles was a quintet with Abdul Wadud, Bob Stewart, Bobby Battle and at various times the guitarists James "Blood" Ulmer and Kevin Bell. After a brief experiment with pop music, Arthur Blythe returned to jazz in 1984 as member of the world-famous group "The Leaders".
Blythe's work is notable for its exploration of harmony, group counterpoint, and unusual instrumentation. These features, coupled with his rapid, wide vibrato, his swinging style, and his interest in the standard jazz repertory, have won him praise from a wide audience.