"You blow in this end of the trombone and sound comes out the other end and disrupts the cosmos." - Roswell Rudd

Roswell’s career as a performer and recording artist is well documented. No fewer than 34 recordings are listed on discogs.com and include collaborations with such artists as Steve Lacy, Don Cherry, Sonny Murray, Albert Ayler, Archie Shepp, Toumani Diabate, Mark Dresser, and many musicians from all styles of language

New York Art Quartet

The New York Art Quartet was a free jazz ensemble made up of saxophonist John Tchicai, trombonist Roswell Rudd, drummer Milford Graves and bassists Lewis Worrell, Reggie Workman and other bassists. Although this group lasted only 2 years from 1964-1966 it brought great recognition to these adventurous musicians and set a template for many future exploring artists.

On their first recording “New York Art Quartet”, poet Leroi Jones (now Amiri Baraka) added to the quartet his revolutionary/militant spoken word diatribe "Black Dada Nihilismus."

The trailer for the film "The Breath Courses Through Us" documentary about the NYAQ may be seen here on Vimeo (including Amiri Baraka):

 

View Chronological Biography with multimedia Timeline

Roswell Rudd
Triple Point Records released an amazing boxed set of recordings and related materials from the original NYAQ: Read Review

Here is a link to an excellent article in Jazz Times regarding this reissue project produced by jazz historian Ben Young: Read Article

Never Left and Back Again

Exclusive Video

The Jazz History Database is preparing new and exclusive content featuring Roswell Rudd. Featured here is a never-before-released video of a rehearsal and recording session.

Audio Performances

Now Playing:

Play Bard College by Roswell Rudd with Thurman Barker
Play Solo from Barry Harris Live 2 by Roswell Rudd
Play Shepp and Rudd

 

Video Perfomances and Interviews