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On July 28th Harlem native
and woodwind giant Bill Saxton shared with the Harlem Speaks
audience stories of his life in music since the sixties, when,
as a teenager, he began playing the saxophone after the Harlem
riots. While in his 20s, he studied woodwinds, arranging and
composition with the legendary Gunther Schuller (among others)
at the New England Conservatory. He graduated with a Bachelor
of Arts degree from the prestigious institution in 1973. For
over a decade, Saxton’s quartet played regularly at St.
Nick's Pub—he recalled many a tenor battle there with
rising greats such as James Carter. Although he has been featured
around the world, touring Europe and Africa and across the
United States since the 1980s, he told all present that he
considers Harlem his true home. In addition to recounting
his superb work as a leader and sideman, with insightful tales
about his tenures with Roy Haynes, Clark Terry and Frank Foster,
he spoke of his new performance space, housed in a Harlem
brownstone. He envisions the space as a place for live performances,
education sessions for youth, visual art exhibits, among other
creative uses.
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