Eddie Gale

Jazz trumpeter Eddie Gale was known for his ability to encompass styles from hard bop to the avant garde, as well as for his associations with many members of jazz royalty. Born in Brooklyn in 1941, Gale was encouraged by the musicians in his neighborhood, including pianist Bud Powell. Gale benefitted early on from joining up with the Sun Ra Arkestra, a collaboration and friendship that spanned decades and gave Gale crucial experience and exposure. The next step in Gale’s career was initiated by his work with pianist Cecil Taylor, who featured Gale on his 1966 album Unit Structures. Coupled with Gale’s work on organist Larry Young’s Of Love and Peace the same year, Gale earned the attention of Blue Note Records co-founder Francis Wolff, who went on to fund Gale’s two key releases as a leader: Eddie Gale’s Ghetto Music in 1968, which showed off Gale’s influences from the Arkestra days and found new ways to make free jazz inviting, and Black Rhythm Happening in 1969, which built on the foundation of its predecessor. After his label folded, Gale took work as artist-in-residence at multiple American universities, and continued to collaborate with Sun Ra. He also was heard by a new generation when he began to collaborate regularly with the Oakland-based hip-hop crew the Coup, fronted by Boots Riley. Gale died in San Jose, California, on July 10, 2020.

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