A woodwind player, mainly alto saxophone, a musical descendant of Eric Dolphy and the Texas Tenors. Native of St. Louis and co-founder of the Black Artists Group, analogous to the AACM - his penchant for adding poetry, theatre, and diaspora musics (like his occasional reggaeish group Jump Up) to the mix started there. Co-founder of the World Saxophone Quartet (alongside BAG's Julius Hemphill), an outgrowth of a 1974 Anthony Braxton piece. Founder of indie label Passin' Thru.