Alex Coke
Alexander Seton Coke (born November 13, 1953, in Dallas, Texas) is a jazz saxophonist and flutist.
Alex Coke | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 13, 1953 Dallas, Texas, United States |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Saxophone, flute, woodwinds |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Website | alexcoke |
Early life
Coke was born in Dallas on November 13, 1953.[1] He started playing the flute at the age of eight.[1] He graduated high school in Austin, Texas, and then studied flute at the University of Colorado Boulder.[1] He played in local groups while at university and received private lessons from Clifford Jordan and Lew Tabackin.[1] In 1977, after graduating, he settled in Austin.[2]
Later life and career
Coke and his wife, Mary Yznaga, lived in Washington, D.C., in the early 1980s.[2] This was followed by two years in Europe, after which they returned to Austin.[2]
Coke toured with the Dutch jazz ensemble the Willem Breuker Kollektief between 1990 and 2000.[3] In the late 1990s, he lived in the Netherlands while maintaining some activities in Austin.[1] In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Coke reported on how he was continuing as a musician: "First Presbyterian Church where I have played for over a dozen years has continued to keep my paycheck coming in. I'm teaching online".[4]
Discography
As leader
- New Visions (Re Records, 1982)
- Jumping Shark with Willem Breuker (BV Haast, 1991)
- New Texas Swing (CreOp Muse, 2002)
- Wake Up Dead Man/Iraqnophobia (VoxLox, 2005)
- It's Possible (VoxLox, 2008)
- 13 with Rich Harney (Aardvark Records 2013)
- Alex Coke, Liminal 1 (Rock Tumbler Records, 2019)
As sideman
With Willem Breuker
- Parade (BV Haast, 1991)
- Deze Kant Op, Dames! = This Way Ladies (BV Haast, 1993)
- Overtime/Uberstunden (NM Classics, 1994)
- Sensemaya (BV Haast, 1995)
- Dans Plezier/Joy of Dance (BV Haast, 1995)
- The Parrot (BV Haast, 1996)
- Music for His Films 1967/1994 with Johan van der Keuken (BV Haast, 1997)
- Pakkepapen (BV Haast, 1998)
- Psalm 122 (BV Haast, 1998)
- Kurt Weill (BV Haast, 1998)
- Thirst! with Denise Jannah (BV Haast, 2000)
- Hunger! (BV Haast, 2000)
- Trilogy: Hunger/Thirst/Misery (BV Haast, 2003)
- At Ruta Maya Cafe (BV Haast, 2006)
- Fidget (BV Haast, 2007)
With others
- Dennis Gonzalez, Witness (Daagnim, 1983)
- Austin Klezmorim, East of Odessa (B.A. Music, 1994)
- Austin Klezmorim, Bubba's Waltz (B.A. Music, 2005)
- Eric Vloeimans, Willem Breuker, The Compositions of Eric Dolphy (BV Haast, 2006)
- Voxtrot, Voxtrot (Playlouderecordings, 2007)
- White Denim, D (Downtown 2011)
Source:[5]
References
- Kennedy, Gary W. (2003). "Coke, Alex(ander Seton)". Grove Music Online (8th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- Trachtenberg, Jay (July 22, 2005). "Iraqnophobia: Alex Coke Saxes Political". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- Margasak, Peter (November 2010). "Reedist Willem Breuker: An Iconoclastic Cultural Champion". Down Beat. Vol. 77, no. 11. p. 17.
- Hernandez, Raoul (July 8, 2020). "Checking In: Alex Coke Plays Saxophone in His Driveway". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- "Discography". Xs4all.nl. Retrieved May 31, 2021.