Clifford Thornton

For the drug policy reform advocate and Green Party politician, see Cliff Thornton.

Clifford Thornton
Genres	Avant-garde jazz Free jazz
Occupations	Musician Bandleader Composer
Instruments	Trumpet Trombone

Clifford Thornton (September 6, 1939 - November 25, 1989) was an American free jazz trumpeter and trombonist. Born in Philadelphia in 1939, he studied with trumpeter Donald Byrd in the mid-1950s and worked with various players such as tuba player Ray Draper. After a stint in the army, Thornton moved to New York City. He played with numerous avant-garde jazz bands, appearing as a sideman on records by notable artists such as Sun Ra and Sam Rivers. His first album, 1967's Freedom & Unity, was recorded the day after John Coltrane's funeral, and marked the first recorded appearance of Joe McPhee.^[1] Possessing radical political leanings, Thornton was denied entry into France in 1970.^[1] Thornton spent the last 15 years of his life in Europe, and died in Geneva, Switzerland in 1989.

Discography

As leader

• 1967: Freedom & Unity (Unheard Music Series) with Karl Berger, Jimmy Garrison, John McCortney, Joe McPhee, Don Moore
• 1969: Ketchaoua (BYG Actuel) with Dave Burrell, Claude Delcloo, Earl Freeman, Beb Guérin, Arthur Jones, Grachan Moncur III, Sunny Murray, Archie Shepp
• 1970: The Panther and the Lash with François Tusques, Beb Guérin, Noel McGhie
• 1972: Communications Network (Third World Records) with Jerome Cooper, Jayne Cortez, Nathan Davis, Jerry Gonzalez, Jay Hoggard, L. Shankar, Sirone
• 1974: The Gardens of Harlem (JCOA) with Roland Alexander, Carla Bley, Pat Patrick, Marvin Peterson, Dewey Redman, Wadada Leo Smith, Bob Stewart, Carlos Ward

As sideman

With Dave Burrell

• Echo (1969)

With Archie Shepp

• Coral Rock
• Black Gipsy
• Attica Blues
• Archie Shepp and the Full Moon Ensemble
• Live at the Pan-African Festival
• Yasmina, a Black Woman
• Pitchin Can

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Atavistic Worldwide: Freedom & Unity Notes

External links

• Clifford Thornton at Allmusic

Persondata
Name	Thornton, Clifford
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1936
Place of birth
Date of death	1983
Place of death