John Lurie

Biography

John Richard Lurie, 14 December 1952, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA. Active in New York’s No Wave scene in the late 70s, Lurie frequently played alto saxophone with punk jazz groups, including Pere Ubu and the Cramps. In 1978 he formed the Lounge Lizards, a band which proved to be extremely popular and durable. Interviewed after the group’s first performance, Lurie used the term ‘fake jazz’ to describe their music, a throwaway remark that stuck. Critics seeking to define the group’s style have repeated the term and others like it, usually finding no more clarity or depth. Lurie’s music is richly varied, its sounds ranging from coolly limpid to ferociously dramatic, sometimes within the scope of one piece. Much of the repertoire is drawn from Lurie’s own compositions, which demonstrate his eclectic taste. Raw African roots and elegant latter-day sophistication all have their place in Lurie’s musical concepts. He has displayed...

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