Biography of Charlie Haden

A great bassist during the '60s whose star shines just as brightly in the '90s, Charlie Haden has been a marvelous player and committed, articulate champion of social causes and oppressed minorities, musical and otherwise. His technique combines "folk" elements like pedal tones and insistent double-stop chording similiar to country and blues guitarists with stunning strummed, plucked and bowed solos. Haden keeps his playing consistently simple, yet creatively stimulating. He can carry, lead or support a tune with equal flair, and has long been involved in Latin and South American causes. He's also worked with The Jazz Composers Orchestra and other nonprofit musician co-operatives, and helped expose and publicize great composers and players through his sessions and long-running Liberation Music Orchestra. Haden got his start playing in a family band in the Midwest, then earned his jazz reputation in Los Angeles working with Art Pepper, Paul Bley and Hampton Hawes in the late '50s. He moved to New York in 1959 to play with Ornette Coleman. Haden later became a member of Denny Zeitlin's trio, and worked with several free players, among them Archie Shepp. He recorded with Coleman in the '60s, and was part of Keith Jarrett's band with Dewey Redman and Paul Motian that recorded several albums for Impulse. Haden began his Liberation Music Orchestra in 1969, playing and performing revolutionary and freedom songs while integrating jazz elements into their performances. Haden worked with Carla Bley and the Jazz Composers Orchestra in the late '60s, then collaborated and played with Gato Barbieri on the soundtrack for "Last Tango in Paris" in 1972. He played and recorded with Cherry, Bley and others during the '70s. Haden, Cherry, Dewey Redman and Edward Blackwell, all former Coleman bandmates, formed Old And New Dreams in the late '70s. He also made some superb albums for Artists House, cutting duets with Hampton Hawes and Coleman among others. Haden recorded another duet project with guitarist Christian Escoude on the All Life label and did other sessions for ECM. He continued performing and recording in the '80s with a new version of The Liberation Music Orchestra. He made trio sessions with Geri Allen and Paul Motian, and Egberto Gismonti and Jan Garbarek. Haden formed a new quartet in 1986 with Billy Higgins, Ernie Watts and Alan Broadbent. This group has recorded several highly praised albums as Quartet West, though Lawrence Marable eventually replaced Higgins. Haden did additional duets in the '90s with Carlos Paraedes, and another trio session, this time with Higgins and Enrico Pieranunzi. He has several titles currently available on CD. ~ Ron Wynn and Myles Boisen