Henry Threadgill’s Zooid

Henry Threadgill, who came out of the imaginative environs of the ‘60s Chicago scene, possesses a brilliant creative mind and is one of the premier composers, thinkers and reedmen of our time. His level of creativity remains undiminished over nearly five decades as a leader of various ensembles. His compositions demonstrate his experience in blues, gospel, Latin, jazz, classical music, reggae, polka, and marching bands, integrating his global influences so smoothly into a singular, deeply personal style that can’t really be called eclectic. Threadgill has performed and recorded with several ensembles, including Air, Aggregation Orb, Make Move, Henry Threadgill Sextett, Society Situation Dance Band, Very Very Circus, X-75, and Zooid. Since the early 2000s, Zooid, with Jose Davila (tuba), Liberty Ellman (acoustic guitar), Christopher Hoffman (cello), and Elliot Kavee (drums), has been his primary vehicle for compositions and performances.