Karen Borca
Encyclopedia
Karen Borca is an American free jazz
bassoon
ist.
Borca studied music at the University of Wisconsin, graduating in 1971. While there she met Cecil Taylor
, who taught there during the 1970/71 academic year; she acted as his teaching assistant and played with him in the Cecil Taylor Unit. She became the teaching assistant of saxophonist Jimmy Lyons
in 1974, and later married the longtime Taylor sideman; she played in Lyons's band until he died in 1986.
Following this, she continued performing in the Lower East Side
of New York City
, with musicians such as William Parker
, Marco Eneidi, Joel Futterman
, Sonny Simmons
, Alan Silva
, and Jackson Krall. She led her own band, which has played at Vision Festival
s.
With Cecil Taylor
Free jazz
Free jazz is an approach to jazz music that was first developed in the 1950s and 1960s. Though the music produced by free jazz pioneers varied widely, the common feature was a dissatisfaction with the limitations of bebop, hard bop, and modal jazz, which had developed in the 1940s and 1950s...
bassoon
Bassoon
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor registers, and occasionally higher. Appearing in its modern form in the 19th century, the bassoon figures prominently in orchestral, concert band and chamber music literature...
ist.
Borca studied music at the University of Wisconsin, graduating in 1971. While there she met Cecil Taylor
Cecil Taylor
Cecil Percival Taylor is an American pianist and poet. Classically trained, Taylor is generally acknowledged as one of the pioneers of free jazz. His music is characterized by an extremely energetic, physical approach, producing complex improvised sounds, frequently involving tone clusters and...
, who taught there during the 1970/71 academic year; she acted as his teaching assistant and played with him in the Cecil Taylor Unit. She became the teaching assistant of saxophonist Jimmy Lyons
Jimmy Lyons
Jimmy Lyons was an alto saxophone player. He is best known for his long tenure in the Cecil Taylor Unit.-Biography:...
in 1974, and later married the longtime Taylor sideman; she played in Lyons's band until he died in 1986.
Following this, she continued performing in the Lower East Side
Lower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, with musicians such as William Parker
William Parker (musician)
William Parker is an American free jazz double bassist, poet and composer.-Biography:Parker was not formally trained as a classical player, though he did study with Jimmy Garrison, Richard Davis, and Wilbur Ware and learned the tradition. Parker is one of few jazz bassists who regularly plays arco...
, Marco Eneidi, Joel Futterman
Joel Futterman
Joel Futterman is an American jazz pianist and curved soprano saxophonist. He has appeared on more than 65 recordings as of 2009....
, Sonny Simmons
Sonny Simmons
Huey "Sonny" Simmons is an American jazz musician.He grew up in Oakland, California, where he began playing the english horn. At age 16 he took up the alto saxophone, which became his primary instrument...
, Alan Silva
Alan Silva
Alan Silva is an American free jazz double bassist and keyboard player.-Biography:...
, and Jackson Krall. She led her own band, which has played at Vision Festival
Vision Festival
The Vision Festival is the world's premier festival of experimental music , art, film and dance. Inspired by the 1984 and '88 Sound Unity Festivals. It was a direct out growth of the Improvisors Collective 1994 and '95. In 1996, Dancer-choreographer Patricia Nicholson Parker, initiated the First...
s.
Discography
With Jimmy LyonsJimmy Lyons
Jimmy Lyons was an alto saxophone player. He is best known for his long tenure in the Cecil Taylor Unit.-Biography:...
- Wee SneezaweeWee SneezaweeWee Sneezawee is an album by American jazz saxophonist Jimmy Lyons recorded in 1983 for the Italian Black Saint label.-Reception:The Allmusic review awarded the album 4 stars.-Track listing:# "Wee Sneezawee" - 7:26# "Gossip" - 7:29...
(Black Saint, 1983) - Give It UpGive It Up (Jimmy Lyons album)Give It Up is an album by American jazz saxophonist Jimmy Lyons recorded in 1985 for the Italian Black Saint label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4 stars stating "the ensemble work is frequently exciting; and the front line boasts three distinctive and rather...
(Black Saint, 1985)
With Cecil Taylor
Cecil Taylor
Cecil Percival Taylor is an American pianist and poet. Classically trained, Taylor is generally acknowledged as one of the pioneers of free jazz. His music is characterized by an extremely energetic, physical approach, producing complex improvised sounds, frequently involving tone clusters and...
- Winged Serpent (Sliding Quadrants)Winged Serpent (Sliding Quadrants)Winged Serpent is an album by Cecil Taylor recorded in Milan, Italy on October 22–24, 1984 and released on the Soul Note label...
(Soul Note, 1985)