Fred Anderson: 1929-2010

By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 25, 2010 10:00PM

Saxophonist and Velvet Lounge owner Fred Anderson, one of the giants of Chicago's jazz and improvised music scenes, passed away from complications following a cardiac arrest he suffered June 14. Mr. Anderson was 81.

In his passing, Mr. Anderson leaves behind a rich legacy as one of the best jazz musicians to call Chicago home and as a mentor to two generations of internationally renowned musicians such as saxophonist Edward Wilkerson, Jr., flutist Nicole Mitchell, trumpeter Corey Wilkes and his frequent collaborators, drummer Hamid Drake and bassist Tatsu Aoki. Mr. Anderson honed his playing on the records of Charlie Parker and Lester Young, developing a powerful, staccato riffing style that built in waves of emotion and intensity. That style bridged the gap between the post-bop stylings of Parker and the free form, post-Sun Ra big band jazz experiments of 1960's Chicago. Along with Muhal Richard Abrams. Kehan Phil Cohran and Jodie Christian, Mr. Anderson founded the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), which to this day works to develop the next generation of premier jazz artists.

Mr. Anderson was also the owner, house band, doorman and chief bottle washer for the Velvet Lounge, one of the city's best and most popular jazz clubs. His passing leaves the long-term future of the Velvet in doubt. I became acquainted with Mr. Anderson's music from my vantage point behind the bar at the former HotHouse on Balbo and in the crowd at the Velvet Lounge during his annual Jazz Fest after-sets with fellow Louisianian Kidd Jordan. When he was on (which was often), Mr. Anderson's playing could move one to tears and put a chill down the spine. I've included a video of Mr. Anderson in a quartet with Jordan, Drake and bassist William Parker from 2002 as an example of his music.