James Spaulding

A versatile and adventurous saxophonist and flutist, James Spaulding was a key contributor to the forward-thinking Blue Note sessions of the 1960s. He was a favorite sideman for artists pushing the boundaries of hard bop, including Wayne Shorter ('The All Seeing Eye'), Freddie Hubbard ('Breaking Point!'), and Bobby Hutcherson ('Components'). His searing, blues-inflected alto and lyrical flute work made him an essential voice in the adventurous post-bop and avant-garde movements.