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Alex Coke

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alex Coke
Born (1953-11-13) November 13, 1953 (age 71)
Dallas, Texas, United States
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Saxophone, flute, woodwinds
Years active1976–present
Websitealexcoke.home.xs4all.nl

Alexander Seton Coke (born November 13, 1953, in Dallas, Texas) is a jazz saxophonist and flutist.

Early life

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Coke was born in Dallas on November 13, 1953.[1] He started playing the flute at the age of eight.[1] He graduated high school in Austin, Texas, and then studied flute at the University of Colorado Boulder.[1] He played in local groups while at university and received private lessons from Clifford Jordan and Lew Tabackin.[1] In 1977, after graduating, he settled in Austin.[2]

Later life and career

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Coke and his wife, Mary Yznaga, lived in Washington, D.C., in the early 1980s.[2] This was followed by two years in Europe, after which they returned to Austin.[2]

Coke toured with the Dutch jazz ensemble the Willem Breuker Kollektief between 1990 and 2000.[3] In the late 1990s, he lived in the Netherlands while maintaining some activities in Austin.[1] In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Coke reported on how he was continuing as a musician: "First Presbyterian Church where I have played for over a dozen years has continued to keep my paycheck coming in. I'm teaching online".[4]

Discography

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As leader

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  • New Visions (Re Records, 1982)
  • Jumping Shark with Willem Breuker (BV Haast, 1991)
  • New Texas Swing (CreOp Muse, 2002)
  • Wake Up Dead Man/Iraqnophobia (VoxLox, 2005)
  • It's Possible (VoxLox, 2008)
  • 13 with Rich Harney (Aardvark Records 2013)
  • Alex Coke, Liminal 1 (Rock Tumbler Records, 2019)

As sideman

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With Willem Breuker

  • Parade (BV Haast, 1991)
  • Deze Kant Op, Dames! = This Way Ladies (BV Haast, 1993)
  • Overtime/Uberstunden (NM Classics, 1994)
  • Sensemaya (BV Haast, 1995)
  • Dans Plezier/Joy of Dance (BV Haast, 1995)
  • The Parrot (BV Haast, 1996)
  • Music for His Films 1967/1994 with Johan van der Keuken (BV Haast, 1997)
  • Pakkepapen (BV Haast, 1998)
  • Psalm 122 (BV Haast, 1998)
  • Kurt Weill (BV Haast, 1998)
  • Thirst! with Denise Jannah (BV Haast, 2000)
  • Hunger! (BV Haast, 2000)
  • Trilogy: Hunger/Thirst/Misery (BV Haast, 2003)
  • At Ruta Maya Cafe (BV Haast, 2006)
  • Fidget (BV Haast, 2007)

With others

Source:[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Kennedy, Gary W. (2003). "Coke, Alex(ander Seton)". Grove Music Online (8th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Trachtenberg, Jay (July 22, 2005). "Iraqnophobia: Alex Coke Saxes Political". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  3. ^ Margasak, Peter (November 2010). "Reedist Willem Breuker: An Iconoclastic Cultural Champion". Down Beat. Vol. 77, no. 11. p. 17.
  4. ^ Hernandez, Raoul (July 8, 2020). "Checking In: Alex Coke Plays Saxophone in His Driveway". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  5. ^ "Discography". Xs4all.nl. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
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