Air - 80° Below '82 (Antilles, 1982)

This post is by Scott

Henry Threadgill (as); Fred Hopkins (b); Steve McCall (d)

Recorded on January 23 & 24, 1982

I have no idea what the cryptic title of this album means.  But I do know that the music is terrific.

Discussions about the "most important" jazz musicians of the 1980s usually include composer, saxophonist, and flautist Henry Threadgill—and it's not hard to understand why.  His critically-acclaimed recordings with Air and the Henry Threadgill Sextett display a distinctive voice and visionary composer's outlook.

80° Below '82 is one of the trio's most accessible releases, striking an appealing balance between old and new, composerly freedom and abstract lyricism.  It was also the last album released by the original trio of Threadgill, Hopkins, and McCall.  On their subsequent release, Live at Montreal International Jazz Festival, the band was referred to as New Air and Pheeroan akLaff had replaced Steve McCall.

You can expect to see more from Threadgill later in the survey.