Kohlhase, Charlie

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Kohlhase, Charlie

Kohlhase, Charlie, American Saxophonist; b. Portsmouth, N.H., Nov. 28, 1956. He began playing alto Saxophone in 1975 and added baritone a year later. He joined the Either/Orch. in 1987 and has appeared on all their albums except for the first. He also became a member of John Leahman’s Mandala Octet in 1987 and has appeared on all their releases. In 1989 he formed a quintet with trombonist Curtis Hasselbring, saxophonist Matt Langley, bassist John Turner, and drummer Matt Wilson. In 1992 trumpeter John Carlson replaced Hasselbring. Besides three CDs of their own, the Charlie Kohlhase Quintet contributed a track to Wavelength/Infinity (Rastascan), an anthology of Sun Ra compositions. In 1993 saxophonist John Tchicai appeared as a special guest with the quintet; trombonist John Rapson joined the band for a short New England tour in 1997. Kohlhase has also appeared in a quartet with saxophonist Michael Marcus. He is uncommonly skillful at using elements of the jazz tradition in witty compositions and arrangements that maintain a keen sense of swing as they blend structure and freedom. As a soloist, he is especially good at developing motives and longer linear elements into coherent statements that offer accompanists lots of room for interaction.

Discography

Research and Development (1991); Good Deeds (1993); Dart Night (1996).

—Ed Hazell/Nancy Ann Lee