The Pace Report: "The Universal Mind and Sounds of Mr. Odean Pope" The Odean Pope Interview

Tenor Saxophonist, Composer, and Bandleader Odean Pope has been a major music jazz figure for well over 50 years. The Philadelphia native came out of that wonderful musical group of jazz lions he grew up playing with during the 1950's that included McCoy Tyner, Benny Golson,Lee Morgan, Archie Shepp, Spanky DeBrest, Lex Humphries, Jimmy Garrison, Jymie Merritt, and Kenny Rogers. While growing up in Philly, Pope was mentored by the legendary John Coltrane while he was also in transition to becoming one of the most innovative and important music figures in jazz music. It was Coltrane's recommendation to organist Jimmy Smith that he replace him so he could join the new Miles Davis Quartet.

Although Odean played with many jazz greats, he's a well disciplined and trained musician. He studied at The Graniff School of Music and graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School in Philly, which was one of the top music schools in the city next to Mastbaum Vocational High School. Always craving to develop his own sound, he studied with Ron Rubin of the Philadelphia Philharmonic Orchestra. Eventually he left for Paris where he studied at The Paris Conservatory for Music with the legendary Kenny Clarke.

Through his career, the saxophonist was the musical director for drummer Max Roach from 1979 until 2002.

His latest Porter Records release "Universal Sounds" is an exploration of musical freedom via jazz and life experiences. The disc features Pope's usual musical suspects including the great Marshall Allen on alto saxophone/electronic wind instrument, Lee Smith on Bass, and Warren Smith, Craig McIver, and Jim Hamilton on drums.

Recently, Odean just came out and disclosed that he's been battling a biopolar disorder for 30 years. Triggered by his brother's death and the pressures of being on the road, the stress took years to build up internally, yet Odean continued to play and compose great works with his trio and the Saxophone Choir. Last month many of Odean's friends and fans attended a fundraiser for the struggling musician as he wanted the Philadelphia and music world know that this is an illness that can be treated and diagnosed early. Those who attended were: Dr. Bill Cosby, Gerald Veasley, Kenny Barron, and poet Sonia Sanchez.

Those who'd like to make a donation to Odean, make all checks to:

Odean Pope Fund
Jazz Bridge
3008 Limeklin Pike
Philadelphia, Pennslyvania 19038

Or, you can donate online at jazzbridge.org.

To order Odean's latest disc "Universal Sounds," please visit porterrecords.com. For upcoming Saxophone Choir and Odean Pope Quartet dates, visit Odean online at odeanpope.com.

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Music

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• Odean Pope
• The Odean Pope Saxophone Choir
• Universal Sounds
• Porter Records
• Brian Pace
• The Pace Report