Charlie Austin

Few jazz musicians approach the instrumental range of Charles Austin aside from the Art Ensemble of Chicago and multi-instrumentalists such as Anthony Braxton. His recording history spans duets, small groups, and large ensembles, with sessions that sometimes feature as many as six instruments and rarely fewer than three. The lineup often incorporates English horn and oboe, instruments uncommon in jazz, alongside the more typical alto, soprano, and tenor saxophones plus flute. Austin performs capably and at times with intensity as a soloist, yet his work as composer and player lacks the breadth shown by Henry Threadgill, Joseph Jarman, or Roscoe Mitchell. Even so, his albums depart from standard formats and address listeners whose interests reach beyond the mainstream.