Oliver Lake
b. 1942, Marianna, AR
Saxophonist and composer Oliver Lake’s artistic vision remains daring, unique and uncompromising. From his role as founder of The Black Artist Group in 1968, he has immersed himself in the creation of art in all disciplines. As a longstanding and preeminent saxophonist in the progressive jazz scene, Oliver has thrived during his long and storied career. He continues to work with several brilliant and creative minds, such as his Organ Quartet and Big Band groups, the World Saxophone Quartet, OGJB, Tarbaby and notable collaborators such as Flux String Quartet, Myra Melford, Roscoe Mitchell, Vijay Iyer, Geri Allen, Meshell Ndegeocello and many others. Oliver has curated and participated in the City Of Asylum’s Jazz Poetry concerts for more than fifteen years. Lake has been a recipient of the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship, has received commissions from the Library of Congress, and in 2006, was honored to receive the Mellon Jazz Living Legacy Award at the Kennedy Center. His work was shown at the Montclair Art Museum in 2004 and 2008. Most notably, Oliver was selected to receive the prestigious 2014 Doris Duke Artist Award and the 2022 Vision's Festival Lifetime Achievement Award.
