Oliver Lake


Oliver Lake is an American jazz saxophonist, flutist, composer, poet, and visual artist. He is known mainly for alto saxophone but he also performs on soprano and flute. During the 1960s Lake worked with the Black Artists Group in St. Louis. In 1977 he founded the World Saxophone Quartet with David Murray, Julius Hemphill, and Hamiet Bluiett. He has worked in the group Trio 3 with Reggie Workman and Andrew Cyrille. He has appeared on more than 80 albums as a bandleader, co-leader, and side musician. He is the father of drummer Gene Lake. Lake has been a resident of Montclair, New Jersey.

Awards and honors

As leader

With Anthony Braxton
With Alex Cline
With Billy Hart
With Michael Gregory Jackson
With Mulgrew Miller
With Wadada Leo Smith
With Malachi Thompson
  • Freebop Now!
  • Talking Horns with Hamiet Bluiett
With James Blood Ulmer'