Charles Brackeen

Charles Brackeen (born March 13, 1940 in Oklahoma ) is a jazz saxophonist who primarily plays tenor saxophone, but also plays soprano saxophone. He was married to pianist Joanne Brackeen; they have since divorced, and they have four children.

Brackeen originally studied violin and piano before switching to saxophone. He played in a recording with members of the Ornette Coleman Quartet in 1968 and on Jazz Composer's Orchestra recordings by Don Cherry (1973), Leroy Jenkins (1975), and Paul Motian for ECM (1978 & 1979). He recorded again as a leader in 1987, when he recorded three albums for Silkheart Records. He also has a quartet which produced Worshippers Come Nigh, among other works, in 1995.

As Leader

 * Rhythm X (Strata-East, 1968) with Don Cherry, Charlie Haden, Ed Blackwell
 * Charles' Concept (1974)
 * Bannar (Silkheart Records, 1987) with Dennis Gonzalez, Malachi Favors
 * Attainment (Silkheart,1987)
 * Worshippers Come High (Silkheart, 1987) with Fred Hopkins, Andrew Cyrille and Olu Dara

As sideman

 * with Paul Motian
 * Prelude (1977)
 * Dance (ECM, 1977)
 * Le Voyage (ECM, 1979)


 * with Ahmed Abdullah
 * Liquid Magic (Silkheart, 1987)
 * Mystery of Two (1987)


 * with Dennis González
 * Nameshake (Silkheart, 1987)
 * Debenge, Debenge (Silkheart, 1987)
 * The Desert Wind (Silkheart, 1989)


 * with Ronald Shannon Jackson's Decoding Society
 * Eye On You (About Time, 1980)
 * Nasty (Moers Music, 1981)