Biography Alex Coke

Alex Coke, born in Dallas, Texas, received his B.A. from the University Of Colorado at Boulder in

 1976, with emphasis on flute performance. An original member of the Austin-based Creative

 Opportunity Orchestra, Coke has performed with Tina Marsh in various formations for over 25

 years. Before moving to Amsterdam in the early '90's he received several local awards

 including:

1988-1989 Best Jazz Band, Austin Chronicle Music Awards

 (Chris Duarte and Justus)

1990 Best Saxophonist, Music City Critics Poll/Austin Texas

1990 Best Jazz Bands Music City Critics Poll/Austin Texas

 (Countenance #1, and Worthy Constituents #3)

1990 Best Unsigned Bands Musician Magazine

 (Countenance, and Worthy Constituents)

2010 Austin Chronicle Music Awards Hall of Fame Nominee

From 1990-2000 he toured and recorded with the internationally renowned Dutch jazz group,

 theWillem Breuker Kollektief. An improvisor at heart, Coke's eclectic attitude has led him to

 explore everything from Be-Bop to Huddie Ledbetter. His flute studies have ranged from Eric

 Dolphy to Indian ragas on the bamboo flute to extended flute techniques such as those

 researched by Robert Dick, Ann LaBerge and Wil Offermans.

 Coke's multifarious bands include the Live Action Brass Band, the Leadbelly Legacy Band, New

 Texas Swing, and his post-bop quintet, The Worthy Constituents, a collaboration with longtime

 partner, pianist Rich Harney with Martin Banks on trumpet.  In 2005, Coke and Harney

 released a new cd of spirituals called "Soul Prayers." 

He has worked with Gerald Wilson,  Charles

 Tolliver, the Paradise Regained Orchestra and the Trio Henk de Jonge. He can also be heard

 with the John Jordan Trio, the Mysterious Quartet From Helsinki featuring Chris Duarte, Rob

 Verdurmen's Double Drummer Bill, The Greezy Wheels  on the CD HipPOP and many, many  others.

Coke's release, entitled "Wake Up DeadMan/Iraqnophobia," features two large group

 compositions commisioned by Tina Marsh and The Creative Opportunity Orchestra. It was

 recorded in the fall of 2004 and is on the VoxLox label which spotlights humanitarian and

 ecological causes.

"Wake Up DeadMan" was featured in Forum Theatre on The Death Penalty at The

 Eye & Tooth Festival in Austin,  where Coke was a panelist in March, 2009.  

Coke's latest work, Its Possible, recorded in 2007,

features duos and trios with Tina Marsh and Steve Feld

and is also on the Vox Lox label.

Coke has also written original works thoughout the years for various groups including:

 The Worthy Constituents

 Creative Opportunity Orchestra

 J.A.M.A.D.

 New Texas Swing

 Carl Smith Tentet

 Ramone Herman and Labor of Love

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