James Newton

California-based flutist James Newton a boundary-breaking performer, known for his sophisticated, high-minded albums that reflect a wide variety of jazz and classical influences. Possessed of a warm tone, Newton's flute work is technically impressive and resourceful, making use of multi-phonics, flutter-tonguing, and concurrent vocal/flute lines that push the envelope of the instrument's sound. He emerged in the Los Angeles area in the 1970s playing alongside such similarly minded artists Arthur Blythe, Anthony Davis, and David Murray, and issuing albums like 1978's quartet da...