David "Fathead" Newman at Jazz Live, Lyceum Theatre: 2009

Catching David "Fathead" Newman at Jazz Live in 2009 meant witnessing living history. The Texas tenor saxophonist who'd spent twelve years with Ray Charles, who'd recorded dozens of albums as leader, who embodied the connection between blues and jazz, performed mere months before his passing in August 2009. This made the show precious beyond its already considerable musical value.

Newman's tone was instantly recognizable: warm, bluesy, deeply rooted in Texas tenor tradition running from Illinois Jacquet through Arnett Cobb. He didn't play with the harmonic complexity of some beboppers or the aggressive intensity of free jazz players. His approach prioritized soulful expression, blues feeling, and melodies that communicated directly.

His years with Ray Charles shaped his musical identity. That experience taught him how to serve songs, how to create solos that enhanced rather than overwhelmed material, and how blues and jazz aren't separate traditions but interconnected approaches to African American musical expression.

Newman played alto and tenor saxophone plus flute, switching instruments to create variety and serve different musical moods. His flute playing was melodic and warm, his alto work showed bebop fluency, but tenor was his primary voice, where his personality came through most fully.

At the Lyceum, Newman played mix of standards, blues, and original compositions. His repertoire drew from bebop, R&B, blues, and soul jazz, reflecting career that never limited itself to single stylistic category.

The intimacy of Jazz Live suited Newman's approach perfectly. His music didn't need large venues or massive production. It worked best in rooms where you could hear every nuance of his tone, every blue note bent just right, every phrase shaped with decades of experience.

By 2009, Newman was 75 years old, and you could hear lifetime in his playing. Not in diminished technique but in depth of expression that only comes from decades of living and playing. The young lions might play faster or more complex changes, but Newman played with soul and authority that can't be faked or learned quickly.

David "Fathead" Newman at Jazz Live was gift. Seeing legendary musician shortly before his death, still playing with conviction and soul, demonstrated jazz's power when performed by someone who lived it completely. His Texas tenor sound, his blues feeling, and his commitment to soulful expression represented jazz tradition at its most fundamental and affecting.

Thank you, Fathead, for a lifetime of beautiful music and for playing San Diego before you left us.