Lol Coxhill, a British saxophonist whose open-minded approach was valued not only by avant-garde jazz musicians but punk rockers and blues artists as well, died July 9 in Portsmouth, England of an unspecified illness. He was 79. Coxhill, whose original first name was real name Lowen, played soprano, sopranino and tenor saxophone, and began his career in the ’60s accompanying visiting American blues and soul singers.
He was discovered by DJ John peel in 1968 and began playing with progressive rock artists such as Kevin Ayers, punk bands including the Damned and even reggae artists, while maintaining solid credentials in the U.K. jazz scene. Coxhill recorded numerous albums as a leader beginning in 1970, many of them unaccompanied, and was known for his often abrasive, wailing solos.
