Henry Threadgill (born February 15, 1944), Chicago, Illinois, is an American saxophonist, flautist and composer. He performed as a percussionist in high school marching bands, and served briefly in a U.S. Army band. Threadgill is notable as one of avant-garde jazz's most unique composers. His dense, elaborate, multi-layered music is often strictly scored, in contrast to the loose, improvisatory feel of much jazz. Elements of traditional African music