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In Memoriam: Cassandra Wilson, 1955–2026
Cassandra Wilson, a singer, songwriter and producer who was one of the most acclaimed and successful jazz vocalists of…
Nate Wooley has been the leader on over 50 records — including two releases on Pyroclastic — and has appeared as a performer on almost 400.
(Photo: Julia Dratel)Nate Wooley has been appointed artistic director of Pyroclastic Records, a non-profit label that has earned a place as one of the top platforms for creative music. The trumpeter, composer and writer succeeds founder Kris Davis, who is stepping down.
Wooley contributes a wide-ranging set of skills and experience to his new role. He brings with him 30 years of experience as a performer as well as a dedication to celebrating the vibrancy of America’s experimental and jazz communities.
Wooley has worked for non-profit organizations for 15 years, beginning in microfinance and moving to his position with the Anthology of Recorded Music, which encompassed, alongside the legendary New World Records, the online resource DRAM (the Database of Recorded American Music), which he co-curated for 12 years. Under the umbrella of ARM, Wooley founded Sound American, a print journal and record label that introduced a broad international audience to the musicians and ideas of contemporary jazz, classical, folk and experimental music. He acted as Sound American’s editor-in-chief and director for eight years before deciding to end the journal’s run in 2021 but has remained active as a producer and publisher through his record label, Pleasure of the Text Records, and its print spinoff, Tisser Tissu Editions.
Wooley’s trumpet playing has been recognized as a part of a radical reevaluation of the instrument, folding noise and electronic aesthetics into the tradition-laden and acoustic world of American jazz and contemporary classical music. As a performer, he has appeared as a soloist with the New York Philharmonic, commissioned important new works by artists including Wadada Leo Smith and Christian Wolff, and collaborated with Anthony Braxton, John Zorn and Annea Lockwood, among others. He has been the leader on over 50 records — including two releases on Pyroclastic — and has appeared as a performer on almost 400. His compositions incorporate improvisation, folk music, text and immersive experiences in ever-evolving explorations of musical creativity and the possibilities of his instrument. Wooley’s essays exploring American musical experimentalism have appeared in publications including the New York Review of Books and The Nation.
“Since 2016, I’ve been watching Pyroclastic Records release some of the most consistently vital and interesting music of the 21st century,” said Wooley. “I’ve been lucky enough to be counted among the label’s artists, and I am proud now to become the new steward of its past and future as Kris moves on to the next phase of her career. I am looking forward to continuing Pyroclastic’s commitment to the power of big ideas, its dedication to the ideal of pure artistry and to its continued support of a thriving musical community.” DB
Wilson’s ability to connect to audiences helped her to win two Grammy awards and multiple other accolades. She was named an NEA Jazz Master in 2022.
Sep 3, 2026 10:44 AM
Cassandra Wilson, a singer, songwriter and producer who was one of the most acclaimed and successful jazz vocalists of…
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