Oliver Lake is a celebrated saxophonist, composer, painter, and poet with a career spanning over five decades. A key figure in the jazz avant-garde, his collaborations include work with Björk, Lou Reed, A Tribe Called Quest, Anthony Braxton, and the Brooklyn Philharmonic, among many others. Beyond music, Lake is a published poet, visual artist, and founder of the nonprofit Passin’ Thru. His artistic roots trace back to the Black Artists Group in St. Louis, and as a co-founder of the World Saxophone Quartet, he became integral to New York’s 1970s Loft jazz scene. Known for his versatility, his compositions blend free jazz with intricate structures, earning him commissions from the Library of Congress, Rockefeller Foundation, and Guggenheim Fellowship recognition. Lake has also received the Mellon Jazz Living Legacy Award and the prestigious Doris Duke Artist Award in 2014. Today, he continues to innovate with groups like the Oliver Lake Organ Quartet and Trio 3, cementing his place as one of the most influential and uncompromising voices in contemporary music.