Fred Ho American saxophonist, jazzman Date of Birth: 10.08.1957 Country: USA

Biography of Fred Ho

Fred Ho (born Hou Weihan) was an American saxophonist, jazz musician, composer, bandleader, playwright, writer, and activist. He was born in Palo Alto, California in 1957. After graduating from Harvard with a bachelor's degree in sociology in 1979, he developed close relationships with Asian and African musical communities on the West Coast, Boston, and New York. He helped organize festivals that addressed the issue of excessive stereotyping and undervaluing the history of Asian Americans.
Musical Career

In 1982, Fred Ho founded the Afro Asian Music Ensemble, which became the foundation of his current group. He also co-founded other jazz ensembles, including the Brooklyn Sax Quartet and Monkey Orchestra, and composed music for theater and new musical groups. Recognizing the limitations of the mainstream music industry, he also established his own company, Big Red Media, Inc.
Musical Style

Being of Chinese descent, Ho specialized in blending sometimes asynchronous melodies and musical traditions, creating what many describe as "brilliant-chaotic sounds." He was the first to combine Chinese opera with the African tradition of American music. Reviewers have described his work as "a revelation that music can address our social ills and still be inspiring." Ho's creativity leaves no doubt about his position against racism and historical injustices, and he develops his beliefs from a multicultural perspective. For Fred Ho, music, creativity, and his political beliefs in art are essential for bringing about change in the world.
Recent Projects

His recent music-theater projects include "Deadly She-Wolf Assassin at Armageddon," the opera "Mr. Mystery: The Return of Sun Ra to Save Planet Earth" with libretto by Quincy Troupe, and work for the Apollo Theater and Brooklyn Academy of Music in 2008. Fred Ho founded the Afro Asian Music Ensemble in 1982, Monkey Orchestra in 1990, and co-founded the Brooklyn Sax Quartet with David Bindman in 1997. Recently, he launched his new project, "Caliente! Circle Around the Sun," where Ho performs on saxophone alongside Magdalena Gomez and Raul Salinas. Fred Ho resides in Brooklyn, New York.