Milo Fine

• Genres: Jazz

Biography

The Minneapolis-based free jazz musician began playing drums in 1961, then piano in 1966 and clarinet in 1974. With guitarist Scott Munsell and bassist Steve Dokken, Fine founded Blue Freedom in 1969, which (after a series of name and personnel changes) evolved into the Milo Fine Free Jazz Ensemble. In 1975 Fine began collaborating with the apparently ego-less guitarist Steve Gnitka; henceforth the Milo Fine Free Jazz Ensemble was essentially a duo comprised of the two, with guest members occasionally added. Fine has also played and recorded with Joe McPhee and Borbetomagus. In 1988 he participated in Derek Bailey's Company Week. Fine has also collaborated with dancers and organized performances of free jazz in and around the Twin Cities area. Fine has also worked as a writer on free jazz; his frequently caustic (if deeply felt) criticisms were published in Cadence magazine for many years. ~ Chris Kelsey, Rovi