Proficient on tenor saxophone, flute, bass clarinet, oboe, and piano as a teenager, Odean Pope replaced John Coltrane in the Jimmy Smith Trio. He first came to widespread attention on the international jazz scene in 1967 when he joined Max Roach's quartet, and it was the beginning of a lengthy partnership that lasted into the 2000s. Among some of their recorded highlights were the albums Pictures in a Frame, Easy Winners, and To the Max! Concurrently, Pope worked from 1971-1974 as leader of the cooperative fusion band Catalyst and with the Odean Pope Saxophone Choir -- an eight- or sometimes nine-saxophone ensemble with rhythm section -- with whom he recorded The Saxophone Shop, The Ponderer, and Epitome. ~ TiVo Staff