Fred Anderson Collection

The Fred Anderson Collection features rare unheard recordings of saxophonist and club owner Fred Anderson. Including audiovisual materials from the personal collections of Fred, fellow bandmate Tastu Aoki, and longtime associates Andy Pierce, Sharon Friedman, and Lauren Deutsch, the collection contains audio recordings from as early as the 1970s, live performance videos from the '80s until well into the 2000s, hard to find documentaries on Fred, his collaborators, peers, and inspirations, and photographs and ephemera from throughout his extraordinary life in music. 

Fred Anderson (1929 – 2010) was one of Chicago’s most creative, acclaimed, and beloved musicians. Born in Monroe, Louisiana, Anderson moved to Evanston, Illinois, as a child during the Great Migration. Later, he lived and worked in Chicago’s South Loop for three decades. Inspired by Charlie Parker’s music, Anderson developed his own unique method of playing jazz. As an original member of Chicago’s world-renowned Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, he performed in the first AACM concert in 1965. In 1979, he opened the Velvet Lounge, revered for its innovative music and diverse, loyal patronage. Generations of musicians and fans benefited from the inclusive spirit of his stage. While working other jobs to support his family and his art, Anderson released more than 30 recordings, performed for audiences around the world, and mentored countless young musicians. Fred Anderson always followed his motto of “patience, sincerity, and consistency.”