Art Edmaiston

Arthur Glenn Edmaiston, Jnr. / Bhakti Lam-Mu

Memphis TN based saxophonist, improviser, composer and arranger

Arthur Edmaiston grew up in a very small town in NW TN and moved to Memphis to study music and learn from elders who still roamed the streets and recording studios of that famous music mecca.  After spending a few years playing Blues, Soul, Rock-n-Roll and R&B on Beale Street and in various clubs around town, Edmaiston got on the tour bus in the late 90's with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Vocalist Bobby "Blue" Bland which began a 20-plus year ride across the globe.

His resume features miles of experience playing venues of all sizes across the US & internationally as a sideman with a diverse blend of bands and artists.

Gregg Allman, the Doobie Brothers, Little Feat, JJ Grey & Mofro, Dee Dee Bridgewater and the Gamble Brothers Band to name a few.  Art has backed up such legendary artists as Stevie Wonder, William Bell, Otis Clay, Syl Johnson, “No Tears Project” featuring Brian Blade, Justin Timberlake & Snoop Dogg as well as recording with Al Green, Pharrell Williams, Tift Merritt, Taylor Hicks, Eric Benet, Robert Cray and a host of other famous artists.

Edmaiston’s passion has always been in the free-form improvised music found on the fringes of Jazz.  In 2022, Art began an apprenticeship with the Master Rhythymatist Ra Kalam Bob Moses that led to recording projects and countless hours playing sax & drum duos “in the shed" contributing to his development as an improvisational artist.  Through the association and friendship with Ra Kalam, he discovered the writings and teaching of the Living Sound Yogi Tisziji Munoz who granted Edmaiston the Spirit name "Bhakti Lam-Mu" which means 'Devotee of the Transcendent Wisdom of Emptiness'.

In 2025, Art became acquainted with the Master Improviser Joel Futterman based in Virginia Beach, VA.  This relationship bloomed into hours of phone conversations and sharing playing examples with one another culminating in the first of many collaborations.  January 2026 he traveled to Va Beach entering the studio to record an album of free improvisation and spontaneous compositions with Futterman on piano and Steve Hirsh on drums.  The following day, the trio were joined by William Parker and two additional quartet pieces were improvised and recorded with “plans to release everything in the near future”.

These sessions will go alongside Edmaiston’s debut release "Australopithecus" from June of 2025, a live album featuring Marc Franklin, Jonathan Wires, Alvie Givhan, WC Anderson and Ra Kalam Bob Moses.

That release was followed by a co-lead date with Edmaiston on saxophones and Steve Hirsh on drum set entitled “The Back 9”.  Both releases available exclusively on Bandcamp.com.

The next album was another live date issued on Mahakala Music and was co-led with Chad Fowler called “Memphis Mandala”.  It features Damon Smith on acoustic bass, Ra Kalam Bob Moses and Clifford “Peewee” Jackson on drums.

As his presence in the field of improvisational arts is growing, several recordings can already be found featuring Art Edmaiston as a sideman with more dates as a leader on the way.

Gear

King "Super 20" Tenor Saxophone circa 1952 with a Matt Marantz "Double Ring Legacy" mouthpiece #9 tip opening and Boston Sax Shop "Black Label" #3 reeds

Yamaha YSS-62 Soprano Saxophone circa 1989 with various hard rubber mouthpieces 

Yamaha YBS-62 Baritone Saxophone circa 1995 with a Drake "Contemporary II" mouthpiece and Rico Jazz Select #3 reeds

AMT wireless microphone system

The Seventies Sax Strap in various colors