Figi, Jamil

Jamil Figi, an American jazz critic, was born May 22, 1937 in Chicago, Illinois. While growing up in Monroe, Wisconsin Figi frequently heard live jazz in Madison, Wisconsin and Chicago. Soon after high school graduation, Figi settled in Chicago and on his first night in the new city heard Lester Young play live in a nightclub. For the rest of his life, Figi remained an avid fan of Young's playing.

An influential jazz writer, Figi's work first appeared in small magazines in the early 1960's, particularly in the literary magazine December. During this time, Figi also began writing the Chicago modern jazz column for Coda magazine and liner notes for record companies, mostly notably Chicago's Delmark label. Liner notes written by Figi include: Sun Ra, Sun Song; John Young Trio, The John Young Trio; Roscoe Mitchell, Sound; Joseph Jarman, Song For; and Bud Powell, Bouncing with Bud.

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