Joe McPhee (born November 3, 1939) is an American jazz multi-instrumentalist born in Miami, Florida, a player of tenor and soprano saxophone, the trumpet, flugelhorn and valve trombone. McPhee grew up in Poughkeepsie, New York, and is most notable to date for his free jazz work done in the late 1960s and early 1970s. McPhee began on trumpet at age eight before learning other instruments. He played in various high school and then military bands before starting his recording career. His first recording came in 1967, when he appeared on the Clifford Thornton album titled Freedom and Unity. He taught himself saxophone at age 30 after experiencing the music of John Coltrane, Albert Ayler, & Ornette Coleman. In 1975, Werner Uehlinger started the Swiss label hat Hut Records, a label specifically designed to showcase the music of McPhee. In the 1980s, McPhee met Pauline Oliveros, began studying her musical theories, and worked with her Deep List