House of David

Though now based with his wife, Karen, near Woodstock, New York--which he calls "God's country"--Fathead always comes home. This September he headlined the Second Annual Shirley McFatter Jazz Festival in Fair Park. He emerged onstage to cries of "Fathaid, Fathaid," shouted by old-timers who remember him from way back, and there were cries of "Dino, Dino!" for his 32-year-old son, who drums in the quintet. David Newman exudes class in dapper vest and suit--an unshowoff. But he conks you upside the head with his subtlety.

Newman intends to become an independent producer and work at becoming a lyricist--eventually, the lip goes. "I intend to buy a Mac computer. I want to be connected to music beyond my playing years," he says. Even though he feels rap has been "bad for the music industry," he thinks he'd make an interesting choice to produce in that genre. After 50 years playing his horn, he says, "The time has finally come.