Quintin Gerard W. is a native of Norco, Louisiana. He attended Destrehan High School from which he was selected into numerous concert and jazz Honor bands in Louisiana and the New Orleans area. As a result, Quintin Gerard W. was awarded a scholarship in music to Loyola University of New Orleans, LA where he began his studies in Jazz Music Performance and Education. In New Orleans, Quintin Gerard W. began studying saxophone from none other than the “African Cowboy” himself - Earl Turbinton! While at Loyola, Quintin Gerard W. had the opportunity to study under the living Jazz master Ellis Marsalis! In 1989 Quintin Gerard W. decided to cut his college experience short, after studying only two years, and move to Los Angeles, CA where he would then begin exploring a professional career in music from a “real life” learning perspective. Upon arriving in L.A., Quintin Gerard W. immediately began working on major commercial recording projects which included television commercials for MCI, Levi's Strauss, Estee Lauder, and SEARS Kenmore. From there, Quintin Gerard W. went on to work on the made for T.V. movie “Here Comes The Munsters” Halloween special produced by Michael Skloff (Producer of the hit television show “Friends” soundtrack!), and then later on laid the saxophone track for B.E.T.’s Comic View opening theme music. Now having established himself as a bonafied “studio” and “session” player, Quintin Gerard W. expanded his vision and began working on a number of CD projects upon request(s) from various CD/Album producers in the industry. These projects included, and are not limited to; cutting tracks for Art Madison, The Gap Band, Rap/Hip Hop artist Flip, and the late Rick James. In between recording sessions Quintin Gerard W. also found time to exact his live performance skills while playing in the Jeff Lorber band promoting the long awaited “Worth Waiting For” CD. During this time, Quintin Gerard W. had the opportunity to meet and perform on stage and in concert with many of the top names in Jazz which include Dave Koz, Najee, Norman Brown, Four Play, and Special EFX. Quintin Gerard W. continued to grow musically and professionally, thus resulting in being complimented for his performances, recording(s), and playing style by Jazz lover Clint Eastwood, Al Jarreau, Arsenio Hall, and the one and only legendary singer Stevie Wonder, who personally recommended Quintin Gerard W. for his first recording contract! From there, Quintin Gerard W.’s circle of friends expanded as he met established Jazz artists such as Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Everette Harp, Ronnie Laws, Jay Beckenstein, Onaje Alan Gumbs, Joe Henderson, Jeff Kashiwa, Alex Bugnon, Gerald Veasley, Kirk Whalum, the late Art Porter, Chaka Khan, Will Downing, and the late Hollis Gentry, III. Quintin Gerard W.’s musical journey apexed when he met his saxophone mentor and close friend Kenny Garrett of the Miles Davis band. In 1997, during a Grammy Awards after party, Quintin Gerard W. was invited by Jayson Tipp to join the San Diego, CA based Fusion Jazz group Under The Lake! Quintin Gerard W. accepted this offer and is currently still a member of this dynamic quintet which features guitarist David Harris, bassist Nathan Brown, drummer Richard “Chef RnB” Sellers, and Jayson Tipp on keyboards! As a result of working with Under The Lake (a.k.a. UTL), Quintin Gerard W. had the opportunity to open for Joe Sample at the Maui Cultural and Performing Arts Center in Maui, and Stanley Jordan at the House of Blues in Los Angeles, CA. UTL has recently released their third Album/CD entitled “People Together” which features Quintin Gerard W. on many of the songs! Quintin Gerard W. has also two nationally released CD recordings entitled “Fnkysax,” and “Perseverance” for O.T.S. Music! Selections from Quintin Gerard W.’s debut CD “Fnkysax” can be heard in the motion picture release The Golden Empire released by Jersey Style Films, Inc. In 2003 Quintin Gerard W. relocated back to his original roots in Louisiana. Shortly after relocating, Quintin Gerard W. decided to resume and complete his Undergraduate studies and education by graduating from Southeastern Louisiana University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration/Management. As a result of his effort and studies at SLU, Quintin Gerard W. was accepted into the Sigma Alpha Lambda National Leadership and Honors Organization and The National Scholars Honor Society for his outstanding academic and personal achievements! Quintin Gerard W. is also a licensed private pilot currently working on his Instrument Rating (IFR) who enjoys the freedom of flying to remote destinations that are inaccessible to commercial airline travel! Curently, Quintin Gerard W. can be found producing CD’s/Albums for up and coming artist(s), producing thematic and soundtrack music for Film/T.V. commercials, performing live with his own band and with the group Under The Lake!
Sax man Quintin Gerard is a Smooth Jazz star! You can hear it. He’s got the
sound.
He knows what he’s doing and he totally gets it. Case in point, his debut
album,
FNKYSAX. This is a totally first-rate project, and you’ll be hearing tracks from
it on
Smooth Jazz Radio for quite some time to come, no question about it. He
knows
how to compose great tunes as well. In fact, all of the tracks are originals. I
especially like “Road Games,” “Smooth Jazz Flavor” and “Now and Forever”.
They all
sound like big hits to me. By the way, this Louisiana native has amassed some
pretty impressive credentials since he majored in Jazz studies at Loyola U.
New
Orleans and studied under Ellis Marsalis. He was Jeff Lorber’s sax player on
the
“Worth Waiting For Tour,” he was a member of the San Diego-based fusion
jazz
group Under The Lake, he has recorded with the Gap Band’s Charlie Wilson,
and
you’ve probably heard his playing on TV commercials for MCI, Levi Strauss,
Estee
Lauder, and Sears Kenmore. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Yes, he’s got
all the
right stuff to be huge in the world of Smooth Jazz. Remember the name,
Quintin
Gerard W. You’ll be hearing a lot more of it in the future! Scott O'Brien
April 07, 2005
Quintin Gerard W - Fonky Or Not?
Welcome to the latest issue of Denis Poole’s Secret Garden, the page that
offers a
British perspective on all that’s good, and not so good, in the world of
smooth jazz
and classic soul. This time we look at a new and exciting CD release that
promises
to make saxophonist Quintin Gerard W one of the sensations of 2005.
Fnkysax is, for Gerard, more than an album. It is a new expression of music
terminology, an abbreviation of ‘fonkysax’ that carries with it his
trademarked tag
line of ‘So you like a little fonk with your Jazz uh? He also provides his own
pseudo
dictionary definition of the word ‘Fnkysax’ as “the method of playing
saxophone
characterized by incorporating elements of Funk, R & B, Gospel, Blues and
Jazz
supported by the underlying foundation of the urban culture and experience.”
It’s a
catchy marketing trick but it’s backed up by the substance of his music, an
urban
slant that Boney James would be proud of and a sensuality that makes more
than a
nod in the direction of Kenny G. The result is a powerful combination that
instantly
grabs the listener.
Quintin Gerard W grew up in Norco, Louisiana and attended Destrehan High
School.
His early days with the District VI Honor Jazz and Concert Bands of New
Orleans
found him performing with, now local legend, Harry Connick Jr. When he was
awarded a scholarship in music at Loyola University in New Orleans it offered
the
opportunity to study under noted jazz master Ellis Marsalis. It was when
Quinton
relocated to Los Angeles, California in 1989 that he began to meet and play
with
many of the top names in Smooth Jazz.
He has performed live with the likes of Jeff Lorber (on the Worth Waiting For
tour),
Kenny Garrett, Najee, Dave Koz, Ron Brown, and Hollis Gentry III. Quintin
Gerard
W.'s other saxophone friends include Jay Beckenstein from Spyro Gyra, Jeff
Kashiwa
of The Rippingtons and Kirk Whalum. Also, as a member of the San Diego
based
fusion jazz group Under The Lake, he has opened for Joe Sample at the Maui
Cultural and Performing Arts Center in Hawaii, and Stanley Jordan at the
House of
Blues in Los Angeles, California.
Quintin’s recording credits include work with Charlie Wilson, the late Rick
James
and a long list of major commercial recording sessions. These include the
opening
theme for B.E.T.'s Comic View plus MCI, Levi Strauss, Estee Lauder, and Sears
Kenmore television commercials.
Now, with his debut CD, Quentin has taken all of those experiences and
influences
and added to them his own undeniable talents as writer performer and
producer.
The result is sensational. Right from the first track the album is up and
running
with ‘Smooth Jazz Flavor’, a sweet smooth urban tune with great sax playing
and a
compelling catchy vocal hook. It is already lined up for radio exposure and
the
radio edit is included as a bonus track. With a title like ‘Fnkysax’, fonky sax,
the
listener is expecting a fair measure of funk and it is first found on the title
track
that delivers just what its name promises with subliminal urban vocals and
stand
out playing from Gerard. ‘Opportunity’ offers a cool rap introduction over a
terrific
underlying beat, excellent sax playing and haunting background vocals. It’s a
track
that, as they say, has got the lot and when Gerard reprises it in radio edit
format its
different but just as good.
‘The Weekend’s Here’, with its very effective use of backing vocals, keeps the
funky
urban vibe going but, despite Quintin Gerard W’s obvious flair for the urban
groove, he is perhaps at his best with smooth sensuous tunes like ‘Elnora’,
the sexy
late night smooth jazz tune ‘Now and Forever’ and ‘Days We Remembered’
with its
delightful interplay between sax and keyboards that just longs to be part of a
movie score.
Fnkysax is an album crammed full of stand outs. On ‘Hipnotized’ Gerard
manages
to generate a real Euge Groove feel while ‘Flute Fnk’ is just that, a breezy
funky
flute number played over a beat that simply rolls along. It’s inconceivable
that a
collection of the quality of Fnkysax will not make Quintin Gerard W an
overnight
smooth jazz sensation.
Check out more on Quintin via his website at www.quintingerardw.com
Do you have any comments on what you have found in this edition of the
Secret
Garden? If so please contact the Smooth Jazz Vibes Guest Book or e-mail me
on
DenisPoole2000@Yahoo.com.
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