Saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Jimmy Greene has emerged as a positive young presence in the creative music world. His solo recordings, True Life Stories (Criss Cross), Forever (Criss Cross), Brand New World (RCA Victor) and Introducing Jimmy Greene (Criss Cross) have been met with much critical acclaim. In fact, Tony Hall of Jazzwise Magazine calls Greene “...without doubt one of the most striking young tenors of recent years.”
Greene was born in Hartford, CT on February 24, 1975. From a young age, he exhibited a God-given affinity for music. Greene's parents started him on alto saxophone at age six, and encouraged him to practice. As a high school student, Greene was selected to perform in several Regional, All-Connecticut, and All-New England jazz ensembles and symphonic bands. Greene's music teacher at Bloomfield High School arranged for him to meet and play for Jackie McLean at the famed altoist's community arts school, The Artists'Collective. Of his eager student, McLean commented, “From the beginning, I could tell that he was going to be an exceptional student. He already had a very mature sound and a very mature concept.” McLean's teaching over the subsequent years gave the young musician a firm foundation in improvisation, a profound viewpoint of the jazz tradition, as well as the inspiration to seek his own musical identity.
Greene formed his first quintet while in high school, and began composing music soon thereafter. He was awarded a scholarship to attend the David Liebman Summer Saxophone Workshop, and during his senior year, augmented his studies at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Performing Arts under bassist/educator Dave Santoro. As a member of the Academy Jazz Ensemble, Greene won the Most Outstanding Soloist award at the 1993 Berklee College of Music High School Jazz Ensemble Festival and was selected to the 1993 Grammy All-American High School Jazz Band, conducted by Branford Marsalis.
Greene graduated from Bloomfield High School in 1993 with high honors. He continued his studies at the Hartt School/University of Hartford with Jackie McLean, trombonist Steve Davis, and saxophonists Ken Radnofsky and Kris Jensen. During his final year at Hartt, Greene performed often alongside trumpeter Claudio Roditi. In fact, Greene made his recording debut on Roditi's “Double Standards” release on the Reservoir label. At the same time, Greene entered the prestigious 1996 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Jazz Saxophone Competition. He was named First Runner-up by a panel of judges that included Wayne Shorter, Jimmy Heath, Joe Lovano, Jackie McLean, and Joshua Redman.
Greene graduated from The Hartt School Summa Cum Laude in May 1997. In September 1997, he moved to New York City, not long after becoming a member of the Horace Silver Quintet. In addition to the legendary pianist's group, Greene has performed regularly with the groups of Tom Harrell, Freddie Hubbard, Steve Turre, Lewis Nash, Avishai Cohen, Claudia Acuña, Kenny Barron, and Ralph Peterson, as well as the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, New Jazz Composers' Octet, and the big bands of Harry Connick, Jr., Jason Lindner and Kendrick Oliver.
As a leader, Greene made considerable advances after moving to New York. In the final months of 1997, he performed with his quintet for a week at The Jazz Standard and recorded his debut album Introducing Jimmy Greene for the Criss Cross label. In a review of Greene's Jazz Standard stint, the New York Times' Ben Ratliff wrote “[Greene is] in command of harmony, and can sound very organized racing through fast tempos, but he also relaxed into ballad standards and let an intriguing personality shine through.” In addition to The Jazz Standard, Greene's bands have performed in New York at The Village Vanguard, Smoke, Small's, and Birdland, in addition to tours of Russia, Brazil, and Uruguay. Greene was honored in the June 1999 issue of Down Beat magazine. The publication, looking toward the future of jazz into the 21st century, recognized Greene as one of “25 Young Rising Stars in Jazz.”
In 2009, Greene released the inaugural album on Nu Jazz Entertainment, “The Overcomer's Suite”. This album was the first album of it's kind in that it released both audio and video tracks exclusively for digital download around the world. The album was also the first jazz album that was released on “Pre-paid” digital download cards. These “credit card” size items, contained the album artwork on the front, and a special website url on the back with unique codes that allowed the purchasers to download the audio & video tracks with unique bonus photos, audio tracks, and video tracks.
”[On]The Overcomer's Suite.. the melodies are strong, the rhythms compelling, the forms extended and involved, giving the quartet plenty of room not only to stretch, but to turn together on a dime, in what is one of the finer statements of 2008.” -- David A. Adler, All About Jazz (NY)
“Whether emphasizing drawn-out lyrical phrases or linear flourishes, Greene maintains a robust tone with an exuberant amount of confidence.” -- John Baron, Allaboutjazz.com
“The [Overcomer's Suite] is unique in form, and superb in content...” -- John Cizik, Jazz Improv
“There is a brawny swagger to {The Tracks on The Overcomer's Suite], a seizing -the-reins attitude that further bolsters the angular verve of Greene's phrasing, that makes this a coming-out party.” Britt Robson, eMusic
“Jimmy Greene, a towering young tenorist of abundant talent, keeps his head down and weathers the storm in neo-Coltrane style...” --Jack Massarik, Evening Standard, U.K.
“[Jimmy Greene] kicked off the solos in torrid fashion, melding a fat sound with phrases that were by turns darting, angular and serpentine, a bravura style reminiscent of Dexter Gordon.” --Britt Robson, City Pages, Minneapolis
“Mr. Greene is a strong young tenor saxophonist... he'll have a lot to offer in the long run.” --Ben Ratliff, The New York Times
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