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Chad Eby

As a saxophonist and composer Chad Eby has earned widespread critical acclaim as “a consummate improviser“ (Jazz Times), who “has tremendous poise and natural melodic sense“ Ottawa Sun), and whose “tone is boundless, blues-inflected, and wholly satisfying“ (AllAboutJazz.com). He is active as a composer, and has received awards for jazz composition from the Ohio Arts Council (2003) and the North Carolina Arts Council (2009).

A highly sought-after arranger, Chad’s professionally commissioned works have been performed or recorded by Bill Charlap with Kurt Elling, Wynton Marsalis with Willie Nelson and Norah Jones, the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, the Dallas Jazz Orchestra, and the L.A. All- Star Big Band. Eby is a clinician for Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington program, and has been a featured guest artist/clinician at universities across the country.

A Newhall, Iowa native, Chad Eby is a life-long student of music. He began playing clarinet at the age of 11, and began studying the saxophone a year later. He went on to study music at Luther College, completing his degree in Jazz Studies at the University of North Texas. Chad earned his master’s degree in Saxophone Performance from Ohio State University. While in Ohio he released his first album, "Triptych", gaining critical acclaim from AllAboutJazz.com and fellow saxophonists Branford Marsalis and Wessel Anderson. His second album," Broken Shadows", was released in February of 2010, featuring Steve Haines, Jason Marsalis, Doug Wamble, and Branford Marsalis. "New Business" followed in 2012, featuring a suite of original compositions based on the visual art of Trenton Doyle Hancock. His newest release is "The Sweet Shel Suite: Music Inspired by Shel Silverstein", and features his working quartet with trumpeter Brandon Lee, bassist Steve Haines, and drummer Daniel Faust.

Chad is an associate professor of music at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro School of Music, Theatre and Dance. He lives in Greensboro with his wife Carmen, who is also a musician, and their two children. In 2013, he co-founded the Piedmont Triad Jazz Orchestra with fellow saxophonist, Wally West.

Chad Eby is a D'Addario Woodwinds Performing Artist.

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In Pictures

Palladium: A Wayne Shorter Celebration with Chad Eby and Friends

Read "Palladium: A Wayne Shorter Celebration with Chad Eby and Friends" reviewed by La-Faithia White


Palladium: A Wayne Shorter Celebration took place at the Crown inside the Carolina Theatre on Shorter's birthday. Saxophonist Chad Eby along with a passionate group of friends came together to celebrate the life and musical legacy of a genius that has inspired them all. The concert took place at the Carolina Theatre in Greensboro on August 25th, 2023 and featured Ariel Pocock, Steve Haines and Thomas Taylor, Brevan Hampden, Thomas Heflin, Evan Ringel, Leroy Pridgen IV, Franco Romero, and Jordan ...

Album Review

Steve Haines and The Third Floor Orchestra: Steve Haines and The Third Floor Orchestra

Read "Steve Haines and The Third Floor Orchestra" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi


Dare al lettore—nel breve spazio di una recensione—l'idea del contenuto e del valore (in un giudizio ovviamente soggettivo) di un album spinge a usare tutte quelle classificazioni nate per orientarci. In poche parole, creare delle mappe è utile ma se il territorio è ricco di elementi diversi si rischia di usare etichette fuorvianti. L'ascolto di questo disco orchestrale di Steve Haines spinge a queste considerazioni per il suo collocarsi tra differenti universi musicali (folk, classica, jazz, canzone ...

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Album Review

Chad Eby Quartet: The Sweet Shel Suite

Read "The Sweet Shel Suite" reviewed by Mark Corroto


Reading poet Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree once again as an adult, it is improbable that one would take away the same message as you did reading the book as a child. The boy in the story grows up playing in the branches of the tree and eating its fruit, eventually cutting the trunk for wood. In the end, the giving tree has nothing left to give, except for a stump to sit on. Is the book about unselfish friendship, ...

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Album Review

Chad Eby: Broken Shadows

Read "Broken Shadows" reviewed by Raul d'Gama Rose


On Broken Shadows his wonderful second album, Chad Eby doffs his proverbial hat to the magnificent American music that came before him and in doing so, puts it in the current context. He also goes a step further, adding not only his own vocal-style interpretations of music from Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, Thad Jones, Ornette Coleman and Branford Marsalis, but also a masterful last post in four parts he calls “Epitaph." This tribute is played in character--for Dewey Redman, Steve ...

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Album Review

Chad Eby: Broken Shadows

Read "Broken Shadows" reviewed by Mark Corroto


Attention grabbing music these days is either accomplished by the loudest voice (American Idol anybody?) or the rudest performance. While not saying jazz has descended to that level, certainly the squeakiest wheel often gets the most attention. Then again, hearing a genuine voice like saxophonist Chad Eby reaffirms the instinct that an authoritative performance from a rock steady musician need not be imprudent to get noticed.

This trio session, with bassist Steve Haines and drummer Jason Marsalis packs ...

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Album Review

Chad Eby: Triptych

Read "Triptych" reviewed by AAJ Staff


Chad Eby is no household name in Jazz- yet. But on this, his debut record, the multireedist Eby shows the kind of maturity and musicality that elude many on their debut record, and as such, he deserves no small amount of notice.

Eby has played with Brad Leali, Wessell Anderson, Steve Turre, Victor Atkins, Scott Amendola, Clarence Seay, and was a member of the Sarah Morrow quintet for her cd release tour in France a few years ago. He can ...

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"...there is a movement in jazz that embraces a once taken-for-granted model: modernity thru authenticity. Here is where we find Chad Eby." - Branford Marsalis

"Chad Eby is a consummate artist. He is a superb saxophonist and a highly skilled arranger. He is in the top echelon of the worlds finest musicians." - Bill Charlap

"Chad Eby is the real deal. He has a huge tenor sound, a comprehensive knowledge of history and loves to SWING!" - Marcus Printup

“I once heard a master musician say 'if you want to genuinely create, know all the decades'. Chad Eby is one of those musicians who carries all the decades of jazz along as he creates

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Primary Instrument

Saxophone

Location

Greensboro

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Steve Haines and The...

Justin Time Records
2019

buy

The Sweet Shel Suite

Self Produced
2014

buy

New Business

Self-produced
2012

buy

Broken Shadows

Cellar Live
2010

buy

Triptych

Cojazz Recordings
2002

buy

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