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Gary Meek

Gary Meek is an American jazz and fusion saxophone and keyboard artist. As a featured artist or session musician he has contributed to more than 200 albums

Gary Meek was born in 1961 in Encino, California. His father played piano recreationally. Meek attended El Camino Real High School, where he was active in the music department on clarinet, saxophones and keyboard. After high school he enrolled in the Dick Grove School of Music Professional Instrumental Program.

Meek began his career in the early 1980s playing woodwinds in the big bands of the Los Angeles Jazz Workshop, and keyboards and woodwinds for local club dates, weddings and private parties. In the mid-’80s he toured with Dionne Warwick, playing keyboards.

In 1987, Meek began a two-decade association with Brazilian jazz artists Airto Moreira and Flora Purim. In 1990, joined by Jose Neto, they formed Fourth World. This band toured the U.S., Europe, Asia, South Africa and Eastern Europe for five years, releasing a live album in 1992, “Live at Ronnie Scott’s.” Three years later, Meek joined Herb Alpert’s world tour in support of Alpert’s “Second Wind” album. The following year, Meek toured the U.S. and Europe playing saxes, flute and keyboards for Al Jarreau.

Meek’s first album as a leader and saxophonist, 1991’s “Gary Meek,” comprises 11 songs all written or cowritten by Meek. He has released four other solo projects to date, including “Time One,” “Live at Ronnie Scott’s,” “Good Friends” and “Step 7.”

Through the 1990s and early 2000s, Meek began several enduring collaborations, some with artists who contributed session work for his solo efforts. After keyboardist Jeff Lorber appeared on “Gary Meek,” Meek played for several Lorber albums, including the Billboard Top 5 “West Side Stories” in 1994. Meek’s first studio work for bassist Brian Bromberg, on 1997’s “You Know That Feeling,” led to several tours and albums including “Downright Upright,” nominated for the “Best Contemporary Jazz Album” Grammy in 2007.

In 2000, Meek played saxophone for “Warning,” the sixth studio album by the American punk rock band Green Day. “Warning” reached No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the RIAA.

In 2003, Meek played woodwinds for the album “Playful Heart” by guitarist and bossa nova pioneer Oscar Castro-Neves. The release, named one of that year’s best albums by Downbeat, included an arrangement of “Four Brothers” that Castro-Neves wrote to feature Meek on all the woodwind parts. Meek was later featured on Castro-Neves’ 2006 album, “All One.”

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3
Album Review

Gary Meek: Monterey Groove

Read "Monterey Groove" reviewed by Jim Worsley


Finding a tight groove, or a groove you can ride like the wind, can be as crucial as the all- important melodies, harmonies, rhythms, and conversations in the jazz world. Grooves are unique onto themselves, and there are thousands of variants from region to region around the globe. Tenor and soprano saxophonist Gary Meek has been marinating in the Monterey Peninsula of California, basking in the sun, the surf, and the natural beauty that constitute the Monterey Groove. Joined by ...

17
Album Review

The Dave Weckl Band: Live in St. Louis at the Chesterfield Jazz Festival

Read "Live in St. Louis at the Chesterfield Jazz Festival" reviewed by Jim Worsley


At a time where millions around the world are thankfully being vaccinated, the cure for live music blues has yet to be addressed. While nothing can replace the sound, the energy, and feel of live music, a medicinal record will be on the market in April 2021. While this reunion concert recorded in 2019 would no doubt be impactful sans the pandemic, the timing and dosage is fortuitous. Getting the gang back together, a la the Blues Brothers, Dave Weckl ...

25
Album Review

Tom Kennedy: Stories

Read "Stories" reviewed by Jim Worsley


It's commonplace that an artist will have a concept or theme in mind when starting a record project. To build from the ground up without any preconceptions could be a recipe for a disaster. However, if it didn't crash and burn and, in fact, went the other direction, the possibilities then become infinite. With no boundaries and nothing to be tethered to, the sky's the limit. Tom Kennedy boldly took that approach to his new record. He took flight with ...

131
Album Review

Gary Meek: Step 7

Read "Step 7" reviewed by Jim Santella


As a multi-talented session player, Gary Meek has worked with numerous artists who hold a deep respect for quality. His saxophones and flute are featured on Step 7, his latest recording project. Meek brings a full tone and shiny timbre to the session. He’s at his best when conversing with Flora Purim in that universal language which requires no lyrics. Airto, too, joins the ensemble with percussive scat singing to amplify his wide range of percussion tools. Meek’s flute graces ...

229
Album Review

Gary Meek: Step 7

Read "Step 7" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


Saxophonist Gary Meek is a Californian who has performed and recorded with the fabled Brazilian musicians, vocalist Flora Purim and percussionist Airto Moreira. Meek boasts a lengthy resume that includes stints with keyboardist Jeff Lorber, drummer Alphonse Mouzon and others. Here, Purim and Moreira continue their longtime affiliation with Meek by lending their wares to this gratifyingly fashioned program.

Meek seems equally comfortable performing in a variety of formats, witnessed by his sprightly rendition of Charlie Parker’s ...

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185

Recording

A440 Musicgroup Set For Three Autumn Releases by Brian Bromberg, Andy Snitzer, and Gary Meek

A440 Musicgroup Set For Three Autumn Releases by Brian Bromberg, Andy Snitzer, and Gary Meek

Source: All About Jazz

A440 MusicGroup moves into a higher gear this fall with three excellent jazz releases by saxophonists Andy Snitzer and Gary Meek, Bassist Brian Bromberg.

Andy Snitzer, Sugar (September 3 release)

Tenor saxophonist Snitzer unveils his first straightahead jazz CD.

Much of the CD is a nod to tenor sax greats John Coltrane ("Blue Train," “You Don't Know What Love Is"), Sonny Rollins ("Blue Seven," “Moritat"), and Stanley Turrentine ("Sugar"). Snitzer, best known for his work the ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Smile

Resonance Records
2022

buy

Stories

Autumn Hill Records
2021

buy

Live in St. Louis at...

Autumn Hill Records
2021

buy

Monterey Groove

Autumn Hill
2021

buy

Step 7

A440 Music
2002

buy

Live At Ronnie Scott's

Double Moon Records
1995

buy

Sister Moon

From: Smile
By Gary Meek

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