Home » Jazz Musicians » Jay Thatte
Jay Thatte
Jay Thatte is a tenor saxophonist from Livingston, New Jersey. He is the student of saxophonist Mr Julius Tolentino and plays lead tenor in various big bands: Jazz at Lincoln Center Youth Big Band, Newark Academy Chameleon Jazz Band and New Jersey All-State Jazz Ensemble. He has won awards at Essentially Ellington and Mingus Festivals, and was recently named grand prize winner of the 2026 Gerry Mulligan Jazz Challenge, and was also selected as one of two tenor saxophonists in the national Next Generation Jazz Orchestra. Jay loves jazz and its ability to heal people and communities, and is constantly seeking new voices and sounds to absorb into his own musical language. When he’s not thinking about Jazz, he enjoys long-distance running and exploring different cuisines.
Awards
Next Generation Jazz Orchestra
NJAME All State Jazz 1st Tenor
National Gerry Mulligan Jazz Competition Grand Prize Winner
Essentially Ellington Honorable Mention Soloist 2025
Regional Essentially Ellington at UNLV Outstanding Soloist - Full Scholarship to UNLV
NJAJE State Finals Outstanding Soloist
Gear
Vandoren Mouthpice and LIgature, Conn 10m Tenor Saxophone, Vandoren Java Red Tenor Sax Reeds Strength 3
Tags
Introducing Saxophonist Jay Thatte
by Sanford Josephson
Jay Thatte has been playing music since he was seven years old, starting out on classical piano. In the sixth grade at Newark Academy, a coeducational private day school in Livingston, NJ, where he lives, he was exposed to jazz by Julius Tolentino, the Director of Bands. “He introduced me to clarinet and saxophone," Thatte recalled. “I've been taking lessons from him since then. I didn't go to Newark Academy for music, but it was like a stroke of luck. ...
Continue Reading...
Jay Thatte
Instrument: Saxophone, tenor
Born: May 12, 2010
