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Stephen Gauci

tephen Gauci is recognized as one of the most strikingly original saxophonists on the New York City improvised music scene.

Stricken by a childhood illness that has left him with a profound hearing loss, Gauci was drawn to the clear, deep, tone of the tenor saxophone. This was the first step in a lifelong relationship with, and investigation of tone, timbre, and especially.. voice. The nature of Gauci’s hearing loss are that outer sounds require of him the utmost level of concentration and focus. The flip side, however, is that inner sounds, and the inner voice, are magnified… crystal clear and singing. The intense outward focus developed as a result of Gauci’s hearing impairment has been turned inward like a laser to illuminate, and manifest, the inner voice.

Gauci has performed and recorded with many of the leading improvisers of our time, including Cooper Moore, Joe Morris, Nels Cline, Karl Berger, Kenny Wessel, Kris Davis, Tyshawn Sorey, Daniel Carter, George Garzone, Nate Wooley, William Parker, Steve Swell, Mike Bisio, Adam Lane, Kevin Shea, William Hooker, Ingebrigt Haker Flaten, Dave Rempis.

Gauci runs the popular Bushwick Improvised Music Series, where he has presented over 600 concerts featuring many of New York’s greatest improvisers, as well as many international touring musicians. At two years and counting, the Bushwick Series is the longest running weekly avant jazz series in Brooklyn. Gauci also performs at the Bushwick Series every Monday with his working quartet featuring guitarist Sandy Ewen, bassist Adam Lane, and drummer Kevin Shea. Having performed every Monday for over two years, this is arguably one of the longest running avant jazz sets in New York City history.

Gauci has released twenty five records as a leader or co-leader. He currently runs Gaucimusic Recordings, releasing both live and studio recordings featuring many of the leading lights of Brooklyn’s improvised music community. His mission as a presenter/record producer is to nurture, document, and present to the world, Brooklyn’s incredibly diverse, multi-generational, ground breaking improvised music scene.

In addition to regular NYC performances, Gauci has performed in France, Sweden, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Portugal, and throughout the United States.

Tags

5
Album Review

Stephen Gauci / Shinya Lin / Adam Lane / Kevin Shea: Live At Scholes Street Studio

Read "Live At Scholes Street Studio" reviewed by John Sharpe


NYC tenor saxophonist Stephen Gauci has adopted the self-determination ethos with a vengeance. So prolific is he that his new recordings can seem like monthly updates. This set from December 2022 presents a working unit in a familiar haunt and under a familiar banner: Live At Scholes Street Studio. With so many releases having the same title, the individual albums are best differentiated by personnel. This time out the new face is pianist Shinya Lin who proves himself an empathetic ...

7
Album Review

Stephen Gauci / Santiago Leibson / Ken Filiano / Vinnie Sperrazza: Live At Scholes Street Studio

Read "Live At Scholes Street Studio" reviewed by John Sharpe


On another missive from the bleeding edge, tenor saxophonist Stephen Gauci further documents his fertile alliances in Brooklyn. In a quartet alongside the reedman are Argentinean pianist Santiago Leibson, veteran bassist Ken Filiano and drummer Vinnie Sperrazza. Gauci's signature blend from the further reaches of the saxophone--stretching from caustic upper register to burly bottom end--remains a central feature. But on the two off-the-wall pieces, one broaching the half hour mark, the other just over 20 minutes, he promotes an ensemble ...

3
Album Review

Stephen Gauci / Joe Hertenstein / Alexander von Schlippenbach / Jan Roder: Soundlift Berlin-New York

Read "Soundlift Berlin-New York" reviewed by John Sharpe


Soundlift Berlin-New York is the second release documenting NYC tenor saxophonist Stephen Gauci's visit to the German capital following Live At Sowieso, Berlin (Gaucimusic, 2023). It finds him in different company, with drummer Joe Hertenstein, who divides his time between the two cities of the title, the familiar face this time out. Also on this studio date are acclaimed pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach and bassist Jan Roder, a pair with common ground in Die Enttäuschung and their rendition of Thelonious ...

2
Album Review

Stephen Gauci: Live At Sowieso, Berlin

Read "Live At Sowieso, Berlin" reviewed by John Sharpe


Tenor saxophonist Stephen Gauci cuts a busy figure in his native New York City. But with Live At Sowieso, Berlin he brings his brand of unbridled energy to the hotbed of free improv which is the titular German city with striking results. He retains one familiar face for the journey in the shape of drummer Kevin Shea, a longstanding member of the reedman's trio, who is still best known for his tenure in the anarchic Mostly Other People Do The ...

4
Album Review

Stephen Gauci / Michael Bisio / Whit Dickey: Live At Scholes Street Studio

Read "Live At Scholes Street Studio" reviewed by John Sharpe


Tenor saxophonist Stephen Gauci sends another vital missive from the Brooklyn coal face, titled like several of its predecessors Live At Scholes Street Studio. Gauci has the knack of surrounding himself with top notch company and this is no exception. Joining him are two of the more seasoned avant jazz practitioners on the New York scene, bassist Michael Bisio and drummer Whit Dickey. Bisio himself holds the bass chair in pianist Matthew Shipp's Trio, a high profile outfit which Dickey ...

7
Album Review

Stephen Gauci / Francisco Mela / William Parker / Matthew Shipp: Live at Scholes Street Studio

Read "Live at Scholes Street Studio" reviewed by John Sharpe


Tenor saxophonist Stephen Gauci provokes blistering unfettered performances from the starry cast on another installment of Live At Scholes Street Studio. Gauci embodies a fierce DIY ethos which manifests in producing multiple concert series in NYC as well as releasing consequent material on his own label and posting video documentation on his website. On this occasion, he is joined by three storied veterans of the avant-jazz scene in pianist Matthew Shipp, bassist William Parker and drummer Francisco Mela who bring ...

4
Album Review

Gauci Leibson Parker Sorey: Live at Scholes Street Studio

Read "Live at Scholes Street Studio" reviewed by John Sharpe


Tenor saxophonist Stephen Gauci certainly knows how to pick a band. On another of his regular bulletins which go under the title Live At Scholes Street Studio, he has assembled a line-up to die for, notable for the appearance of Tyshawn Sorey on drums and William Parker on bass. Although Argentinian pianist Santiago Leibson may be less feted, he is a trusted collaborator who combined effectively with Gauci on Pandemic Duets (Gaucimusic, 2021), and he plays a full role on ...

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270
Recording

Stephen Gauci/ Kris Davis/ Michael Bisio - SKM (Clean Feed)

Stephen Gauci/ Kris Davis/ Michael Bisio - SKM (Clean Feed)

Source: Master of a Small House

Operating under the ostensible leadership of saxophonist Stephen Gauci, but still very much an ensemble affair, versatility factors prominently on this straightforward trio set. Gauci and bassist Michael Bisio are well-established colleagues, their associations formed in the last decade on a number of projects for CIMP. Canadian pianist Kris Davis moves in similar circles having worked with New York notables like Tony Malaby and Tom Rainey. Their rapport manifests right away, stressing spontaneity rather than any predictable path with their ...

Primary Instrument

Saxophone, tenor

Location

New York City

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

Lessons cover all aspects of musicianship including tone production, technique, reading, and improvisation. Beginners through advanced, children and adults welcome -references are available on request. Lessons are at my conveniently located downtown studio, or in your manhattan home. My rates are $50/hr or $40 for a 45 minute lesson. I offer a $10 discounted rate for students (with a valid student ID). Lessons cancelled less than 24 hrs in advance to be paid in full.

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