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Jaleel Shaw
Raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Shaw attended Greene Street Friends School, the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts and graduated from George Washington High School. He studied with saxophonist Rayburn Wright, Robert Landham, and jazz instructor Lovette Hines, whose students have included Christian McBride and Joey Defrancesco. His many mentors in Philadelphia, including John Blake, Byard Lancaster, Alfie Pollit, and Grover Washington Jr.
Shaw received a dual degree in Music Education and Performance in 2000 from Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. He subsequently attended the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, from which he received a master's degree in Jazz Performance in May 2002. He was a finalist in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition that year. In 2008, he was awarded ASCAP's 2008 Young Jazz Composer Award.
Shaw has performed internationally in Australia, China, London, Paris, Italy, Finland, Africa, Scotland, Amsterdam, Austria, Spain and Portugal, as well as many cities in the U.S. He was a member of the Roy Haynes band for fourteen years and also performed with the Mingus Big Band, the Either Orchestra, the Count Basie Big Band, Jeremy Pelt, Jason Moran, Pat Metheny, Stefon Harris, Roy Hargrove, Chick Corea, Jimmy Cobb and others.
Shaw released his first CD, Perspective, in 2005. It was reviewed as one of the top debut albums of that year by All About Jazz and was deemed a "convincing opening statement in what promises to be an important career". In 2006, Shaw played as a member of the legendary World Saxophone Quartet, appearing on their album Political Blues. Shaw released his sophomore recording, Optimism, in 2008, followed by Soundtrack of Things to Come in 2013. Echoes was released in 2021 and features solo alto and soprano saxophones with added electronic effects. After a thirteen-year recording hiatus, he returned in 2025 with Painter of the Invisible.
Shaw is currently on the faculty of the Manhattan School of Music, teaching alto saxophone and small ensemble.
Awards
ASCAP Young Composer Award for " The Heavyweight Champion" - 2006
ASCAP Young Composer Award for " The Flipside" - 2008
Gear
Selmer Mark IV Alto Saxophone, Vandoren A6 V16 Mouthpiece, Rico Reeds, Yamaha 62 Soprano, Selmer Mouthpiece, Rico Reeds
Tags
Jaleel Shaw: Painter Of The Invisible
by Carl Medsker
For twenty years, Jaleel Shaw has steadily built a robust career that includes a lengthy apprenticeship with Roy Haynes, steady work as an in-demand sideman and mentoring the next generation at the Manhattan School of Music. Painter Of The Invisible caps two years of significant events: Dave Holland enlisted him in his 2024 quartet along with Kris Davis and Nasheet Waits, after which he fronted a band at the 2024 Newport Jazz Festival for the first time. Then, in March ...
Continue ReadingBrian Landrus: Red List
by Jerome Wilson
Saxophonist Brian Landrus created this project with a purpose summed up in its subtitle, Music Dedicated to the Preservation of our Endangered Species. The album was made to create awareness about all the animal species on Earth in danger of extinction, thirteen of which are explicitly referenced here. For most of these, such as the Malayan tiger and the snow leopard, only a few hundreds or thousands are still alive. For the Javan rhino, there were only 67 left at ...
Continue ReadingBrian Landrus: Red List
by Jack Bowers
No matter how one receives his music, there is no doubt that woodwind specialist Brian Landrus' heart is in the right place. Red List, his eleventh album as leader, is dedicated to the preservation of Earth's endangered animal species. Landrus names thirteen, at least five of which--the kakapo, Malayan tiger, gharial, vaquita and Javan rhino--are all but gone, with less than three hundred of each species remaining. In fact, it is estimated that only eight vaquitas (a species of porpoise ...
Continue ReadingBrian Landrus: Red List
by Angelo Leonardi
L'undicesimo disco di Brian Landrus è un progetto a difesa di tredici specie animali minacciate di estinzione. Vegetariano dell'età di 12 anni e poi vegano, il sassofonista di Reno (Nevada) ha sempre operato a sostegno del mondo animale. Per sua stessa ammissione è questa la passione della sua vita, assieme al jazz. L'anno scorso, dopo aver aperto una sottoscrizione su Gofundme.com, Brian ha raccolto un settetto base più ospiti, per registrare quindici nuove composizioni dedicate alle specie minacciate, ...
Continue ReadingFarnell Newton: Feel The Love
by David A. Orthmann
Posi-Tone Records produces coherent projects and maintains high standards in part by keeping things in-house; that is, frequently drawing on a substantial roster of affiliated artists to serve on a particular leader's record. A case in point is Feel The Love, Farnell Newton's third release for the label. While Newton's measured, concise, full-toned trumpet stylings and five, melodically rich compositions are a large part of the record's appeal, there are other factors that stand out. By turns ...
Continue ReadingJaleel Shaw; Echoes from the Solitude
by David Bixler
The quiet of the last year and a half has given alto saxophonist Jaleel Shaw the time to think about his life and the world around him. This solitude manifests itself in his new solo saxophone recording, Echoes, which contains musical ruminations on loss, race, and the pandemic. In this episode of LINER NOTES, Jaleel speaks about the process that produced his intriguing new recording. This episode contains music from Jaleel Shaw's recording Echoes. ...
Continue ReadingFarnell Newton: Feel The Love
by Kyle Simpler
When cellist Pablo Casals was 93 years old, someone asked him why he still spent hours a day practising. Casals humorously replied that it was because he was beginning to notice some improvement. Like Casals, many other musicians spend hours practising and, in most cases, this dedication comes purely from a true love of music. Trumpet player Farnell Newton is no exception and, with Feel The Love, his passion for music is evident throughout. During the first two ...
Continue ReadingJazz Musician of the Day: Jaleel Shaw
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Jaleel Shaw's birthday today!
Jaleel Shaw, alto saxophonist, is currently a member of the Roy Haynes Quartet, Charles Mingus Big Band, and performs in various clubs in New York City and abroad with various groups, including the Jaleel Shaw Quintet. Jaleel grew up in Philadelphia, PA, where he studied with saxophonist Rayburn Wright, Robert Landham, and jazz instructor Lovette Hines, whose students have included Christian McBride and Joey Defrancesco. Jaleel had many mentors in Philadelphia, ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Jaleel Shaw
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Jaleel Shaw's birthday today!
Jaleel Shaw, alto saxophonist, is currently a member of the Roy Haynes Quartet, Charles Mingus Big Band, and performs in various clubs in New York City and abroad with various groups, including the Jaleel Shaw Quintet. Jaleel grew up in Philadelphia, PA, where he studied with saxophonist Rayburn Wright, Robert Landham, and jazz instructor Lovette Hines, whose students have included Christian McBride and Joey Defrancesco. Jaleel had many mentors in Philadelphia, ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Jaleel Shaw
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Jaleel Shaw's birthday today!
Jaleel Shaw, alto saxophonist, is currently a member of the Roy Haynes Quartet, Charles Mingus Big Band, and performs in various clubs in New York City and abroad with various groups, including the Jaleel Shaw Quintet. Jaleel grew up in Philadelphia, PA, where he studied with saxophonist Rayburn Wright, Robert Landham, and jazz instructor Lovette Hines, whose students have included Christian McBride and Joey Defrancesco. Jaleel had many mentors in Philadelphia, ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Jaleel Shaw
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Jaleel Shaw's birthday today!
Jaleel Shaw, alto saxophonist, is currently a member of the Roy Haynes Quartet, Charles Mingus Big Band, and performs in various clubs in New York City and abroad with various groups, including the Jaleel Shaw Quintet. Jaleel grew up in Philadelphia, PA, where he studied with saxophonist Rayburn Wright, Robert Landham, and jazz instructor Lovette Hines, whose students have included Christian McBride and Joey Defrancesco. Jaleel had many mentors in Philadelphia, ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Jaleel Shaw
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Jaleel Shaw's birthday today!
Jaleel Shaw, alto saxophonist, is currently a member of the Roy Haynes Quartet, Charles Mingus Big Band, and performs in various clubs in New York City and abroad with various groups, including the Jaleel Shaw Quintet. Jaleel grew up in Philadelphia, PA, where he studied with saxophonist Rayburn Wright, Robert Landham, and jazz instructor Lovette Hines, whose students have included Christian McBride and Joey Defrancesco... Read more.
Place our Musician of ...
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Jazz Musician of the Day: Jaleel Shaw
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Jaleel Shaw's birthday today!
Jaleel Shaw, alto saxophonist, is currently a member of the Roy Haynes Quartet, Charles Mingus Big Band, and performs in various clubs in New York City and abroad with various groups, including the Jaleel Shaw Quintet. Jaleel grew up in Philadelphia, PA, where he studied with saxophonist Rayburn Wright, Robert Landham, and jazz instructor Lovette Hines, whose students have included Christian McBride and Joey Defrancesco... Read more.
Place our Musician of ...
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Jazz Musician of the Day: Jaleel Shaw
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Jaleel Shaw's birthday today!
Jaleel Shaw, alto saxophonist, is currently a member of the Roy Haynes Quartet, Charles Mingus Big Band, and performs in various clubs in New York City and abroad with various groups, including the Jaleel Shaw Quintet. Jaleel grew up in Philadelphia, PA, where he studied with saxophonist Rayburn Wright, Robert Landham, and jazz instructor Lovette Hines, whose students have included Christian McBride and Joey Defrancesco... Read more.
Place our Musician of ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Jaleel Shaw
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Jaleel Shaw's birthday today!
Jaleel Shaw, alto saxophonist, is currently a member of the Roy Haynes Quartet, Charles Mingus Big Band, and performs in various clubs in New York City and abroad with various groups, including the Jaleel Shaw Quintet. Jaleel grew up in Philadelphia, PA, where he studied with saxophonist Rayburn Wright, Robert Landham, and jazz instructor Lovette Hines, whose students have included Christian McBride and Joey Defrancesco... Read more.
Place our Musician of ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Jaleel Shaw
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Jaleel Shaw's birthday today! Jaleel Shaw, alto saxophonist, is currently a member of the Roy Haynes Quartet, Charles Mingus Big Band, and performs in various clubs in New York City and abroad with various groups, including the Jaleel Shaw Quintet. Jaleel grew up in Philadelphia, PA, where he studied with saxophonist Rayburn Wright, Robert Landham, and jazz instructor Lovette Hines, whose students have included Christian McBride and Joey Defrancesco... Read more. Place our Musician of ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Jaleel Shaw
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Jaleel Shaw's birthday today!
Jaleel Shaw, alto saxophonist, is currently a member of the Roy Haynes Quartet, Charles Mingus Big Band, and performs in various clubs in New York City and abroad with various groups, including the Jaleel Shaw Quintet. Jaleel grew up in Philadelphia, PA, where he studied with saxophonist Rayburn Wright, Robert Landham, and jazz instructor Lovette Hines, whose students have included Christian McBride and Joey Defrancesco... Read more.
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"Where jazz is going, folks like alto saxophonist Jaleel Shaw will be steering the way." -The Philadelphia Inquirer "Alto saxophonist Jaleel Shaw is especially promising, the real thing... a tough personal player... not a bebop revivalist." - The Chicago Tribune "Mr. Shaw has a strong voice and an acute temperament." - The New York Times "... plays with seductive melodicism." -The Washington Post "...a fiery young alto player." -The Scottsman (Scotland) "...an articulate powerhouse player." -The Ottawa Citizen (Canada) "Shaw reveals an awesome control and command of the alto saxophone..
Primary Instrument
Saxophone, alto
Location
New York City
Willing to teach
Advanced only
Credentials/Background
Jaleel Shaw received his Bachelors in Music Education and Performance. He also holds a Masters degree in Performance from the Manhattan School of Music. Jaleel taught Improv, Ensembles, and private saxophhone lessons from 2003 - 2006 and Temple University and he currently teaches private lessons through the New School University.
Clinic/Workshop Information
Clinics range from Practice techniques, Large and Small Ensemble group concepts, The Music Business, Composition, the Saxophone, and Jazz History.
Photos
Music
The Flipside
From: OptimismBy Jaleel Shaw
Videos
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Jaleel Shaw
Location: New York City
Instrument: Saxophone, alto
Born: February 11, 1978
Publicist: MFA - Mitchell Feldman Associates
