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Anders Svanoe

Playing mainly the baritone, but also the soprano, alto, tenor saxophones, Anders got his start in music taking piano lessons, singing in church choirs and playing saxophone in the public school band. In 1991 Anders graduated from Luther College and in 1994 he completed his Masters Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In the mid 1990s Anders studied with Frank Morgan while Frank lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Frank taught me everything about the saxophone, especially the importance of sound. Another key component to Anders’ post-graduate education was his meetings with multi-instrumentalist and composer Roscoe Mitchell. Since 2001 Anders has played and recorded with Roscoe in various contexts ranging from duos to large ensembles.

As a member of the Transatlantic Art Ensemble, The Roscoe Mitchell Big Band, and a guest with Roscoe Mitchell’s Note Factory, Anders has performed with a “who’s-who” in the jazz/contemporary improvised music scene: Evan Parker, Corey Wilkes, Craig Taborn, Philipp Wachsmann, Jaribu Shahid, Barry Guy, Tani Tabbal, Paul Lytton, Vijay Iyer, Ari Brown, Mwata Bowden, Spencer Barefield, Gerald Cleaver and many others.

Anders has also performed with The Cab Calloway Orchestra, Greg Abate, Jon Irabagon and the award winning Tony Castañeda Latin Jazz Sextet. He has opened for Grammy Award Latin Jazz legend, Pancho Sanchez and composer/percussionist Gerry Hemingway.

In 2007 The Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University published Anders’ book on Detroit bebop saxophonist, Sonny Red, in its Annual Review of Jazz Studies 13. Bluesville: The Journey of Sonny Red was a 10 year project focusing on the virtually unknown, but very unique, saxophonist from Detroit. The book includes transcriptions, a discography, and an oral history which includes interviews from: Curtis Fuller, Kiane Zawadi, Tommy Flanagan, Frank Foster, Charles McPherson, Louis Hayes, Jimmy Heath, Talibe Kibwe, Cedar Walton, Yusef Lateef, many more musicians and family members. These interviews, pictures, discography and music can be found at the official Sonny Red website that Anders curates.

Currently Anders plays in ASTRO, MANTIS, The Anders Svanoe Double Quartet and Latin Jazz Quintet. Some of these bands are featured on The State of the Baritone series on Irabbagast Records.

Awards

DownBeat- "Jazz on Campus 1997", Tone Madison- Top 20 Album of the year 2017, 2018, 2022, Madison, Madison, WI, Top 10 Jazz Album of the year 2018, Kevin Lynch, Milwaukee, WI, DownBeat- 2020 year top rated album for "Solo Flight."

Gear

Buescher Saxophones. Otto Link Mouthpieces.

Astro: Eclipse: State Of The Baritone, Volume 6

Read "Eclipse: State Of The Baritone, Volume 6" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
June 17, 2024

For composer, author and saxophonist Anders Svanoe place is the space. That last part needs no correction as the proud Wisconsinite creates an abundance of sound 150 miles north of Chicago. He has been releasing his State Of The Baritone series, and Astro Eclipse is volume 6. Previously, he has investigated Latin jazz with El Dragón: State Of The Baritone Volume 5 (Irrabagast Records, 2022), Solo Flight: State Of The Baritone Volume 4 ((Irrabagast Records, 2019), plus a couple of ...

Album Review

Anders Svanoe / Brad Townsend / Nick Zielinski: Mantis

by Mark Corroto
March 22, 2022

While taking a bit of a breather from releasing his State of the Baritone series, Anders Svanoe joined forces with bassist Brad Townsend and drummer Nick Zielinski to record Mantis. Svanoe's compositions paired with two-thirds of Minneapolis' avant-fusion band ARP Of The Covenant (unplugged here) deliver an assorted mix of highly emotive styles. The trio upgrades the saxophone trio format with freedom, though freedom anchored by some heavy grooves. The title track “Mantis" marches a procession only to be broken ...

Album Review

Anders Svanoe: 747 Queen Of The Skies: State Of The Baritone Vol. 3

Read "747 Queen Of The Skies: State Of The Baritone Vol. 3" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
February 10, 2019

Recall a common theme you would hear on an episode of Star Trek, the 1960s television show, not the fatuous films and modern remakes. Captain Kirk would order “more power Mr Scott," and the reply always was, “I've giv'n her all she's got captain, an' I canna give her no more." The same lines come to mind while spinning baritone saxophonist Anders Svanoe's State Of The Baritone Vol. 3, which was conceived around the mighty 747 airliner, a plane no ...

Album Review

Anders Svanoe: State Of The Baritone Volume 2

Read "State Of The Baritone Volume 2" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
April 23, 2018

Some people see a baritone saxophone and think it an obtuse and blunt instrument. Not Anders Svanoe; he sees his baritone saxophone as a sharpened, yet subtle tool. Evidenced by State Of The Baritone Volume 2, he communicates everything from shuffling boogaloos to energized free-jazz, post-bop, and folk music with an uncanny naturalness. All of this is accomplished within the difficult framework of a trio format. That's no small feat, and one I don't believe had been attempted ...

“The improbable sleeper of the year is The State of the Baritone by Madison WI reed player Anders Svanoe, who rewarded producer-saxophonist Jon Irabagon’s faith in him, with an ambitious and conceptually lucid statement about the hulking horn’s ability to float like a butterfly and roar like a buffalo stampede, among other qualities.” Kevin Lynch - www.kevernacular.com

“Exceptional saxophonist Jon Irabagon knows when he’s sighted a fellow virtuoso.” “State of the Baritone 2 is a muscular session combining frequent groove propulsion and multiple tune sections, making a harmonious marriage between bebop and free blowing.” Martin Longley – DownBeat

Primary Instrument

Saxophone, baritone

Location

Madison

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

Anders has been teaching saxophone privately for over 30 years. He has also been a teacher/clinician at a number of public schools, colleges and universities in the Madison and Southern Wisconsin area.

List of schools/clinics-

Beloit College, The University of Wisconsin-Madison, The Madison Pubic Schools, The Waunakee Summer Music Camp, The Memorial and East High School Jazz Bands, The Sun Prairie Band Booster Lesson Academy, Madison Country Day School, Madison College, Highland Community College, The University of Wisconsin-Madison Summer Music Clinic, The University of Wisconsin-Madison Mini Courses, Ward Brodt Music and The Eastwood School of Music.