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Anna Webber
Anna Webber (b. 1984) is a New York-based flutist, saxophonist, and composer whose interests and work live the overlap between avant-garde jazz and new classical music. Her new album, Clockwise, featuring a septet comprised of several of the most creative musicians working in New York’s avant-garde, will be released on Pi Recordings in February 2019. Webber is joined on Clockwise by Jeremy Viner, Jacob Garchik, Chris Hoffman, Matt Mitchell, Chris Tordini, and Ches Smith.
In addition to this septet, Webber also leads the critically acclaimed Simple Trio, featuring drummer John Hollenbeck and pianist Matt Mitchell, with which she has released two albums on Skirl Records: Binary (2016) and SIMPLE (2014). She has furthermore recorded for Munich’s Pirouet Records with the now defunct Percussive Mechanics. Her other projects a big band co-led with Angela Morris; Jagged Spheres with Devin Gray and Elias Stemeseder; EAVE with Erik Hove, Evan Tighe, and Vicky Mettler; and The Hero of Warchester with Nathaniel Morgan and Liz Kosack.
Webber is a 2018 Guggenheim Fellow. She has additionally been awarded grants from the Copland Fund (2021 & 2019), the Shifting Foundation (2015), the New York Foundation for the Arts (2017), the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, and the Canada Council for the Arts and residencies from Exploring the Metropolis (2019), the MacDowell Colony (2017 & 2020), the Millay Colony for the Arts (2015), and the Brush Creek Foundation for the Arts (2014).
Webber has performed and/or recorded with Dan Weiss’ Sixteen; Jen Shyu’s Jade Tongue; Matt Mitchell’s A Pouting Grimace and Sprees; Dave Douglas’ ENGAGE; the John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble; Ches Smith’s Laugh Ash; Adam Hopkins’ Crickets; Geof Bradfield’s Yes and...; the Chris Tordini Quartet; Ohad Talmor’s Grand Ensemble; Fabian Almazan’s Realm of Possibilities; Noah Garabedian’s Big Butter and the Eggmen; the Erik Hove Chamber Ensemble; a sextet from Bang on a Can All-Stars member Ken Thomson; Harris Eisenstadt’s Recent Developments; and the Marike van Dijk Stereography Project. She performed in the world premiere of Sila: The Breath of the World by Pulitzer Prize-winner John Luther Adams at the Lincoln Center.
Originally from British Columbia, Webber studied music at McGill University in Montreal before moving to New York City in 2008. She holds master’s degrees from both Manhattan School of Music and the Jazz Institute Berlin.
Awards
Prix Francois-Marcaurelle, L'OFF Festival du Jazz 2010
Tags
Anna Webber's Simple Trio at the King Center
by Geoff Anderson
Anna Webber's Simple Trio King Center Denver, CO January 24, 2025 The state of Nebraska had an unusual slogan for its tourism campaign: “Nebraska, honestly, it's not for everyone." Indeed, with no obvious crowd-pleasers like sunny beaches or majestic mountains, Nebraska must rely on more subtle attractions. Having spent two summers in the state detasseling corn, I can attest to Nebraska's understated charms. Unfortunately, I can't go into the details of what detasseling ...
Continue ReadingAnna Webber: simpletrio2000
by John Sharpe
Although the name of saxophonist and flautist Anna Webber's trio with pianist Matt Mitchell and drummer John Hollenbeck might suggest something easy to understand, there is nothing straightforward about their output. Notwithstanding the title, Simpletrio2000 constitutes the band's third release (or fourth if you include the first installment of the double discIdiom (Pi, 2021)), that arrives some ten years after the outfit's eponymous debut. Like much of Webber's work, the 11 cuts here are intricately plotted, even with only three ...
Continue ReadingModney: Ascending Primes
by Vincenzo Roggero
"Ascender" ti investe con la forza di un uragano. Poco più di sette minuti dove il solitario violino di Joshua Modney, collegato ad un pedale distorsore, scatena un'onda d'urto di emozioni che stordisce. Ingannati da un inizio che ha le cadenze di una ballata folk improvvisamente il suono si stratifica, ruggisce, deborda in rumore, rende lo spazio denso e grumoso salvo poi scivolare in una dolcezza apparente, strattonata com'è da dissonanze e armonici. È l'apertura di Ascending Primes, ...
Continue ReadingGeof Bradfield: Colossal Abundance
by Dan Bilawsky
In the summer of 2023, saxophonist Geof Bradfield and trumpeter Chad McCullough launched Calligram Records--a label focusing on the Chicago creative music scene and its branches. The first batch of albums was strong, with showcases for each of the label heads' respective combo projects, trumpeter Russ Johnson's chordless quartet, and newcomer tenorist Arman Sangalang. A wide variety of offerings followed--the global stew of Atlantic Road Trip's first flight, a kicking trio date from guitarist Scott Hesse, a broad-minded gathering with ...
Continue ReadingMiles Okazaki: Miniature America
by Alberto Bazzurro
Ventidue miniature svarianti da uno a sei minuti, con impegnati sottoinsiemi (o microgruppi, se preferite) estrapolati dal totale dei dieci elementi, sette strumentisti e tre cantanti, coinvolti nell'operazione, è quanto ci offre questo nuovo lavoro discografico (il dodicesimo, ci viene detto) a nome del cinquantenne chitarrista Miles Okazaki, con la partecipazione di svariati musicisti di punta dell'attuale scena newyorchese (e non). Ogni episodio possiede--fisiologicamente, verrebbe da dire--un aplomb cameristico di sicuro fascino, anche se è inevitabile che il ...
Continue ReadingAnna Webber: Shimmer Wince
by John Sharpe
There is often an underlying rigor to the work of Canadian saxophonist and flautist Anna Webber, be that inspiration from the digital world on Binary (Skirl, 2016), her investigation of multiphonic intervals on Idiom (Pi, 2021) or contemporary classical percussion repertoire on Clockwise (Pi, 2020). On Shimmer Wince, she derives her compositions from her study of Just Intonation, a system which many believe offers a more “pure" way of tuning and allows greater timbral and sonic possibilities ...
Continue ReadingAnna Webber: Shimmer Wince
by Mark Corroto
Some mechanical wristwatches have clear faces which allow the owner to observe the inner workings of the marvelous object. It is a wonder just how the timepiece utilizes its mainspring and gear train to drive the harmonic oscillator which keeps near perfect time. The same can be said of composer, saxophonist and flautist Anna Webber's investigation into unique tunings using the overtone series known as Just Intonation (JI). It is an ancient system based on the natural vibration of physical ...
Continue ReadingFebruary Concerts Introduce New England Conservatory's New Jazz Studies Co-chair, Internationally Acclaimed Saxophonist, Flutist, And Composer Anna Webber
Source:
Braithwaite & Katz Communications
Internationally acclaimed saxophonist, flutist, and composer Anna Webber, the new co-chair of New England Conservatory’s Jazz Studies Department, brings her multiple talents to Jordan Hall audiences for two February concerts. Webber’s teaching and coaching skills, excellence as a performer, and original compositions combine in events that reflect Webber’s expansive musical imagination and demonstrate why the Guggenheim Fellow has been called “visionary and captivating” (Wall Street Journal). Anna Webber Residency Concert on Thursday, February 8, 7:30 p.m. at Jordan Hall, 290 ...
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Internationally Acclaimed Flutist, Saxophonist And Composer Anna Webber Appointed Co-chair Of New England Conservatory’s Jazz Studies Department Beginning In 2023-2024 Academic Year
Source:
Braithwaite & Katz Communications
New England Conservatory’s Jazz Studies Department has appointed renowned flutist, saxophonist and composer Anna Webber to join the NEC faculty as Co-Chair of the Jazz Studies Department beginning in the fall of 2023. Webber, whose interests and work live in the aesthetic overlap between avant-garde jazz and new classical music, has been widely heralded for her “visionary and captivating” music (Wall Street Journal). “I'm thrilled to welcome flutist, saxophonist and composer Anna Webber to the NEC faculty and administration,” says ...
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“Anna Webber is a rare musician that can comfortably combine intellectual curiosity with pure emotion. Each time I've performed with her, a completely new sound was revealed. She is confident in her path and I am always anxious of her next moves. A brilliant player.” -Jason Moran Flutist, saxist and composer Anna Webber celebrates her new disc, Third Floor People, a whimsical yet exacting session that's likely to strike a chord with devotees of eclectic downtown jazz. -Hank Shteamer, Time Out New York Those who stand up and give the finger to the status quo must be honored
Primary Instrument
Saxophone, tenor
Location
New York City
Willing to teach
Beginner to advanced
Credentials/Background
As an educator, Webber has taught students of all ages and skill levels privately, through music academies, and at public and private school (PS290, Selwyn House). She is on faculty as a woodwind, band, and theory instructor at Manhattan School of Music’s summer camp, and has been a featured clinician for jazz ensembles at schools both in the USA and Canada. Email for rates and hours.
Dustin Carlson
guitar
Colin Hinton
drumsPhotos
Music
The Cocktail Party
From: Miniature AmericaBy Anna Webber
Ascender
From: Ascending PrimesBy Anna Webber
Secours Meurtriers
From: SéancesBy Anna Webber
Rectangles 2
From: BinaryBy Anna Webber
Anna Webber
Location: New York City
Instrument: Saxophone, tenor
Born: November 26, 1984
