Neil Gerstenberg

Neil Gerstenberg studied clarinet and saxophone from the age of 9. He started playing semi-professionally at 17 with invaluable guidance and tuition from Paul Dunmall. He went on to study with Alan Skidmore, Stan Sultzman and Geoff Simpkins whilest pursuing his studies at Cambridge University.

After graduation he spent a year spent playing jazz in Asia. A few years later an encouter in New York with the amazing John Purcell (World Sax Quartet, Jack DeJohnette, David Murray Group) was to prove a turning point in his musical evolution. After several years further study with John Purcell - possibly the worlds leading expert on the saxello and the acoustic science of the saxophone, sound consultant to David Sanborn, Michael Brecker - he began performing with many world-class groups including Synop-sis (album "Home" featuring David Sanborn), Jean-Marc Jafet (album "Douceur Lunaire" 1998), Thierry Maillard (CD "Entre Deux Mondes" released 2005 on Crystal Records) his own traditional celtic ensemble MacLellan's Celtic Caravan, "Nice Touch" featuring singer/songwriter Scott Allen, the Amaury Filiard Group, NadiaMori (CD "ElectroJazz" 2005) and "Caravanserail" (CD to be released 2006).

Neil recently visited the UAE on two occasions, and has performed worldwide at major festivals including Edinburgh, Islay, Brecon and Cimiez. He currently divides his time between the UK and the south of France.

In 2003 Neil and fellow Scot Ronnie Rae Jr. formed "MickMac" with leading French musicians, promptly winning an award in France for their first self-produced celtic-jazz album, and support for a forthcoming CD release. Together they have also performed at several French Jazz Festivals, played for the Antibes Juan-les-Pins Festival "Off", and the Nice Jazz Festival Jam Session as the "Ronnie Rae Quartet". "MickMac" is where Celtic melody meets Jazz harmony... Neil and Ronnie are in the front line of young Scottish and Irish players bringing jazz improvisation to traditional Celtic instruments:

QUEEN'S HALL, EDINBURGH

You wouldn't have heard it at Ronnie Scott's. As sax player Julian Arguelles expounded soulfully, the rest of drummer John Rae's rumbustious folk-jazz big band murmuring behind him, pipers started wandering, droning, into the hall, until there was a full pipe-band, drummers an' a', crammed onto an already packed stage. "...

"Strange and wonderful things happen in this little-explored territory where jam meets rant. There was Brian Kellock's no-nonsense boogie, escorted by a swirl of sax and accordion, bringing in Rae's smaller, Celtic Feet sextet for a sparking, sizzling opening set. There was Neil Gerstenberg, later to give us a fine, loose-limbed sax solo, warbling soulfully on that well-known jazz instrument, the penny whistle. And there was American trumpeter Warren Vache (aka Sporran Washy), looking bemused to find himself both be-kilted and reeling alongside full-tilt fiddler Eilidh Shaw, before tearing a full-throated solo out of the situation."

MUSIC REVIEW The Scotsman, 6th December 2003 John Rae's Big Feet & Islay Pipe Band ****

Neil performed at the Spiegeltent with John Rae's "Magic Feet" from August 11-22 2005 where the group won one of the 20 prestigious "Herald Angel" awards given to outstanding performers at the Edinburgh Fringe & Festival each year.

In 2006 Neil will be performing in France, Spain, Italy and China, and will be teaching Jazz, Saxophone and Pennywhistle at the new CMCA jazz school in Nice (http://www.cmcajazz.com)

Equipment:

Rampone & Cazzani R1 Jazz Vintage Heavy Gold Saxello (semi-curved soprano saxophone)

My Rampone Sax (saxello) is definately the best saxophone I have ever played. I was recently honored to visit Claudio Zolla at the family factory in Quarna near Lakes Orta & Maggiore in Italy and spent 6 hours with him trying their fantastic horns and visiting the factory. Every instrument is hand made (and I mean from start to finish), beautifully engraved by Claudio himself, and it turns out that his family have been making saxophones even longer than Selmer. I am very much looking forward to recording this amazing instrument, and strongly advise anyone looking for a unique 100% hand-made saxophone to take a holiday near Quarna Sotta!. You can visit Rampone saxophones at http://www.ramponecazzani.it

Alto Sax Mark VI (106,xxx).

Michael Copeland D soprano whistle. Again, this is one of those instruments that is born out of the passion and talent of a master craftsmen. I had to wait 9 months for mine a few years back, but those to whom I have recommended these exceptional whistles tell me the waiting list is now much shorter. http://www.copelandwoodwinds.com/

Glenn Shultz G Whistle A beautiful rosewood whistle by the sadly recently deceased Glenn Shultz sr. Another unique hand crafted instrument that I am fortunate to posess.
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