Results for "saxophone, alto"

Abraham Burton

Born: March 17, 1971

Abraham Burton - of Belizean descent, is a native of New York. His interest in music began its development at the High School of Music & Art, during which time he was awarded by Downbeat and McDonalds in their Combo Competitions. He later studied under the tutelage of the jazz great, Jackie McLean at the Hartt School of Music, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Music, graduating with honors. Abraham's professional career as a musician was initiated with the legendary drummer Arthur Taylor. During his five years with "Taylor's Wailers" he recorded on "Mr. A.T." and "Live at the Village Vanguard" on Enja Records, touring throughout Europe and performing at notable New York clubs such as: The Village Vanguard, Sweet Basil, and Birdland. Since his time, Abraham has developed a reputation as a veritable professional performing and/or recording with the most prestigious of musicians such as Wynton Marsalis, Milt Jackson, Roy Hargrove, Louis Hayes, James Carter, Kenny Barron, and Jimmy Smith to name just a few. He went on to form a band in '94 entitled "The Abraham Burton Quartet" which recorded "Closest to the Sun" and "The Magician" with Enja Records

Marion Brown

Born: September 8, 1931

Marion Brown made his name as an alto saxophonist aftermastering clarinet and oboe, and established himself in theforefront of the free jazz movement.

Born in Atlanta, on Sept. 8, 1931, he moved to Harlem as ateenager. In the 50s he studied music at Clark College,Atlanta and law at Howard University, Washington, DC. Hespent 18 months playing the clarinet in an army band on theJapanese island of Hokkaido. In 1962 he moved back toNewYork to play jazz full time, and was mentored by OrnetteColeman. His first musical exposure came with ArchieShepp,and he quickly gained a reputation after playing on JohnColtrane's historic “Ascension.”

Earl Bostic

Born: April 25, 1913

Bostic's distinctive style, strong on the sax and heavy on the beat, was quite successful in the rhythm and blues market in the 1950s. One of the few jazz musicians of his generation with formal training, Bostic studied composition at Xavier University in New Orleans in the early 1930s, and then spent several years performing with territory bands in the Midwest as well as with Fate Marable, who led one of the last Mississippi riverboat bands. His reputation as a superb instrumentalist earned him an invitation to come to New York City, where he played with Hot Lips Page and Lionel Hampton

Arthur Blythe

Born: July 5, 1940

A singularly distinctive and uniquely distinguishable stylist, Arthur Blythe is considered one of the greatest alto saxophonist's of his generation. Blythe's beautiful, passionate and expressive sound validates his reputation as one of the most significant jazz musicians of our times. Blythe's work is notable for its exploration of harmony, group counterpoint, and unusual instrumentation. These features, coupled with his rapid, wide vibrato, his swinging style, and his interest in the standard jazz repertory, have won him praise from a wide audience. Arthur Blythe was born 1940 in Los Angeles and grew up in San Diego where his parents moved 1944

Jorge Sylvester

Born: February 5, 1953

JORGE SYLVESTER: Alto Saxophonist, Composer, Conductor, Arranger, Bandleader, Producer, Educator Born in Colon, Panama Jorge attended the Panama Conservatory of Music and the University of Panama. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music from the State University of New York College at New Paltz in 1981. A unique innovator and impressive composer and arranger in the idiom of creative music, his sound is reminiscent of Eric Dolphy and Ornette Coleman. Jorge has remained on the cutting edge of the creative NY Jazz scene since his arrival from Spain in 1980. Sylvester’s blend of African-Caribbean rhythms with new music is what gives him his distinguished voice. Beginning his professional career at age 14, Jorge was leading his own Caribbean dance band, writing his own arrangements and compositions

Frank Strozier

Born: June 13, 1937

Frank Strozier (born June 13, 1937) is an alto saxophonist renowned for his playing in the hard bop idiom. Frank Strozier has long been a top-notch hard bop stylist whose intense sound recalls (but is not derivative of) Jackie McLean. One of many excellent jazzmen who grew up in Memphis, Strozier played with other Memphis musicians even after he moved to Chicago in 1954 (including Harold Mabern, Booker Little, and George Coleman). He recorded with the MJT + 3 from 1959-1960, and led sessions for Vee Jay during the same period. After moving to New York, Strozier was briefly with the Miles Davis Quintet in 1963 (between Hank Mobley and George Coleman), gigged with Roy Haynes, and then relocated to Los Angeles

James Spaulding

Born: July 30, 1937

James Spaulding, has established his reputation as a masterful soloist for ensemble performances, and for many years was among the busier sidemen for Blue Note Records. An exceptional saxophonist and flutist, he is one of the many fine artists to come out James has worked with Sun Ra, Freddie Hubbard, Max Roach, and more...of the Indianapolis, Indiana area. James is a modernist, with solid roots in classical jazz; his saxophone style is an extension of the Charlie Parker influence, but his overall concept incorporates much of the broad jazz saxophone heritage. Spaulding's musical training started early, as he came from a musical family in his place of birth Indiana (his father was a professional musician who played the guitar and led his own big band, traveling throughout the country)

Jim Snidero

Born: May 29, 1958

Over the past thirty-five years, Jim Snidero has come to be known as one of the finest jazz musicians of his generation. As an alto saxophonist, composer, arranger, author and educator, Snidero has been called both a “master musician” and “alto saxophone virtuoso” by Downbeat Magazine, and placed in the 2017 Downbeat Critic’s Poll, demonstrating his continued impact on the international jazz scene.

Jim Snidero grew up in Camp Springs, Maryland, just outside of Washington, DC . Musically nurtured from a young age, both at home and in his school music program, Snidero began to quickly show promise as a musician

Steve Slagle

Born: September 16, 1951

Steve Slagle was born in Los Angeles, California where he got his first saxophone and later attended Berklee College of Music in Boston on a DownBeat scholarship. One of his first gigs, at the age of 18, was in the Stevie Wonder Band, in Boston. Berklee is also where he met many musicians from all over the world whom he still remains close with. With his eyes on New York City, Steve moved there permanently in 1977, where he started to work with Machito and the Afro-Cuban Orchestra (lead alto) which was the band Charlie Parker and Dizzy had played with, as well stints with Lionel Hampton, Woody Herman and Cab Calloway

Marshal Royal

Born: December 5, 1912

Marshall Royal was an American clarinetist and alto saxophonist best known for his work with Count Basie, with whose band he played for nearly twenty years.

Royal was born in Oklahoma, the elder brother of trumpeter Ernie Royal, and learned to play violin, guitar, as well as clarinet and sax while still a child. He first performed in public at the age of thirteen, starting his professional career with an eight-year stint with Les Hite’s band (1931–1939), during which time he also recorded with Art Tatum. He spent 1940 to 1942 with Lionel Hampton, until the war interrupted his career. After his military service (during which he played in a Navy band), Royal played with Eddie Heywood, then went on to work in studios in Los Angeles, California.