Results for "saxophone, tenor"

Ian Rapien

Born: December 14, 1981

“In my travels, I am exposed to hundreds of saxophonists every year. Ian Rapien is by far the most unique saxophonist I have heard in several years”, says Smooth-Jazz best-selling recording artist Walter Beasley. “In addition to his incredible delivery his compositions are equally impressive. In my opinion Ian represents the best of the new young musicians poised to take instrumental music to the next level.” After hearing Ian Rapien play the saxophone, most people find it hard to believe that he is only 24. Ian grew up in Anaheim, California, an extremely vibrant music scene for numerous genres including Rock, Rap, and DJ based dance music styles, all of which would go on to influence him in ways he would never have dreamed when first concentrated on the study of jazz. Rapien started playing the alto saxophone at age 10 in the elementary school music program, continuing with the program through high school

Brad Wheeler

Born: March 10, 1960

Brad Wheeler is a premiere Chicago saxophonist, composer, arranger and educator. In Chicago, he has performed with Mose Allison, Kurt Elling, Von Freeman, Laurence Hobgood, the Chicago Jazz Orchestra, the Jazz Members Big Band, Jim McNeely, Ed Petersen Quintet, Willie Pickens, the Joel Spencer quartet, Paul Wertico and Joe Williams. In 1990, he moved to Paris where he led his own groups and performed with such artists as Steve Arguelles, Ronan Guilfoyle, Riccardo Del Fra, Mory Kante, Horace Parlan, Johnnie Griffin, Ben Sidran and Youssou n'dour. He played on Radio France and taught at the American School of Modern music. He is featured on numerous recordings, including The Future Was Yesterday, newly released in 2005, and two Grammy-nominated recordings with Kurt Elling, Man Up in the Air, and This Time It's Love

Bob Reynolds

Born: September 29, 1977

It’s a rare saxophonist who’s as comfortable in an arena full of rock fans as in an intimate jazz club. Bob Reynolds is a rare saxophonist. Reynolds spent years touring the world in John Mayer’s band, winning new fans with his solos on crowd favorites like “Vultures,” “Wheel,” “Gravity” and “Covered in Rain.” Watch his performances on YouTube and you’ll see hundreds of accolades from admiring fans—not a normal occurrence for a saxophonist in a rock band. Reynolds’ partnership with Mayer reminds many of Sting’s collaborations with Branford Marsalis in the 1980s. Both he and Mayer are big fans of that band. Reynolds has recorded and performed with everyone from Usher, Josh Groban and the Jonas Brothers to Amos Lee, Willie Nelson and Nellie McKay

Ray Gelato

In addition to regular headline slots at ‘Ronnie’s’, Ray has also performed throughout the UK, Europe, USA, Canada and Brazil at prestigious venues, festivals and events such as The Blue Note (NYC), Edinburgh Festival, VE Day celebrations in Trafalgar Square, Proms In The Park, Montreal Jazz Festival, Sir Paul McCartney’s wedding, The Ritz London for HM The Queen and opened for Robbie Williams at The Royal Albert Hall. Recently Ray headlined the 1940’s Torch Club at the inaugural Vintage At Goodwood Festival held in August 2010. His multiple award nominations include BBC Radio 2 Jazz Awards, Jazz Artist Of The Year, Best Of Jazz, BBC Radio 2 ‘Heart Of Jazz’ Award

Andres Boiarsky

Born: October 9, 1957

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Andres Boiarsky began piano lessons at the age of six. He later switched to the clarinet while getting deeply involved with the strong revivalist jazz scene that existed in Buenos Aires during the mid seventies. While stylistically evolving within the jazz idiom, Andres began playing the tenor, alto and soprano saxophones. In 1978 he left Argentina for London, England, to study at the renowned Royal College of Music from where he received an A.R.C.M. Diploma. During his British sojourn, he formed his own group and recorded his first solo album for Spotlight Records and several radio programs for the BBC. After completing his studies in England, Boiarsky returned to his homeland where he spent the next six years

Wilton 'Bogey' Gaynair

Born: January 11, 1927

Tenor saxophonist Wilton 'Bogey' Gaynar was another of the stellar graduates of the famous Alpha Boys School in Jamaica who left behind a brief but enduring legacy as a prominent jazz musician of his time. After leaving Alpha, he began his professional career playing in the clubs of Kingston, backing touring acts as George Shearing and Carmen McRae before joining up with Ossie Williams in a forerunner to Count Ossie & the Mystic Revelation of Rastafari. In 1955 Gaynair relocated to Germany seeking out the burgeoning jazz scene which was happening in Europe. Though recognized for his hard bop expertise, he recorded only three times as a bandleader

Frank Wright

Born: July 9, 1935

Reverand Frank Wirght is one of the most underrated musical geniuses of the 20th century. He was born on July 9th 1935 in Grenada Mississippi but grew up in Cleveland. As a young man he was an electrical bassist in R and B bands in both Memphis and Cleveland. He switched to tenor sax and embraced the free jazz movement after meeting Albert Ayler and being greatly influenced by him. In the mid 60s he moved to New York City and played with some of the big names in the Avant Garde movement including, briefly, John Coltrane. His first sessions as a leader were recorded for the small ESP label. Not finding an appreciative audience for his music he moved to Europe in 1969 and except for a brief return to New York in the 1970s he spent the rest of his life in Europe

Don Wilkerson

Born: 1932

Don Wilkerson born abt 1932 and died 18 July 1986, was an American soul jazz/R&B tenor saxophonist born in Moreauville, Louisiana. Probably better known for his Blue Note Records recordings in the 1960s as bandleader with guitarist Grant Green. Prior to signing with the label, he worked frequently with Cannonball Adderley. Some of his earliest recording were done in the 1950s as a sideman for Amos Milburn and Ray Charles. One of the paragons of the "Texas tenor" style, Don Wilkerson gained his greatest notoriety as a soloist with Ray Charles throughout much of the 50s and 60s. Less known is Wilkerson’s limited work as a leader, the majority of which is collected on this two-disc package from Blue Note

Barney Wilen

Born: March 4, 1937

Barney Wilen made a strong impression on the Paris scene in the mid 1950s. Wilen was a self taught player and became one of Europe's best and more modern saxophonists. Bernard Jean Wilen, AKA Barney was born March 4, 1937, in Nice to a French mother and an American father. He studied the alto and, at 16, moved to Paris where he played with Henry Renaud, Bobby Jaspar and Jimmy Gourley He grew up mostly on the French Riviera; the family left during World War II but returned upon its conclusion. According to Wilen himself, he was convinced to become a musician by his mother's friend, the poet Blaise Cendrars

Frank Wess

Born: January 4, 1922

Frank Wess (born January 4, 1922 in Kansas City) is an American jazz musician, who has played saxophone (both alto and tenor) and flute.

He began with classical music and played in Oklahoma. He later switched to jazz on moving to Washington, D. C. and by nineteen was working in the Big Bands. His career would be interrupted during World War II although he did play with a military band in the period. On returning from service he joined Billy Eckstine's orchestra.

He returned to DC a few years after this and received a degree in flute at the city's Modern School Of Music. From 1953 he joined Count Basie's band, playing flute and tenor sax. He reverted to alto sax in the late '50s, and left Basie's band in 1964. From 1959 to 1964 he won Down Beat's critic poll for flute. Since then he has done a variety of TV shows and telethons. He was a member of Clark Terry's big band from 1967 into the '70s and played in the New York Quartet (with Roland Hanna). In the '80s and '90s, he worked with Kenny Barron, Rufus Reid, Buck Clayton, Benny Carter, Billy Taylor, Harry Edison, Mel Tormé, Ernestine Anderson, Louie Bellson, John Pizzarelli, Howard Alden, Dick Hyman, Byron Stripling, Jane Jarvis, Frank Vignola and was a featured member of the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra.