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Week One — Let’s Go

by Edward Simon, pianist

I feel super excited about going on tour with what I think is one of the most exciting ensembles out there right now.  Due in part to the fact that we'll be playing compositions by the great Stevie Wonder, whose music is full of beautiful melodies and earthy grooves, the music this season strikes a good balance between the intellectually stimulating, edgy, emotional and heartfelt.  

It is such a thrilling experience to have your music played, night after night, by such great musicians as those in the SFJAZZ Collective. Among my favorite songs are Miguel's funky arrangement of "Superstition" and Stefon's "Visions." I can't wait to hear Avishai's trumpet solo on "Visions" and the trading between the saxophones followed by Stefon's climactic solo on "My Cherie Amour".

 

Meet the SFJAZZ Reed Section

Antonio Hart, Alto Saxophone

imageAntonio Hart is sitting in for Miguel Zenón during the Spring 2012 Tour. One of the "young lions" to emerge in the late 1980s, Antonio was first recognized for his influential work with trumpeter Roy Hargrove. Since then, the Grammy-nominated alto saxophonist has established himself as one of the finest instrumentalists in jazz. He is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music and has recorded and performed with such jazz icons as Art Blakey, Dizzy Gillespie, McCoy Tyner and Nat Adderley. Antonio has maintained a long-term relationship with bass master Dave Holland and balances his performing schedule as a full-time professor of jazz studies at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. He has released seven acclaimed albums, including his latest Chiaroscuro release, All We Need, which features tenor sax legend Jimmy Heath.

Mark Turner, Tenor Saxophone

imageDescribed in one major jazz magazine as "an extremely thoughtful and cerebral player," Mark Turner has quietly built a reputation as a musician's musician. He attended Berklee College Of Music in the late '80s where he met musicians that would figure prominently in his later work, including Kurt Rosenwinkel and Joshua Redman. Turner has recorded five critically acclaimed albums as a leader and has also performed or recorded with artists such as Dave Holland, Brad Mehldau, Dave Douglas and Lee Konitz. His current project is the trio FLY with bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard. Their latest album, Sky And Country, appeared on ECM in 2009.

 

Spring Tour Repertoire

"Wonder" what the Collective might be playing as they storm across America?
Here's some of the tunes they've got worked up.

Stevie Wonder Tunes
Band Originals
For general info about all things SFJAZZ Collective, click here
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