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Greg Abate
In the mid '70s after finishing a four year program at Berklee College Of Music, Greg played lead alto for the Ray Charles Orchestra for two years.
In 1978 Greg formed his group Channel One which was a favorite in the New England area and from there had the opportunity to play tenor sax with the revived Artie Shaw Orchestra under leadership of Dick Johnson from 1986 to ’87.
Following this experience Greg ventured out as post hard bop soloist playing Jazz Festivals, Jazz Societies and Jazz Clubs throughout the U.S. Canada and abroad, including most of Europe, UK, and Moscow and Georgia Russia.
Greg’s newest release Gratitude, with the Tim Ray Trio has received glowing reviews and a lot of international airplay. Also, check out Greg's other recordings including special guests Phil Woods and other notable artists.
Greg is currently a Whaling City Sound recording artist.
Greg recorded his first CD Live At Birdland NYC in 1991 on the Candid Jazz Label with the trio of James Williams, Rufus Reid and Kenny Washington.
To this date Greg has recorded over 17 other recordings as leader.
Greg is also an adjunct professor of Jazz Studies at Rhode Island College and is also a very active jazz clinician with co. sponsorship from the Conn-Selmer Instrument Co., conducting workshops and master classes through the U.S and abroad.
Greg has been inducted into the RI MUSIC HALL OF FAME 2016.
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Greg Abate: Magic Dance: The Music of Kenny Barron
by Chris M. Slawecki
Musicians will sometimes honor another musician who influenced their lives or work with a tribute or memorial recording after that influential musician has passed on. There's an abundance of first-rate music on the double-disc Magic Dance: The Music of Kenny Barron. But the best thing about it is that the leader, flutist and saxophonist Greg Abate, convinced Kenny Barron to fill its piano chair. “Kenny was kind enough to provide me with music for a range of his tunes, some ...
read moreGreg Abate: Magic Dance: The Music of Kenny Barron
by Rob Rosenblum
Magic Dance is an offering by multi instrumentalist Greg Abate, who is a proud keeper of the bebop flame. In the 75 plus years that bebop has been around, there have probably been hundreds of thousands of quartet records with sax, piano, bass and drums, a few of which have been contributed by Abate. But this one is a departure from his previous releases, and because it isn't the bare bones presentation that jazz fans are accustomed to, it may ...
read moreGreg Abate: “Be-Bop-Er” Takes His Music To The World
by Rob Mariani
This article was published posthumously and on behalf of All About Jazz's long-time friend and contributor, Rob Mariani. “Bebop is one of the more complicated forms of jazz music," says Greg Abate, one of New England's most well-known alto sax players. He's been keeping this “art form" alive and thriving for years. “It takes a lot of technique and dexterity to play bebop right," Abate says. “Every good musician knows that jazz is an art ...
read moreGreg Abate, Charlie Persip & Steve Grossman
by Joe Dimino
This week we open with the Greg Abate Quintet and then go on marking the Charlie Parker centennial. Champian Fulton has a new album honoring Bird, Birdsong and we hear her take on “Yardbird Suite." There are profiles of Kenny Washington, Daniel Hersog and Hal Galper. We also pay respects to musicians that left us in August 2020, including Charlie Persip and Steve Grossman. Long live Bird and enjoy the music. Playlist Greg Abate Quintet “Tommyhawk" Dr. Jekyll ...
read moreGreg Abate: Man on a Journey
by Rob Rosenblum
After a warm up tune by the trio of Frank Puzzullo on piano, Sam Edwards on bass and Edwin Hamilton on drums, a medium sized fellow with slicked back hair and very casual attire walks on stage. He seems almost reticent as he acknowledges his audience at Fox's Music House in North Charleston, South Carolina—most of whom have never heard of him other than whatever scant advance publicity they may have come across. One might almost expect a quiet, polite ...
read moreGreg Abate & The Tim Ray Trio: Gratitude: Stage Door Live @ the Z
by Rob Rosenblum
If you are going to be a bebop purist, you have to resist the temptation to dress your music up to appeal to the masses. Greg Abate is one of those brave souls who worship at the altar of Charlie Parker, and depends on pure inspiration to capture his audience's attention. Gratitude: Stage Door Live @ the Z is his latest recording and, according to form, there are no pop tunes or electric helpmates and gimmicks. The album ...
read moreGreg Abate & The Tim Ray Trio: Gratitude: Stage Door Live @ the Z
by Jack Bowers
If somehow you haven't yet heard saxophonist Greg Abate (pronounced Uh-BAH-tay), now in his seventh decade and as sharp and eloquent an orator as ever, it is high time you did. The Rhode Island native is an earnest post-bopper from the Phil Woods / Bud Shank school of straight-on swinging, and Gratitude, Abate's fourth album with the admirable Tim Ray Trio, happens upon the ensemble in blue-chip form in a lively concert recorded on the cozy stage of the Zeiterion ...
read moreNew band, new venue, lots of smiles
Source:
Ken Franckling's Jazz Notes
One of the great joys in hearing live jazz is a night when talented players who've never performed together get on stage and find instant chemistry that makes it sound like they've been a working group for years. That was the case on Monday, December 13, when hard-bopping saxophonist Greg Abate returned for his sixth Charlotte County Jazz Society performance since 2008. And what a magical night it was, with a new band, a new venue and an enthusiastic audience. ...
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Wedding Bliss: Greg Abate’s Musical Gifts Combined With Kenny Barron’s Gorgeous Compositions Is A Match Made In Bebop Heaven
Source:
Mixed Media Promotion
There’s a beautiful marriage happening with Greg Abate’s Magic Dance: The Music of Kenny Barron. It’s the union between Abate’s multi-instrumental gift of bebop and Kenny Barron’s varied and sublime compositions. Abate and Barron, who, in addition to lending Abate his material, handles keys on this recording session, are soul mates occupying the same lovely musical space. With Barron’s material and Abate’s fresh vision, the two-disc set, recorded over three days at Van Gelder Studio in New Jersey, is a ...
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Free Zoom Session: A Journey Through The Jazz Brain Of Greg Abate—Saturday August 22, from 9-10 PM EDT
Source:
Mixed Media Promotion
Join us live on Zoom for a special hour-long free event, featuring live conversation and music with the brilliant American jazz saxophonist, Greg Abate. The event will be hosted by international jazz educator, Alex Steele. Together, they will bring lots of great conversation, reflections on jazz, wonderful music, and lots of opportunities for questions and answers, with a small, intimate audience hosted on Zoom. Greg Abate came onto the jazz scene in the 1970’s. After studying at Berklee, Greg kicked ...
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A bebopper through and through
Source:
Ken Franckling's Jazz Notes
Greg Abate got hooked on the 1950s hard-bop style that evolved from bebop, and he has made himself a career of bringing that intense sound to audiences across the U.S. and around the globe. Much like two other alto sax players with whom he has recorded, Richie Cole and the late Phil Woods, Abate developed into one of the genre's significant modern ambassadors. He brought that sound to the Charlotte County Jazz Society's concert series in Port Charlotte FL on ...
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Dan Moretti & Brazilia Featuring Greg Abate And Oscar Stagnaro Live At Chan's on April 9th
Source:
All About Jazz
Rhode Island Jazz saxophone greats Dan Moretti and Greg Abate (RI Hall of Fame 2016) will hit Chan’s in Woonsocket for a 20 year reunion celebrating the Latin-Jazz recording Dan Moretti & Brazilia Live at Chans on Saturday April 9th, 2016 at 8 pm. Call 401-765-1900 or visit chanseggrollsandjazz.com for tickets. The original Brazilia CD was recorded in 1995 at Chan’s in Woonsocket RI as a benefit for the Music School which now has transitioned to the Rhode Philharmonic Music ...
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Hard Bopper Greg Abate and His High-Energy Jazz
Source:
Ken Franckling's Jazz Notes
High-energy jazz doesn't describe the full feeling of listening to hard bop saxophonist Greg Abate in live performance because so much intensity and idea-making fuels his music. But it comes close. Even his approach to ballads and sambas have that lilt. They start out breezy or laid-back, but they are certain to have their burning moments.Count on it. Such was the case on Monday, December 8, when the New England-based jazz man performed in the Charlotte County Jazz Society's concert ...
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Greg Abate and Phil Woods
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
One of the finest saxophone albums of the year is The Greg Abate Quintet, Featuring Phil Woods (Rhombus). In fact, this high-pressure bop blowing date is one of Phil's best recent outings, and he's put to the test. I love this album because it's smartly paced, rich with daredevil reed playing, and there's loads of artistic competition. [Photo above: Greg Abate] Abate, 65, is a seasoned pro. He grew up in Rhode Island, attended Boston's Berklee College of Music in ...
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Greg Abate and Yoko Miwa Performing at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston on Wednesday, June 1
Source:
MassJazz: Jazz in Massachusetts
Jazz saxophonist, composer and teacher Greg Abate is performing with pianist Yoko Miwa at Scullers Jazz Club at the Doubletree Guest Suites by Hilton Hotel in Boston on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets to the show are $22 ($60 for dinner and show) and can be ordered online. Located at 400 Soldiers Field Road in Boston's Allston neighborhood, Scullers is regarded as one of the country's best jazz venues. For a schedule of upcoming events at Scullers ...
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Primary Instrument
Saxophone
Location
Providence
Willing to teach
Advanced only
Credentials/Background
GREG is accepting serious students in saxophone, flute , Jazz Improvisation and composition.
The hourly fee is $75.00. The studio is located in Coventry, RI.
Internationally known jazz saxophonist Greg Abate is available for clinics, improvisation workshops, and as a guest soloist at concerts and festivals. Mr. Abate is a Selmer clinician. An Abate clinic can be co-sponsored by the Selmer Co. by applying to them at least thirty (30) days prior to the clinic date
Paul Desmond
saxophone, altoPhotos
Music
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Greg Abate
Location: Providence
Instrument: Saxophone
Born: May 31, 1947
