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Greg Tardy

“Music is an expression of the soul and I always try to speak through my horn,” says Gregory Tardy. “I once heard an older musician say ‘it is better to be felt than to be heard’. I never forgot that. That is my approach to playing any style of music.”

Born into a musical family, Gregory Tardy began his musical career studying classical clarinet. In high school, Gregory excelled in music, winning many awards and scholarships offers. While studying with renowned clarinetists Russell Dagon and Jack Snavely, Tardy began preparing for a symphony career. Over time, he began to be asked to play saxophone, to fill in missing gaps in various ensembles. Although he never practiced the saxophone seriously, Tardy began getting calls to play local funk gigs in the Milwaukee area. At the prodding of his older brother, Tardy finally listened to the duo recording of John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk playing “Monk’s Mood”, and then immediately determined to be a jazz musician.

His passion for the saxophone took over his studies and soon his clarinet was gathering dust. At this time, he moved to St. Louis and after a year of performing on the jazz and blues scene, he decided to move back to his birthplace, New Orleans, in order to focus his jazz studies even further. “This proved to be great move”, Tardy says. “ There were all of these outstanding players down there-many of which went on to be well known, like Nicholas Payton, Brian Blade, Victor Goines, Mark Turner, Delfeayo and Jason Marsalis and far too many others to mention. Many, like I, came to study with Ellis Marsalis; some were just hanging out. It was there that I really started to get my playing together.” While in New Orleans, Tardy also played with some of the local brass bands, did some gigging with the Neville Brothers, Allen Toussaint, and groups of all styles. But he never stopped pursuing jazz.

In 1992, Tardy recorded his first solo project, Crazy Love. 1992 is also the year that he was picked up by Elvin Jones Jazz Machine, a relationship that lasted several years. During the time with the legendary Elvin Jones, Tardy felt that it was finally time to move to the Big Apple. In New York, he went on to perform and record with an extremely large array of prominent artists including: Tom Harrell, Dave Douglas, Wynton Marsalis, Jay McShann, Steve Coleman, Betty Carter, James Moody, Bill Frisell, Rashied Ali, John Patitucci, and many more. In 1999, Tardy began to play in various bands led by the great Andrew Hill; a relationship that lasted many years and produced several highly acclaimed recordings. He has also performed and/or recorded alongside many other notable saxophonists, such as Joe Lovano, Mark Turner, Chris Potter, Dewey Redman, Ravi Coltrane, and many others. In more recent years, Tardy has gone full circle, bringing his clarinet out of retirement, using it on recordings by Tom Harrell, Ohad Talmor/Steve Swallow, Stefon Harris, Chris Potter, and Andrew Hill.

Margherita Fava: Tatatu

Read "Tatatu" reviewed by Neri Pollastri

by Neri Pollastri
March 13, 2024

Ventottenne veneta di formazione classica, la pianista Margherita Fava è stata fulminata dal jazz nel 2013, quasi per caso, e da allora ha coltivato la sua formazione in quella direzione, trasferendosi negli U.S.A. prima con una borsa di studio, poi stabilmente, insegnando. Ed è negli Stati Uniti, nell'Ohio, che ha registrato questo suo primo disco, prodotto dal bassista Rodney Whitaker, poi missato a New York ed edito in Italia da Caligola. I tre quarti d'ora di musica di ...

Album Review

Margherita Fava: Tatatu

Read "Tatatu" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian

by Hrayr Attarian
May 4, 2023

Italian pianist Margherita Fava comes across as a mature composer and a sensitive performer on her captivating debut Tatatu. Based in Knoxville Tennessee, USA, Fava is a consummate musician and educator whose unique set of talents is on full display here as she leads a quartet on two covers and six of her poetic originals. For instance, her “Tidal Waves" has a mystical atmosphere. Over the rhythm trio's percolating refrains saxophonist Greg Tardy lets loose a lyrical melody ...

Radio & Podcasts

Greg Tardy, Sammy Nestico & Elvin Jones

by Joe Dimino
February 7, 2021

From modern day saxophonist Greg Tardy, we swing into the 685th Episode of Neon Jazz. This show features a host of songs from artists who released music during 2020. We also talked to quite a few musicians during that pandemic year for their wisdom and insights into survival during an era of no live music. They include David Sills, Sara Caswell and Michelle Lordi. Finally, we say farewell to prolific composer Sammy Nestico. Playlist Greg Tardy “I Swing ...

Album Review

Ferenc Nemeth: Freedom

Read "Freedom" reviewed by Friedrich Kunzmann

by Friedrich Kunzmann
March 10, 2020

Like a playground for improvisation, Hungarian drummer Ferenc Nemeth's newest recording abounds with joy and, in accord with the album title, a strong sense of Freedom. Not only does Freedom continue the bassless concept of his 2012 release Triumph (Dreamers Collective), but the New York-based percussionist allows himself to tap his intuition, often leading to simpler structures and minimal harmonic progressions. It is in such melodically generous frames that Nemeth--accompanied by his compatriot Tzumo Arpad on keys and Gregory Tardy ...

Album Review

Elio Villafranca: Cinque

Read "Cinque" reviewed by Maurizio Zerbo

by Maurizio Zerbo
May 21, 2019

Questo doppio CD è dedicato alla memoria di Joseph Cinque, che nel 1839 capeggiò la rivolta degli schiavi africani imbarcati sulla nave Amistad con destinazione Cuba e le sue piantagioni di zucchero. È un progetto ambizioso sulla diaspora africana in cui la narrazione vocale delle vicende storiche ben si combina ad un sontuoso apparato musicale, articolato in una suite di cinque movimenti. A fare da trait d'union, l'ancestrale retroterra ritmico della regione congolese, su cui vengono di volta in volta ...

Album Review

Greg Tardy: Hope

by Angelo Leonardi
November 14, 2014

Mantenere viva una tradizione artistica, esaltandola e rinnovandone i valori, non è così secondario rispetto a innovare. Nato a New Orleans cinquant'anni fa, cresciuto artisticamente sotto la tutela di Ellis Marsalis, Greg Tardy è uno dei migliori sassofonisti della sua generazione e da alcuni anni s'è legato alla SteepleChase (questo è il settimo disco con l'etichetta) producendo un modern mainstream di valore, dove evidenzia le sue doti di compositore e solista. La sua carriera ...

Extended Analysis

The Caribbean Tinge: Live from Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola

by Steve Bryant
July 29, 2014

Ever since the jazz was created in the clubs and dancehalls of New Orleans, there was always a significant influence from the Caribbean region, specifically from Cuba. The island, which was just a ferry ride from the port city, had such a significant effect on the development of the music that Jelly Roll Morton always spoke of the importance of Afro-Cuban based rhythms (the Spanish Tinge) in creating and performing this nascent music. However, it was the arrival of a ...

Recording

Elio Villafranca's "Cinque" Features Wynton Marsalis, Lewis Nash, Vincent Herring, Steve Turre, Greg Tardy & Freddie Hendrix

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations
May 11, 2018

Cinque is a five movement suite inspired by the story of Joseph Cinque, who in 1839 led a successful revolt aboard the slave ship La Amistad, days after being sold and transported to a sugar plantation in Cuba. Elio Villafranca's most ambitious project today, showcases the cultural diversity of the five Caribbean islands of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, The Dominican Republic, and Jamaica; while simultaneously highlighting the Congolese musical heritage woven into the fabric of each of these diverse nations, ...
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Performance / Tour

Jazz this week: Christian McBride, The Soul Rebels, Greg Tardy, Grand Marquis, and more

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
May 24, 2017

The calendar of live jazz and creative music coming up in St. Louis features several noteworthy visitors for the Memorial Day weekend, including a renowned.bassist and bandleader; a veteran saxophonist who's played with some very well-known jazz names; one of New Orleans' busiest brass bands; and more. Let's go to the highlights... Wednesday, May 24 Bassist Christian McBride opens a four-night engagement continuing through Saturday at Jazz at the Bistro. Having played the club in 2014 with his trio and ...
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Performance / Tour

Greg Tardy Coming to Portland

Source: All About Jazz
April 20, 2006

DEPRIEST FAMILY JAZZ, a local nonprofit focused on bringing jazz to families in concert settings, is proud to present an evening with virtuoso jazz musician Greg Tardy.

Tardy is an exceptional saxophone, clarinet and flute player and has been playing and recording with the legendary Andrew Hill. He is touring in Europe with Hill's band this spring.

The concert is Saturday, May 27, 7:30p.m. at The University of Portland's Buckley Center Auditorium, at 5000 North Willamette Boulevard in North Portland. ...
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Performance / Tour

Gene Ess with Greg Tardy, Thomas Morgan, and Gene Jackson at Jazz Spot 4/23/2004

Source: All About Jazz
April 22, 2004

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Performance / Tour

Greg Tardy with Tom Harrell @ the Painted Bride in Phila - Feb 8th, 8PM

Source: All About Jazz
January 31, 2003

Tenor saxman GREG TARDY has been hailed by New York Magazine for his: “big sound, deep-seated feel for the blues, and cerebral, avant-garde chops."

Formerly of the Elvin Jones Jazz Machine with whom he toured extensively, Tardy is a trailblazing player and composer, whose latest CD, Abundance, came out on Palmetto Records in 2001.

He'll play the Painted Bride with special guest, trumpeter TOM HARRELL, on Saturday, February 8th @ 8PM. Tickets are $10 for members/ $20 nonmembers. 230 Vine ...
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“Truly an awesome leader-performer and you’ll revel in his inventiveness and finesse” —Jazz & Blues Report

“Big sound, deep seated feel for the blues, and cerebral avante-garde chops.” —New York Magazine

“Tardy already has his own voice and is on track to help write the next chapter in jazz history.” —All About Jazz

“One of the bright hopes, Tardy sounds like a seeker, absolution and salvation in every solo.” —New York Times