Results for "Saxophone"

McCoy Mrubata

Born: 1959

McCoy Mrubata was born in 1959 in the township of Langa, Cape Town, South Africa. He was surrounded in childhood by many African hymns, from the sounds of Zion churches to the brassy music of the Merry Macs band who rehearsed opposite his home. With the difficulty of living under the apartheid government and the 1976’s uprising, McCoy left school and followed his music passion. His instrument then was flute, which He studied informally under the likes of Madoda Gxabeka, the Ngcukanas, Winston Ngozi, Ezra and many Langa greats.

In the early 1980s, Mrubata played with many cover bands such as Fever, Touch and Airborne, from where he moved to crossover outfit Louis and the Jive. While touring in the 1980s, he was spotted by bandleader Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse, who helped him make Johannesburg his home. As Mrubata grew into playing a wider range of reeds and composing more, he engaged with many other bands and that led to the opportunity of a recording deal by producer Koloi Lebona with a British-based record company named Zomba Records in 1988. The same company had produced, among others, Jonathan Butler and Billy Ocean. The following year Mrubata released his debut album Firebird and went on to form Brotherhood, a band with names such as guitarist Jimmy Dludlu, pianist Nhlanhla Magagula and Lucas Khumalo winning the Gilbey's Music for Africa prize in 1990.

Dom Pusey

Born: April 3, 1992

Dom Pusey grew up in Hertfordshire (UK). Surrounded by music from the beginning, he was introduced to the saxophone at the age of 8, igniting his lifelong passion for music. He started performing on sax and guitar from age 15 and played his first professional gigs not long after.

After studying at the University of North Texas and graduating from the University of Leeds, Dom moved to London in 2016 and has collaborated with many artists such as producer Wilma Archer, singer Celeste and even performed with legendary soul band The O’Jays. He is a quarter of the band Stratos, playing weekly in Hackney and featuring rising stars Mike de Souza, Rio Kai and Jamie Murray.

Jordan VanHemert

Saxophonist, composer and educator Jordan VanHemert has four critically acclaimed releases to his credit, and a fifth on the way in early 2024 (featuring Terell Stafford, producer Michael Dease, Helen Sung, Rodney Whitaker and Lewis Nash). Born in Korea and raised in Michigan, VanHemert makes music rooted in the jazz tradition and guided by a resolute political consciousness, illuminating issues of race and social justice. With a penchant for modern, swinging melodicism, he pays homage to his Korean roots while drawing on the blues-infused hard bop tradition handed down to him by his mentors.

Moritz Stahl

Born: August 7, 1991

Moritz Stahl The warm, seasoned tenor sound of Moritz Stahl is an unmistakable token of the young saxophonist. His remarkable musical talent was discovered early and cultivated: with the Landes Jugendjazzorchester Bayern and subsequently with the Bundesjazzorchester, Stahl performed on tour in Asia, South America and Europe, before beginning his jazz studies under Florian Trübsbach at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich. During this time he became influenced by such mentors as Seamus Blake, Karsten Gorzel, as well as Christian Elsässer and Gregor Hübner during his ensuing composition degree

Natasha Blackwood

Born: September 8, 1984

Natasha Blackwood is a singer/songwriter, and saxophonist based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. She is a member of Eastern Owl, and Jazz East Big Band, and has appeared on ten studio albums to date.

Her upcoming sophomore album “Love Songs for Good Machines” was produced by Juno award winning artist Amelia Curran, and is set for release on May 31, 2024. It’s  a jazz album with folk sensibilities, and takes the listener on a walk through the everyday life of modern day Newfoundlanders. The songs have been described as “love letters to the working class”, with themes of labour and balance, love and loss, with a style rooted in traditional Newfoundland Folk Stories, but arrangements inspired by the Great American SongBook. 

Marcel Lüscher

Born: March 1, 1971

Ein Kosmos voller Soundmagie

Der Saxophonist und Klarinettist Marcel Lüscher steht für Klänge und Melodien voller Magie, Schlichtheit und optimistischer Melancholie. Er arbeitet mit Björn Meyer, Kaspar Rast und Thomas Lüscher sowie mit dem isländischen Gitarristen Kristinn Smári Kristinsson zusammen.

Marcel Lüscher stammt aus einer musikalischen Familie. Seine Eltern betrieben in Oftringen einen Musikladen sowie eine Musikschule. Der Vater spielt Akkordeon und Posaune der jüngere Bruder, Thomas, ist ebenfalls Profi-Musiker und spielt Klavier. Roger, der ältere Bruder spielt Akkordeon und betreibt heute den Laden/Musikschule. Zuerst lernte Marcel Lüscher Trompete und Schlagzeug. Mit 12 Jahren wechselte er dann zur Klarinette und später zum Saxophon. Ein prägendes Erlebnis für den jungen Musiker war die Teilnahme am Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan, USA, wo er zusammen mit vielen anderen jungen Musikerinnen und Musikern in den Genuss von Kursen mit hochkarätigen Dozierenden kam. Zurück in der Schweiz absolvierte er sein Musikstudium an der Musikhochschule Basel. Später leistete er Dienst in der Big Band des Schweizer Armeespiels unter der Leitung von Pepe Lienhard.  «Yum Yum Yum» hiess seine Band (u.a. mit seinem Bruder Thomas an den Tasten) mit der er zwei Alben veröffentlichte und zahlreiche Konzerte im In- und Ausland spielte. Wertvolle musikalische Erfahrungen sammelte Marcel Lüscher weiter beispielsweise auch in Frankreich, wo er mit verschiedenen Chansonniers musizierte.

Danielle Mikaelian

Born: October 5, 1998

Danielle Mikaelian is a flute and piccolo player. She has experience performing for a wide range of ensembles and performing at competitions across the state of California. She also has won awards for composing. Danielle Mikaelian graduated from Columbia University with a BA in English Literature. She currently attends Harvard Law School. Danielle Mikaelian is also a published poet.

Lee Goodall

Lee Goodall is a talented multi instrumentalist whose main instruments are Saxophone: soprano, alto, tenor, & baritone, Flute and bass Flute, but he also gigs as a drummer and guitarist. Composing has been a large part of his life and he has worked as a composer for the BBC on projects including the radio plays "Waiting for Concord" and "Clara".

He lived and played in New York, USA for many years (1979-1985) performing with a great variety of line ups including Saheb Sarbib's "Multinational Band".  This band recorded one lp/cd with Lee.

Lee played on some recordings for "Island Records" with singer Jess Roden who released a 5 CD collection entitled 'Hidden Masters'.  Lee is co-composer on some of the material.The producers for this project were Phil Ramone and Joel Dorn and Lee played on sessions with Steve Gadd, Marcus Miller, Will Lee and Dr John and others.

Gus Leighton

Born: October 28, 1995

Gus Leighton is an Australian contemporary tenor saxophonist based in Hobart, Tasmania. He is known for his improvisational skills and compositional style, drawing influence from notable saxophonists such as Lester Young, Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz, and Wayne Shorter. Gus is currently pursuing his PhD research at the University of Tasmania, focusing on these four saxophonists.

Aside from his research, Gus is actively involved in the music scene. He is a respected saxophonist, composer, arranger, and bandleader of various groups including Uncle Gus and The Rimshots, The Gus Leighton Quartet, and The Greenrises Jazz Orchestra. Gus has also performed at festivals and events as both a leader and accompanist, having shared the stage with artists like Dami Im, Andrew O'Keefe and The Melbourne Ska Orchestra.

Dan O'Brien