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Xavier Perez

Raised in the Hialeah, Florida area to Cuban parents, Xavier represents two distinct cultures in his musical compositions and life. Although he has chosen jazz music as his vehicle for self-expression, elements of his Cuban Folkloric and American jazz upbringing also make his multi-faceted musical personality. While in college he studied composition under Ron Miller and won collegiate soloist of the year from Downbeat magazine. Upon graduation with honors he has done national tours with Maynard Ferguson and Diane Schure among others. He has also been chosen to perform his original compositions as a part of Kennedy Center jazz in Washington DC. Recently Xavier was the only U.S representative selected to perform in the final elimination round The International Saxophone competition where he won 2nd place out of hundreds of applicants from more than 20 countries. Within the past couple of years he has performed, recorded, or toured with Paquito Drivera, The Orchestra of The Americas, Samuel Torres, Ignacio Berroa, Papo Vasquez, as well as The United Nations Orchestra. He currently lives in New York City where he performs and explores his mutl-cultural musical personality.

Awards

Collegiate Downbeat Soloist Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead White Foundation Jazz Saxophone Competition at Montreux- 2nd place World Jazz Saxophone Competition in London- 2nd place Zankel Hall with Paquito DRivera Zankel Hall with Fred Hersch


Tags

7
Album Review

Ben Patterson Jazz Orchestra: Groove Junkies

Read "Groove Junkies" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


Groove junkies searching for a fix need look no further. Mainlining this music--a hard-hitting big band set that satisfies as it soars--offers a serious high. With a pen and mind untrammeled by norms and expectations, and a tight crew of musical compatriots bringing stentorian sound and vision to his book, trombonist-composer Ben Patterson delivers the goods and then some. Patterson's positively electric take on saxophonist Chris Potter's well-titled “Exclamation" offers fireworks at the front end of the ...

2
Album Review

Steve Fidyk: Battle Lines

Read "Battle Lines" reviewed by David A. Orthmann


Battle Lines, the inaugural release of Steve Fidyk's Blue Canteen Music label, bears the stamp of a rhythm section capable of adroitly assuming multiple identities. During large portions of three amiable, bop-oriented tracks, “Bebop Operations," “#Social Loafing" and “Sir John," Fidyk's drums, bassist Michael Karn and pianist Peter Zak move the music along without any fuss or extraneous effort. Sometimes it's easy to take them for granted, particularly if your attention is focused on Xavier Perez's tenor sax or Joe ...

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Primary Instrument

Saxophone, tenor

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Groove Junkies

Origin Records
2024

buy

Battle Lines

Blue Canteen Music
2020

buy

Battle Lines

Blue Canteen Music
2020

buy

Exclamation

From: Groove Junkies
By Xavier Perez

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