George Garzone

George Garzone
Background information
Also known as	~G~
Born	September 23, 1950 (1950-09-23) (age 59) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Genres	Jazz, free jazz
Occupations	Musician, educator
Instruments	Saxophone
Years active	1959–present
Labels	Resolution Records, Northeastern Records
Associated acts	The Fringe, The Ayn Inserto Jazz Orchestra Travelin' Hellhound
Website	www.georgegarzone.com

George Garzone (born September 23, 1950) is a renowned saxophonist and jazz educator residing in the Boston, Massachusetts area.

Saxophonist George Garzone is a member of The Fringe, a jazz trio founded in 1972 that includes bassist John Lockwood and drummer Bob Gullotti, that performs regularly in the Boston area and has toured world wide. The group has released several albums. A veteran jazzman, Garzone has appeared on over 20 recordings. He began on the tenor when he was six, played in a family band and attended music school in Boston. In addition Garzone has guested in many situations, touring Europe with Jamaaladeen Tacuma and performing with Danilo Perez, Joe Lovano, Jack DeJohnette, Rachel Z and John Patitucci among others.

Source: jodyjazz.com/garzone.html

Biography

Saxophonist George Garzone is a member of The Fringe, a jazz trio founded in 1972 that includes bassist John Lockwood and drummer Bob Gullotti, that performs regularly in the Boston area and has toured Portugal. The group has released three albums. A veteran jazzman, Garzone has appeared on over 20 recordings. He began on the tenor when he was six, played in a family band and attended music school in Boston. In addition Garzone has guested in many situations, touring Europe with Jamaaladeen Tacuma and performing with Danilo Perez, Joe Lovano, Jack DeJohnette, Rachel Z, John Patitucci, and Bob Weir and Ratdog among others.

Garzone is well-known as a sought-after jazz educator, teaching at the Berklee College of Music, New England Conservatory, Longy School of Music, New York University and The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. He has pioneered the triadic chromatic approach and students of his have included Joshua Redman, Branford Marsalis, Teadross Avery, Luciana Souza, Mark Turner, Donny McCaslin, Doug Yates and Danilo Pérez, to name a few.

In 1995 he recorded a fine tribute to Stan Getz on NYC called Alone; Four's and Two's followed a year later with compatriot Joe Lovano which earned him four stars in Downbeat magazine, and in 1999 Garzone returned with Moodiology. Fringe in New York was released in summer 2000. He is a member of the Grammy-winning Joe Lovano Nonet, and performed and recorded with this group at the Village Vanguard in September 2002.

Source: New England Conservatory, Faculty

B.M., Berklee College of Music - Performances with the Fringe, Kenny Barron, Harvie Swartz, Dan Gottlieb, John Pattitucci, Bill Stewart, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Tom Harrell, Don Alias, Danilo Perez, Lenny White, Joe Lovano, Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Gary Peacock, Dennis Chambers, Anton Fig, Cecil McBee, Dave Holland, Stanley Cowell, Bob Moses, and Dave Liebman. Records on NYC Records.

Source: Berklee School of Music, Faculty Biography

Reviews of Garzone's CD "Four’s and Two’s":

"...Part of the fun is contrasting Garzone's and Lovano's approaches to the material, made up largely of Garzone compositions and vehicles for blowing....Listeners who investigate FOUR'S AND TWO'S to hear Lovano will carry away a new or renewed appreciation of Garzone's strengths as well..." ^[1]

"This is an aggressive recording....But the aggressive character lies not so much in aggression as in a joyful refusal to let any element of the music stand unchallenged..." ^[2]

In George Garzone’s case, Coltrane has never been far afield from his own voice. With his band (of 25 years), The Fringe, he exercised the more free improvisational aspects of Coltrane. As a sideman to Danilo Perez, Joe Lovano, George Russell, Gunther Schuller, Rachel Z, Jack DeJohnette, Billy Hart, and even Jamaaladeen Tacuma I always heard the Coltrane spirit in his playing. Garzone has always possessed an expansive warm tone that moves from inside to out-jazz with relative ease. Like Trane, his music resonates from what must be a warm and beautiful soul. ~ Mark Corroto, allaboutjazz.com

Source: George Garzone.com/press

Discography

AS A LEADER

• Alone, NYC Records (1995); with Luciana Souza, voice; Chuck Loeb, guitar; David Kikoski, piano; Eddie Gomez, bass; Lenny White, drums.
• Four's and Two's, NYC Records (1996); with Joe Lovano, saxophones; Joey Calderazzo, piano; John Lockwood, bass; Bill Stewart, drums.
• Demetrio's Dream, Music by Gianni Pezzano, NL Records (1997)
• Moodiology, NYC Records (1999); with Kenny Werner, piano; John Lockwood, bass; Bob Gullotti, drums; Claire Daly, baritone saxophone; Douglas Yates, alto saxophone, bass clarinet; Mike Mainieri, vibraphone.
• The Fringe in New York, NYC Records (2000); with the Fringe and Mike Mainieri, vibraphone.
• One Two Three Four, Stunt Records (2007); with Chris Crocco, guitar; Dennis Irwin, bass; Pete Zimmer, drums

WITH THE FRINGE

• The Fringe, Ap-Gu-Ga Records (1978)
• Live! Ap-Gu-Ga Records (1980)
• Hey Open Up (with special guest Ran Blake), Ap-Gu-Ga Records (1982)
• The Raging Bulls, Ap-Gu-Ga Records (1986)
• Return of the Neanderthal Man, Northeastern Records (1989)
• It's Time for the Fringe, Soul Note Records (1992)
• Live in Israel, Soul Note Records (1997)
• Live in Iseo, Soul Note Records (2002)
• The Fringe Live at the Zeitgeist (with special guest, Joe Lovano), Resolution Recordings (2005)

WITH OTHER ARTISTS (but not limited to those listed below)

• George Russell and the In Living Time Orchestra: The African Game, Blue Note Records, (1983)
• Mordy Ferber: Mr. X, Half Note Records (1985)
• Bob Moses/Tsziji Munoz: Love Everlasting, Amulet Records (1987)
• The Schulldogs: Tenor Tantrums, GM Recordings (1988)
• Gunther Schuller/Orange Then Blue: Jumpin. in the Future, GM Recordings (1989)
• Orange Then Blue: Where Were You? GM Recordings, (1989)
• George Schuller: Looking Up from Down Below, GM Recordings (1990)
• Wolfgang Muthspiel: Black and Blue, Amadeo Records (1992)
• Danilo Perez: The Journey, Novus Records (1993)
• Alex Deutsch (with Jamaaladeen Tacuma): Pink, Inc, DIW Records (1991)
• Ingrid Jensen: Vernal Fields, Enja Records (1994)
• Rachel Z: Room of One's Own, NYC Records (1996)
• David White: Double Double, CIMP (1998)
• Dave Bryant: The Eternal Hang, Accurate Records (1999)
• Mike Mainieri: An American Diary Vol. 2: The Dreamings, NYC Records (1999)
• Claire Daly: Swing Low, Koch Records (1999)
• Luciana Souza: The Answer to Your Silence, NYC Records (1999)
• Frank Tiberi: Tiberian Mode, NY Jam Records (1999)
• Johnny Johansson: Boston Tea Party, BIBA Records (1999)
• Various Artists: As Long as You're Living Yours: The Music of Keith Jarrett, Victor/RCA Records (2000)
• Joe Lovano Nonet: 52nd Street Themes, Blue Note Records (2000)
• Martin Taylor: Kiss and Tell, Sony Records (2000)
• Jerry Steinhilber: Chicago Trio/New York Tenor, Soul Note Records (2001)
• Barry Wedgle: Paradise, Exit Records (2001)
• Dino Govoni: Breakin' Out, Whaling City Sound (2001)
• Joe Lovano Nonet: On This Day: At the Vanguard (Live), Blue Note Records (2002)
• Abby and Norm Group: Melodic Miner's Daughter, A to Z Music (2003)
• Ayn Inserto Jazz Orchestra with Bob Brookmeyer and George Garzone: Clairvoyance, Self-published (2006)
• Chris Crocco Fluid Trio: Fluid Trio, Self-published (2007)
• Lello Molinari: Multiple Personalities, No More Mr. Nice Guy,On A Boston Night

Source: georgegarzone.com

Performances with Prominent Artists

George has performed with many prominent artists. Listed below are a select few.

Saxophonists: George Adams (musician), Jerry Bergonzi (NEC Faculty), Michael Brecker, Kenny Brooks, Claire Daly, Kenny Garrett, Dave Liebman, Joe Lovano, Tony Malaby, Joshua Redman, James Spaulding, Stan Strickland, Frank Tiberi, Steve Wilson

Trumpet players: Randy Brecker, Tom Harrell, Eddie Henderson, Ingrid Jensen, John McNeil (NEC Faculty), Tiger Okoshi, Herb Pomeroy (Berklee Faculty), Barry Ries Trombonists: Bob Brookmeyer (NEC Faculty), Hal Crook

Pianists: Kenny Barron, Ran Blake (NEC Faculty), Joanne Brackeen, Jaki Byard, Joey Calderazzo, Chick Corea, Stanley Cowell, David Kikoski, Bevan Manson, John Medeski, (NEC Alum), Alan Pasqua, Danilo Pérez (NEC Faculty), Kenny Werner, Rachel Z (NEC Alum)

Guitarists: John Abercombrie, Mick Goodrick, Chuck Loeb, Ben Monder (NEC Faculty), Wolfgang Muthspiel, Martin Taylor, Barry Wedgle, David White

Drummers/Percussionists: Don Alias, Jeff Ballard, Brian Blade, Gary Chaffee (NEC faculty), Dennis Chambers, Jack DeJohnette, Peter Erskine, Al Foster, Bob Gullotti, Billy Hart, Roy Haynes, Elvin Jones, Mel Lewis, Mike Mainieri (Vibes), Rakalam Bob Moses, John Patitucci, Buddy Rich, Mickey Roker, George Schuller (NEC Alum), Steve Smith, Jerry Steinhilber, Bill Stewart, Lenny White

Bassists: Ron Carter, Ray Drummond, Eddie Gomez, Larry Grenadier, Dave Holland (former NEC Faculty), Dennis Irwin, Marc Johnson, John Lockwood (NEC Faculty), Cecil McBee, Christian McBride, Gary Peacock, Ed Schuller (NEC Alum), Harvie S, Miroslav Vitous (former NEC Faculty), Reggie Workman Composers/Conductors: Gil Evans, Gunther Schuller, Lello Molinari

Ensembles: The Carla Bley Big Band, Gil Evans Orchestra, The Fringe (with John Lockwood and Bob Gullotti), George Russell and the In Living Time Orchestra, The Joe Lovano Nonet, Medeski, Martin and Wood, Orange Then Blue, The Woody Herman Band

Non-jazz artists: Aerosmith, Musica Viva (Tribute to Kurt Weill), The Dells, Extreme, Aretha Franklin, Engelbert Humperdinck (singer), Tom Jones, Gladys Knight, Liberace, New Kids on The Block, Elvis Presley, The Temptations, Rodney Dangerfield, Ratdog

Source: George Garzone.com/biography

Noted Students

During his 30 years of teaching at institutions, George has taught countless students. Listed below are a select few of his most noted students.

Saxophone/Woodwinds: Teodross Avery, Seamus Blake, Kenny Brooks, Chris Cheek, Dino Govoni, Branford Marsalis, Donny McCaslin, Bill McHenry, Andrew Rathbun, Joshua Redman, Scott Robinson, Chris Speed, Marcus Strickland, Mark Turner, Ken Vandermark, Doug Yates Bruce Barth, piano, Damian Draghici, pan flute, Danilo Perez, piano, Antonio Sanchez, drums, Luciana Souza, voice, John Sullivan, bass, Chris Wood, bass, Manuel Valero, piano, Norm Zocher, guitar

References

External links

• Official George Garzone web site
• George Garzone's New England Conservatory faculty page
• George Garzone's Berklee College of Music faculty page