GEORGE GARZONE & CRESCENT

THE SERBIAN NATIONAL THEATRE, great hall, 8pm

Friday, 15th November 2019

GEORGE GARZONE & CRESCENT

George Garzone, saxophone

Lenart Krečič, saxophone

Ameen Saleem, double bass

Vladimir Kostadinović, drums

GEORGE GARZONE

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 and John Patitucci among others.

Garzone is well-known as a sought-after jazz educator, currently teaching at the Berklee College of Music. He has also previously taught at New England Conservatory, Longy School of Music, New York University, Manhattan School of Music, Northeastern University and the New School University. 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 Perez, 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. George is endorsed by Rico Reeds, JodyJazz mouthpieces and R. S. Berkeley musical instruments.

George has performed with many prominent artists, too many to name. Listed below are a select few.

Saxophonists: George Adams, Jerry Bergonzi, Michael Brecker, 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, Tiger Okoshi, Herb Pomeroy, Barry Ries; Trombonists: Bob Brookmeyer, Hal Crook; Pianists: Kenny Barron, Ran Blake, Joanne Brackeen, Jaki Byard, Joey Calderazzo, Chick Corea, Stanley Cowell, David Kikoski, Bevan Manson, John Medeski, (NEC Alum), Alan Pasqua, Danilo Perez, Kenny Werner, Rachel Z; Guitarists: John Abercombrie, Mick Goodrick, Chuck Loeb, Ben Monder, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Martin Taylor, Barry Wedgle, David White; Drummers/Percussionists: Don Alias, Jeff Ballard, Brian Blade, Gary Chaffee, Dennis Chambers, Jack DeJohnette, Peter Erskine, Al Foster, Bob Gullotti, Billy Hart, Roy Haynes, Elvin Jones, Mel Lewis, Mike Mainieri (Vibes), Bob Moses, John Patitucci, Buddy Rich, Mickey Roker, George Schuller, Steve Smith, Jerry Steinhilber, Bill Stewart, Lenny White; Bassists: Ron Carter, Ray Drummond, Eddie Gomez, Larry Grenedier, Dave Holland, Dennis Irwin, Marc Johnson, John Lockwood, Cecil McBee, Christian McBride, Gary Peacock, Ed Schuller (NEC Alum), Harvie Swartz, Miroslav Vitous, Reggie Workman: Composers/Conductors: Gil Evans, Gunther Schuller, Carla Bley; 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, Music Aviva (Tribute to Kurt Weill), The Dells, Extreme, Aretha Franklin, Engelberg Humperdink, Tom Jones, Gladys Knight, Liberace, New Kids on The Block, Elvis Presley, The Temptations.

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

Saxophone/Woodwinds: Teadross 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, 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.

U.S. Venues:

Massachusetts: Acton Jazz Cafe, Berklee Performance Center, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, NEC’s Jordan Hall, Middle East Caf? Michael’s Jazz Club, Natick Center for the Arts, The Regattabar, Ryles Jazz Club, Scullers Jazz Club, Wally’s Cafe, The Western Front, Willow Jazz Club, The Zeitgeist Gallery; Maine: Center for Cultural Exchange (Portland), faculty at the Maine Jazz Camp (Farmington); New York City, NY: The Blue Note, Birdland, Cornelia Street Cafe The Guggenheim Museum, The Iridium (with the Carla Bley Big Band), The Jazz Standard, The Knitting Factory, Smith’s Bar, Sweet Rhythm, The Village Vanguard (with the Joe Lovano Nonet), Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola Jazz At Lincoln Center; Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) performer in Louisville, KY (2003) and Nashville, TN (2001).

Performed at the Grammy Awards Reception with Peter Erskine, Alan Pasqua and special guest Chick Corea, Los Angeles, CA (2004)

Performed with Peter Erskine at the International Music Products Association’s (NAMM) Trade Show representing Shure Microphones Los Angeles Convention Center, CA (1999); AS-220, Providence, RI; Green Mill, Chicago. Venues in Buffalo, NY, Hawaii, HI, Las Vegas, NV, Philadelphia, PA, San Antonio, TX

Foreign Venues: Italy: Umbria Summer Jazz Festival in Perugia (with George Russell In Living Time Orchestra), Umbria Winter Jazz Festival in Orvieto (with Joe Lovano Nonet), Terni Jazz Festival (with Frank Tiberi, Billy Hart and Dave Liebman), Rome Jazz Festival (with Billy Hart, Ray Drummond and James Spaulding), Catania (with the Woody Herman Band), Rocella Jazz Festival, venues in Iseo, Sicily, Trapani, Genoa, Laurino, Florence, Pescara and Milan; France: Bordeax Jazz Festival, venues in Paris; Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Copenhagen, Denmark (1998-present); Workshop for Jazz and Improvised Music (JIMS), Salzburg, Austria (2004, 2005); Molde Jazz Festival, Norway (2003); Helsinki Jazz Festival, Finland; Azures Jazz Festival, Portugal; Israel: Red Sea Jazz Festival, Tel Aviv Jazz Festival (with Peter Erskine); Tribute to Coltrane Jazz Festival, various cities, Japan (with Dave Liebman, Michael Brecker, Joshua Redman), (1998); Tour of South America with Danilo Perez (including Panama, Curacao and Colombia), (1996) Performances/workshops given at venues in Poland, Istanbul (Turkey), Sofia (Bulgaria), South Africa, Australia and Hong Kong.

Press

Ben Ratliff, New York Times Music Review of Miles Coltrane: 50th Anniversary of Kind of Blue and Giant Steps Concert, Daring to Take a Chisel to Two Monuments of Jazz.

“…And in Giant Steps itself, Coltrane’s harmonic — steeplechase — étude, the band took special pains to play with expectations, flickering between a ballad tempo and the tune’s proper fast pace. But all through the set were surprises: solos, duos, four-way collective improvising, bass-clarinet interludes. With disparate phrasing and tone, the saxophonists varied the moods, and where they actually tried to replicate Coltrane’s loud, hard cry, they chose carefully. That keening almost always came from the fourth saxophonist, George Garzone, who could reproduce it without seeming glib, through a real understanding of Coltrane’s improvising strategies and his own modest gusto. It was good to hear, even better because he offered only a taste of it.”

Down Beat (1/97, p.53) – 4 Stars – (out of 5) on 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…”

JazzTimes (2/97, p.122) on Four’s and Two’s – “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…”

Mark Corroto, allaboutjazz.com “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.”

Bob Blumenthal, Liner Notes for George Garzone: Alone .”Alone is one of the most non-derivative tribute albums in memory. References exist, the hard drive of Night and Day recalls the Getz version with Bill Evans and Elvin Jones, the spring in Con Alma echoes the meter Getz and Chick Corea used on the tune, and Garzone found the introductory figure he uses on Moonlight in Vermont on Getz orchestral version with Claus Ogerman. These allusions don’t inhibit the music, though, they simply provide the spice, one more ingredient in a recipe where the material and players are strictly gourmet.”

Denai Burbank (Jerry Steinhilber: Chicago Trio/New York Tenor CD Review), jazzreview.com – “The good thing is that real jazz, old or new, does not “play out”. This group is well aware of that fact. Garzone brings polished and emotional interpretations on a majority of the cuts. It is the kind of gut-level honesty that’s missing in much of today’s music.”

Jim Santella (Abby and Norm Group: Melodic Miner’s Daughter CD Review), allaboutjazz.com – “George Garzone’s contributions to the session are special in their apparent ease of movement. While his motion is highly creative and spontaneous, the saxophonist’s manner gives one the outward impression that things are consistently smooth and laid-back. All that action taking place in the arena, and yet the scenery seems mellow. It’s a perfect mix.”

David R. Adler (The Fringe in New York CD Review) “With this record, George Garzone again proves that he’s a heavy hitter on par with big names of his generation like Joe Lovano and Michael Brecker. Garzone leads off the album with Tribute to Trane, which hearkens back to Coltrane’s Crescent period. Coltrane tributes are no rarity in jazz, but few leap out of the speakers with such authority and purposefulness.This particular tribute to Trane is also a tribute to the Fringe’s cohesiveness and well-managed intensity.”

Jonathon Babu, Northeastern Performer Magazine, February 1999 (Miller David Jamrog: Visions CD Review) – “Garzone as always, proves himself a supreme and singular talent. Plenty has been said of his playing, and he distinguishes himself song after song on this record.”

Frank Rubolino, Cadence Magazine, May 1999 (Miller David Jamrog: Visions CD Review) “Although Jamrog is an ever present force, Garzone on reeds tends naturally to be a focal point. He alternates between soprano and tenor, taking long improvised solos as a matter of course. His tone is fluid and his ideas are original.”

Jason Bivins, Cadence Magazine, January 2003 (Pete Robbins: Centric CD Review). “While Robbins is a careful, considered player who tugs and pulls at a single idea during his improvisations, Garzone’s is a lustier voice who more or less barrels through the composition (though he, too, is a thoughtful player, Garzone unleashes a smoldering line of split tones and smears.[during Screwguns].Reach isn’t quite as distinctive, though Garzone impresses again with his muscle amid the staggered rhythms and cadences.”

Mark F. Turner, allaboutjazz.com, December 2002 (Pete Robbins: Centric CD Review). “George Garzone’s powerful and angular tenor lines are a nice contrast to Robbins’ throaty, yet smooth voice. Garzone reveals a highly skilled tenor saxophonist who can hold his own among the best.”

Brian Glaser, Philadelphia Citypaper.net . “Garzone is known for fire-breathing playing on his solo dates, on discs with his free-jazz trio The Fringe, and on sessions with other sax fiends like Joe Lovano and Claire Daly.”

The Music Forum (A Tribute to Keith Jarrett CD Review). “George Garzone’s interpretation of Innocence reveals his often overlooked improvisational prowess as he romps through Jarrett’s changes without chorded accompaniment.” (http://www.georgegarzone.com/photos.html)

LENART KREČIČ 

Lenart Krečič, a saxophonist, arranger and composer is a native of Slovenia. He completed Masters of Music degree at NYU, and BFA with Academic Honors at The New School Jazz and Contemporary Music.

He has studied, recorded and performed with some of the finest musicians in the world: John Purcell, Billy Harper, Reggie Workman, Joe Lovano, Chris Potter, John Scofield, Kenny Werner, Gerry Hemingway, Don Friedman, Matthew Garrison, Marcus Gilmore and others.

He has released two CDs: Chain of Sounds (2010) and Mind Change (2016), and appers on more than 30 records with musicians worldwide. Currently he works as a saxophonist, artistic coordinator and artistic committee member at the RTV Slovenia Big Band. He also runs a saxophone repair shop called Saxervis that has been operating successfully for more than four years. He performs as a saxophonist around the world in various bands.

AMEEN SALEEM

A native of Washington DC, Ameen Saleem graduated from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in 1997. He attended North Carolina Central University from 1997-2001, earning a Bachelor’s Degree with a major in Music Performance. He performed in the Jazz Ensemble and was Musical Director of the Choir Ball. From 2002-2005, he attended CUNY Queens College in Flushing, New York, earning a Master’s Degree, majoring in Music Performance. Ameen has toured and performed with various artists playing across genres. In 2015 he released his first album of original compositions and collaborations titled Groove Lab which provides music for all listeners.

Most recently (2009-2018), Ameen Saleem has been touring extensively across the US, Europe and Japan with the Roy Hargrove Quintet and the Roy Hargrove Big Band. He now continues to perform worldwide with Sullivan Fortner trio and various other artists playing a wide range of music.

VLADIMIR KOSTADINOVIĆ

Vladimir Kostadinovic, award winning drummer (Tuscia in Jazz 2008 Italy, Jimmy Woode Competition) bandleader, composer & arranger, one of the Europe jazz music scene’s most sought after drummers, started his musical education at the age of five when he began studying classical accordion and drums. Drums have always been his real love and he wanted to pursue it, with a passion! Vladimir ranks high among drummers who are versatile and savvy enough to play different styles of music, as a sideman and with his own projects. In August 2009 he was invited to perform with a master of organ Hammond B3 Tony Monaco. During that time Vladimir also formed his own quartet with Jimmy Greene, Danny Grissett and Matt Brewer which featured his own compositions. In 2009 he went into the studio in New York with his band and recorded his first CD Course Of Events. Shortly thereafter he joined the band Antonio Farao Trio, with whom he is currently playing and traveling all over Europe. Vladimir also recorded his second album as a leader The Left Side Of Life live at the Generations Jazz Festival in Frauenfled, Switzerland, which was released for one of the most prestigious jazz record labels in Europe, ENJA Records. He has published 2 CD’s under his own name and received rave reviews all over the globe, among others, in the influential Modern Drummer, Jazz Times, Jazzthing, Jazzpodium and All about jazz Web portal, etc. In the last few years, Vladimir has also gone on to put his musical talents to work. He is currently writing music for his upcoming album and continues to headline concerts internationally. His goal as a musician: To Serve the Music. Vladimir has spent a lot of time playing and recording in The Big Apple with many great jazz musicians on the world scene. He has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with: Benny Golson, Charles Tolliver, George Garzone,Seamus Blake, Linda Oh, Melisa Aldana, Antonio Farao, Kevin Hays, Gregory Porter, Anthony Wonsey, Till Brönner, Dominique Di Piazza, Chico Freeman, Jimmy Greene, Mike Moreno, Didier Lockwood, John Ellis, Dusko Goykovich, Franco Ambrosetti, Danny Grissett, Tim Green, Darryl Hall, Marcin Wasilewski, Tony Monaco, Peter King, Bill Ramsey, Vicente Archer, Joe Sanders, Matt Brewer, Benito Gonzales, Donald Smith, Kiyoshi Kitagawa, Eric Lewis, Antoine Drye, Tivon Scott Pennicott, Mansur Scott, Joel Holmes, Sinan Alimanovic, Harvie S, Rob Bargad, Jonathan Powell, Martin Djakonovski, William Lecomte, Flavio Boltro, Claus Raible, Bjorn Solli, Max Grosch, Renato Chicco, Fritz Pauer, Zipflo Weinrich, Jaka Kopac, Milan Nikolic, Andre Heller, Andrea Eckert, Maria Bild, Oliver Kent, Uli Langthaler, Johannes Strasser, Francesco Angiuli, Wolfgang Puschnig, Christian Havel, Erwin Schmidt,etc..

He finished primary and secondary music school in Belgrade and graduated from the jazz department for drums in the class of Miroslav Karlovic. After music high school Vladimir enrolled at the University for Music and the Performing Arts in Graz. In 2009 he graduated his Master’s Degree with honors in class of Professor Howard Thomas Curtis. With this great man and teacher, from whom I received valuable instruction, I’ve significantly upgraded my playing skills and music language.

Awards: Best Drum Player– Tuscia in Jazz; 2008 Jimmy Woode competition. Teachers and jury: Kenny Barron, Francisco Mela, Kiyoshi Kitagawa, Shawn Monteiro, Eddi Palermo, Karl Potter, Rick Margitza, Tony Monaco, Ray Mantilla, Flavio Boltro, Giorgio Rosciglione, Gege Munari.

He has participated in the workshops of Greg Hutchinson, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Kenny Barron, Joey Calderrazzo, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Scott Coley, Jerry Bergonzi, Billy Hart, Bob Mintzer, John Hollambeck, Ron McClure, Trilok Gurtu, Horazio Hernandez, Dennis Irvin, Obed Calvaire, Jonathan Blake, Rodney Holmes.

Vladimir has played at many prominent festivals in the United States, China, Cuba, Europe: Germany, England, Holland, Switzerland, France, Spain, Austria, Italy, Slovakia, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, etc.

Clubs: Blue Note (Milan), Ronnie Scotts (London), New Apartment Lounge, Jazz Showcase (Chicago), 55 Bar (NYC), Smalls (NYC), Fat Cat (NYC), Ibeam (NYC), Somethin Jazz (NYC), Porgy&Bess (Vienna), Jazz Bar (Edinburgh), ORF Radio Kulturhaus (Vienna), Jazzland (Vienna), Birdland (Vienna), Bird’s Eye (Basel), Moods (Zurich), Grand Casino (Luzern), Palace Of Arts (Budapest), Blue Note (Nove Mesto), Cankarjev Dom (Ljubljana), Zwe (Vienna), Stokwerk (Graz), Royal Garden (Graz), Miles (Graz), Satchmo (Maribor), Sax Pub (Ljubljana), Cekaonica (Belgrade), Jazz Hram (Divaca), Hlava XX (Bratislava), Cultural Center (Zagreb), Jazz Club (Sarajevo), etc…

Performance in theatre productions: Graz National theatre Schauspielhaus and Volkstheater in Vienna

Big Bands/groups: Bob Mintzer, Peter Helbozheimer, Sigi Feigl…