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Saxophonist Chris Potter has been pushing the limits of the saxophone since his entrance to the jazz scene. Potter created the Underground band as a vehicle for his explorations in improvisation and composition. Though the band has only been around for a short time, it has proven to be one of the most engaging and far-reaching ensembles around. The new recording, Follow the Red Line, documents the band in its element, a live performance at the famed Village Vanguard, and expands upon their previous release, Underground (Sunnyside 2006). The band consists of young stalwarts Craig Taborn (keyboards), Adam Rogers (guitar) and Nate Smith (drums). This recording serves as a perfect expose of Potter’s prowess as composer and performer. Born in Chicago on New Year’s Day 1971 and moving to Columbia, South Carolina as an infant, the prodigious youngster began fooling around on guitar and piano at the age of three. He took up the alto sax at the age of ten and played on his first jazz gig at the age of 13. But his eclectic musical education really began with his personal investigation of his parents’ record collection. Spanning everything from Bach to Schoenberg, and gamelan music to the Beatles, Chris explored it all avidly, taking a special interest in albums by Miles Davis and Dave Brubeck. When piano legend Marian McPartland first heard Chris at 15 years old (an encounter that eventually led to his contract with Concord Records in 1994), she told his father that Chris was ready for the road with a unit such as Woody Herman’s. But finishing school was a priority and by the time he graduated, he was playing alto, tenor and soprano saxophone, bass clarinet and alto flute. At 18 Potter moved to New York to study at the New School, and then Manhattan School of Music. There he formed a lasting friendship with one of his professors, pianist Kenny Werner, later making a duet recording together. He also re-connected with trumpet great Red Rodney, with whom he had played earlier at a jazz festival in Columbia. He spent four important years with Rodney, honing his skills at the side of the bebop heavyweight, until shortly before Red’s passing in 1994. Graduating from Manhattan in 1993, Potter began a long series of sideman activities with top names like the Mingus Big Band, Paul Motion, Ray Brown, Jim Hall, James Moody, Dave Douglas, Mike Mainieri and many more. After playing on Marian McPartland’s 1993 Concord recording, In My Life, the adventurous saxophonist became a surprising member of the Concord roster, eventually recording five CDs for the label, as well as the aforementioned duo with Werner. His final Concord CD, 1998’s Vertigo, was named one of the year’s top ten CDs by both Jazziz and The New York Times. Chris also performed on Steely Dan’s Grammy-nominated, gold album Two Against Nature, touring with them in 1994, which also resulted in the live CD, Alive in America. Potter received his own Grammy nomination for Best Instrumental Jazz Solo for his work on Joanne Brackeen’s Pink Elephant Magic. And he’s the youngest recipient ever to receive the annual Danish Jazzpar Prize. Although he’s performed extensively with the incredible bassist/composer Dave Holland’s various ensembles, Potter has been performing all over the world with his own groups since the release of Gratitude early 2001. He has performed all over Europe (including Paris, London, Florence and the North Sea Festival), Canada (festivals in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver) and in top clubs in the U.S. as well as a featured performance at the Monterey Jazz Festival. Following a European tour with Steve Swallow’s Trio in December 2001, Potter recorded Traveling Mercies in January, 2002, before taking his quartet out on a West Coast tour in February. In March and April, he toured the U.S. with Holland’s and Dave Douglas’ quintets respectively, and in the fall, he began his extensive touring with his own group, working throughout the U.S. in September and October, and in Europe during November and December. Multi-reedman/composer Chris Potter is often cited by critics, musicians, and a steadily increasing number of fans as the finest saxophonist of his generation. Like most young jazz musicians, Chris is well schooled in the masters. His critically acclaimed 2001 album, Gratitude (Verve) pays tribute to many of those titans who’ve influenced him, including John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson, Eddie Harris, Wayne Shorter, Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Ornette Coleman and Charlie Parker. But like many other of his contemporaries in and out of jazz, Chris’ musical influences come from many and varied sources. Along with limitless creativity, a vibrant sense of swing, and a full awareness of past, present and future, that broad-based musical sensibility has brought Chris into the line of vision of a diverse and heady array of artists, including James Moody, Jim Hall, Marian McPartland, Dave Douglas, Larry Carlton, Steely Dan, and Dave Holland, with whom Chris has been performing regularly since 1999. ”Each band leader, each great musician I’ve had the chance to work with has inspired me in a certain way... Without all those experiences I don’t think I’d be ready to be doing this now” – says Chris.
Selected discography: Presenting Chris Potter (1994); Concentric Circles (1994); Sundiata (1995); Pure (1995); Moving In (1996); Unspoken (1997); Vertigo (1998); Gratitude (2001); Traveling Mercies (2002); Lift: Live At The Village Vanguard (2004); Underground (2006); ”Follow the Red Line: Live at the Village Vanguard” (2007); ”Chris Potter 10: Song For Anyone” (2007); ”Ultrahang” (2009)
„Chris Potter is a powerful force in the world of modern jazz. His work as a sideman and as a leader demonstrates a broad array of influences, some deep within the jazz tradition, and others from recent popular trends or from 20th century classical music. No matter what the context, Potter’s virtuosity and sensibility to the ensemble allow his playing to thrive and swell within the group. These dozen recordings represent just a fraction of Potter’s recording career, but each marks an important step in his growth as a master of the jazz saxophone.” (Jacob Teichroew). |
Adam Rogers is an American guitarist specializing in post bop, contemporary jazz, and classical music. Rogers has had a prolific and extensive session history as a recording guitarist having played on over 150 commercially released recordings. He is currently a member of the Chris Potter Underground in addition to leading his own groups. He was a founding member and co leader of the eclectic group Lost Tribe. He has also performed and or recorded with Michael Brecker, Cassandra Wilson, Walter Becker, Norah Jones, John Patitucci, Paul Simon, John Zorn and Regina Carter among many others. He is a highly versatile player covering many areas of music but is best known for his work in the modern jazz idiom. |
Craig Taborn is an American keyboardist and composer. Playing piano, organ, and Moog synthesizer, Taborn has worked mostly in jazz, although he also does dark ambient and techno music. Taborn became known for his membership in saxophonist James Carter’s band, where he contributed to The Real Quietstorm (1994) and Conversation with the Elders (1996). In 1995, he graduated from the University of Michigan with a liberal arts degree. During the 1990s he also worked with Mat Maneri (Blue Deco, 2000), Roscoe Mitchell, Nate Smith, Gerald Cleaver, Lotte Anker, Dave Binney, Wayne Krantz, Adam Rogers and others. During the 1990s he also led his own trio. In the 2000s he played in the US with Tim Berne (The Shell Game, 2001), in a trio with Susie Ibarra (Songbird Suite, in 2001 and Folkloriko in 2004). In 2002 he worked with Dave Douglas (Freak in), Hugh Ragin and the Norwegian bassist Eivind Opsvik, with Marty Ehrlich in 2003, Drew Gress in 2004, and Chris Potter (Underground, 2005). He has worked with many musicians including Chris Potter, Nate Smith, Gerald Cleaver, Lotte Anker, Drew Gress, James Carter, David Binney, Wayne Krantz, Adam Rogers, David Torn, Tim Berne, members of The Bad Plus, and was a member of the Susie Ibarra Trio. |
Ira Nathaniel ”Nate” Smith is an American drummer, keyboardist, composer, songwriter and producer. He was born on December 14, 1974 and is a native of Chesapeake, VA. His musical talent became apparent at the age of 11, after he found his brother’s old drum kit buried in his parent’s garage. He went on to earn a percussion performance scholarship and pursued his musical studies at James Madison University, where he received a B.S. in Media Arts and Design. After college, he was invited to continue his studies at Virginia Commonwealth University as a member of the Carpenter Fellowship Program. While still in college, Nate was recruited by the great jazz singer Betty Carter to participate in her esteemed Jazz Ahead program, which has produced an impressive list of alumni including Jason Moran, Cyrus Chestnut, and Jacky Terrasson, among many others. In graduate school at Virginia Commonwealth University he met and performed with the legendary jazz bassist and composer Dave Holland. He continued to perform occasionally with Dave over the next few years, finally joining his Grammy-award winning Quintet and Big Band in 2003. Shortly thereafter, Nate joined saxophonist Chris Potter’s group, Chris Potter Underground. Since then, Nate has gone on to perform and/or record with Jason Moran, Joshua Redman, Stefon Harris, Emily King, Patricia Barber, Adam Rogers, Craig Taborn, Scott Colley and many others. Nate is also an accomplished songwriter and producer, having worked with Michael Jackson and Teddy Riley on the song ”Heaven Can Wait” on Mr. Jackson’s Invincible album. He recently formed his own production company, Waterbaby Music, Inc., and released his first EP, Workday: Waterbaby Music, Vol. 1.0. For more information about Mr. Smith’s production and songwriting, please visit www.waterbabymusic.com. Nate Smith currently lives and works in New York City. |
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