Take a break from the Holiday Madness Tuesday evening and join the Saxquest Jazz Orchestra for a couple early evening sets of music and perhaps an Entree or Hors d’oeuvre at the Tavern of Fine Arts. I invite you to come out this Tuesday (Dec 8) from 6:30-8:30PM. We may sneak in a Christmas tune or two in our own unique style.

In the woodwind section you’ll hear, Joel Vanderhyden, Derick Tramel and Mark Overton; on brass will be Bill Simpson, Charlie Brown and John Siddle; and an all star rhythm section with Phil Dunlap, Ben Wheeler and Tony Barbata.Its free so come on out and soak up the atmosphere of the Tavern of Fine Arts.

Saxquest is thrilled to host a FREE clinic/performance at the shop this Saturday with multi-Grammy award winning saxophonist, Frank Catalano (Saturday Nov. 14 from 2-PM). Frank is a super high-energy jazz tenor saxophonist based out of Chicago and is a creative force to be reckoned with. As a Yamaha endorsing artist, Mr. Catalano’s recent homage to John Coltrane record “Love Supreme Collective” is amazing and continues to sell well a year after its initial debut. His Savoy/Columbia recording “Bang!” debuted at #12 on the Billboard Jazz Charts and his record “Mighty Burner” was on the Billboard Charts for 20 straight weeks.

Now 38, Catalano has performed with Miles Davis, Randy Brecker, Charles Earland, Elvin Jones, Stan Getz, Betty Carter, Von Freeman, Tito Puente, Tony Bennett, Les Claypool and Louis Bellson all while still in high school! This led to his signing to Delmark Records at age 18 and a string of critically acclaimed recordings. Catalano has been heard by millions of people all over the world thanks in part to 3 Grammy-winning and 11 Grammy-nominated recordings with artists such as Jennifer Lopez, Destiny’s Child, and John Legend.

This performance/clinic is supported by both D’Addario/Rico and Yamaha. We’ve enjoyed dealing in Yamaha’s high-end woodwinds and will have a good good selection of Yamaha instruments here in the store. We’re also happy to share with you the new D’Addario Jazz Select mouthpiece. One of the best straight ahead jazz mouthpieces on the market today. As a Yamaha and D’Addario Artist, Catalano will also be happy to talk more about these instruments and accessories while he’s here.

Frank will be backed by St. Louis musicians Adam Maness on piano, Ben Wheeler on bass and Drew Weiss on drums. I hope to see you out this Saturday. Please tell everyone you know. It will be an amazing show!!

Also mark your calendar:
Saturday Apr 23 – evening – DAVID LIEBMAN
Saturday Apr 30 – 2PM-4PM – WILL & PETER ANDERSEN

Saxquest is thrilled to welcome back to the shop saxophonist and D’Addario Woodwind Artist, Joel Vanderhyden and his group Koplant No this Saturday afternoon – HALLOWEEN – October 31 at Saxquest from 2pm – 4pm.

Koplant No is a forward-thinking, cinematic electro-jazz ensemble that fuses intricate compositions and jazz improvisation with electronica, progressive rock, and hip-hop. Called “one of the most innovative ensembles in the Midwest” by Minnesota Public Radio’s David Cazares, they are the recipients of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and have performed at venues across the country in New York, Chicago, Minneapolis, Washington D.C., St. Louis, and at the 2015 World Saxophone Congress in Strasbourg, France. Their potent music has the rare ability to satiate the most discriminating jazz aficionados, while completely disarming the anti-jazz crowd, and has been described as “a textural feast for the mind’s eye.”

Koplant No is: Joel Vanderheyden (tenor saxophone), Brian Lewis Smith (trumpet, laptop, keys), Drew Morton (bass, synth), and Rob Baner (drums, loops, vibes).

“Koplant No is the audio equivalent of a film noir. The playing is superb and they are telling stories outside of the box.” – Chuck Bolger, 91.7 FM WMUH Allentown, Pennsylvania.

“Thought-provoking compositions that are designed with substance and residual value, articulating a personalized, group-centric counterattack to the tried and true.”
- Glenn Astarita, All About Jazz

Its such a tremendous thrill for us to bring such a fantastic event to you and we thank D’Addario for their help in support of this clinic.

Also mark your calendar:
Saturday Nov 14 – 2PM-4PM – FRANK CATALANO
Saturday Apr 23 – evening – DAVID LIEBMAN

Saxquest address: 2114 Cherokee St., St. Louis, MO 63118

I welcome everyone out to Saxquest this Saturday October 17 from 2-3:30pm for a very special saxophone workshop!!! We will be hosting twenty five year-old saxophonist-composer Adam Larson. This is a free event and open to the public.

The Adam Larson Trio is currently touring through the Midwest and is also performing at Jazz at the Bistro tonight and tomorrow night. Saxquest is happy to be able to offer 2-for-1 tickets to The Bistro show. This offer can be redeemed in person or over the phone through the Bistro Box Office at 314.571.6000 using code “SAXQUEST” and is good for both adult and student tickets. That’s makes it just $7.50/each for adults and $5/each for students!
JSL website info: http://www.jazzstl.org/experience/artists/adam-larson
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/398892273638270

Hailing from New York, Larson keeps an active schedule with his quintet and as a sideman performing and recording with a virtual who’s-who of jazz over the past several year. Released in January of 2013, Larson’s debut album “Simple Beauty” and Larson’s follow up album (released in September of 2013), entitled “Overdue Ovation”, have received high praise from critics. His latest record, “Selective Amnesia” is set to be released on Inner Circle Music on November 3rd, 2015.

As a leader and sideman Adam has been part of several tours across the country and around the world, and also maintains a busy schedule as a clinician and master class presenter. Larson’s quartet was recently selected to tour on behalf of the U.S. State Department’s “American Music Abroad” program touring Africa for 35 days in April 2015.

Described by critic Howard Reich of The Chicago-Tribune as “a player for whom the word ‘prodigious’ was coined”, Larson was selected as a member of the inaugural Manhattan School of Music Jazz Institute where he completed his Master’s with honors and received the William H. Borden Award for outstanding performance in Jazz Performance in 2014.

Saxquest has been fortunate to know Adam for many years and to watch him develop his artistry. He has become a top national-level jazz artist in every sense of the phrase. Audiences are blown away by his technical facility and creativity.

Adam endorses P. Mauriat saxophones and we’d like to thank them for helping put this together. Please come out for some great music!!

Also mark your calendar:
Saturday Oct 31 – 2PM-4PM – JOEL VANDERHYDEN – KOPLANT NO
Saturday Nov 14 – 2PM-4PM – FRANK CATALANO
Saturday Apr 23 – evening – DAVID LIEBMAN
Saturday Apr 30 – 2PM-4PM – PETER & WILL ANDERSON

Saxquest address: 2114 Cherokee St., St. Louis, MO 63118