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Jeff Lederer, Adjunct Professor of Saxophone

Jeff Lederer

Adjunct Professor of Jazz Saxophone

B.A. Comparative Religion, Oberlin CollegeM.M. Woodwind Performance, Western Michigan University

Description

Jeff Lederer is a New York based saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and educator whose work crosses the genres of jazz, latin and creative improvised music. Since 2014 he has been consistently named in both the critics and Readers Polls of Downbeat and JazzTimes Magazine recognizing his work on tenor and alto saxophones and clarinet. He has worked for many years in the Matt Wilson Quartet and the Grammy nominated ensembles of Bobby Sanabria and Salsa trombonist Jimmy Bosch. He has recorded for Gunther Schuller's GM Recordings, CIMP Records, Palmetto Records and his own Little (i) Music label. His quartet "Sunwatcher" made it's debut in 2011 on the Jazzheads label featuring Buster Williams on bass, Jamie Saft on piano and Matt Wilson, drums. His longstanding ensemble "Shaker n' Bakers" performs modern jazz interpretations of the Vision songs of the Shaker religious sect and has released two recordings of Shaker music and performed at the World Festival of Sacred Music in Los Angeles. His new group "Brooklyn Blowhards" examines the repertoire of traditional Sea Shanties and Whaling Songs through the lens of the free jazz of Albert Ayler. Lederer was recently named as a "Musician to Watch" in the 2017 JazzWise (UK) Magazine.

Jeff's cross-stylistic composition/arranging projects include "Los Sazones", a salsa reimaginng of Vivald's "Four Seasons" which was commissioned by the Ravinia Festival for the Chicago Symphony and has been performed by many major orchestras including the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl.

Jeff has performed at numerous major jazz festivals including the Newport Jazz Festival, JVC Jazz Festival , Monterey Jazz Festival, Litchfield Jazz Festival, Pori Jazz Festival, Moldes Jazz, Guimaraes Festival (Portugal), Tiempo Latino (France) and many, many others. In 2013 Jeff performed a duo concert with drummer Allison Miller at the mainspace of the San Francisco Jazz Center. In 2010 he was invited as a special guest to perform spontaneous improvisations with the pianist Shahin Novrasli at the Baku Jazz Festival in Azerbaijan.

Specialties

Jazz, Afro Cuban Music, Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute Performance, Improvisation, Composition

Publications

"Gato Barbieri – In Memorium" Jazz Times Magazine (March 2017)

Lectures and Presentations

  • 2015 Presentation at the Jazz Educators Network Conference – "Creating Visionary Youth – Large Ensemble Improvisation Strategies"
  • 2017 Artist-in-Residence Guimaraes Jazz Festival (Portugal)

Recordings

Solo Releases

  • "Brooklyn Blowhards", Little (i) Music (spring 2016)
  • "Swivel" – Honey Ear Trio, Little (i) Music (spring 2016)
  • "Swing n' Dix", Little (i) Music (2013)
  • "Sunwatcher", Jazzheads Records (2011)

With Shaker n'; Bakers (Little (i) Music)

  • Yearning for Zion (2008)
  • Shakers n' Bakers (2006)

With Matt Wilson (Palmetto Records)

  • Gathering Call (2014)
  • Christmas Tree-O (2010)
  • That's Gonna Leave a Mark (2008)
  • Humidity (2003)

With vocalist Mary LaRose

  • Reincarnation, w. string quartet Brooklyn Rider (2013)
  • The Blue Guitar, w. Marc Ribot Little (i) Music (2006)
  • Obbliggato, CIMP (2002)
  • Cutting the Chord, Ledhead (1996)

With Bobby Sanabria

  • Big Band Urban Legends (2009)
  • Multiverse (2012) (Grammy-nominated saxophone/arrangements)

With Jimmy Bosch

  • Soneando Trombon (2005)
  • Salsa Dura (2008)
  • El Avion de la Salsa (2012)

With Kirk Knuffke

  • Arms and Hands (2015)

With Duchess

  • Laughing At Life (2016)
  • Duchess (2015)

With Katie Bull

  • The Story So Far (2008)
  • All Hot Bodies Radiate (2015)

with Ed Palermo Big Band

  • Big Band Zappa (2006)

With Gary Smulyan

  • Bella Napoli (2013) (Arranger/Producer)

Jazz at Lincoln Center

  • We-Bop, A Family Jazz Party (2012) (Arranger/Producer/Saxophone)

With Ted Kooshian

  • Underdog and Other Stories (2010)
  • Clowns Will Be Arriving (2013)

With Michael Musallami

  • Mettle (2012)

Performances

2017

  • Artist in Residence, Guimaraes Jazz Festival (Portugal), featured performances with Orchestra and Chorus
  • Chicago, Monterey Jazz Festivals with Matt Wilson "Honey and Salt"
  • National tours with Allison Miller's "Boom Tic Boom"

2014-15

  • Performance at Litchfield Jazz Festival with Matt Wilson's Topsy Turvy.
  • Performances at SF Jazz, Jazz St. Louis, U.C. Davis Mondavi Center and extensive touring with "Xmas Tree–O" (Matt Wilson drums, Paul Sikivie bass).
  • Xmas Tree-O at Jazz Standard NYC w/guests artist Jason Moran, Bill Frisell.
  • Premeire of "Brooklyn Blowhards" Sea Shanty project at many NYC venues. Upcoming Winterfest performance for 2016.
  • Performances with Bobby Sanbria quartet "Ache" at Louis Armstrong House, NYC, Lincoln Center and many other venues with special guest Candido Camero.
  • "Sangre de Caballo" – Duo performance at SF Jazz with drummer Allison Miller.
  • Upcoming "Future in Review" conference performance in Park City Utah with Honey Ear Trio which will monitor the Brain waves of the performers and audience while improvising music.

2010-15

  • Extensive touring with "Shakers n' Bakers" group. Performance at the World Festival of Sacred Music, Los Angeles. "Mother Ann's Day" Tour performs at many sacred Shaker sites including Watervliet and Canterbury Shaker Villages and Atlas Theater, Washington DC.
  • "Sunwatcher" Group performs at Winterjazz fest NYC and Brooklyn Barge "Hear and Now" festival.
  • Festival Performances with Matt Wilson Quartet including:
    • North Sea Jazz Festival (2009)
    • Melbourne Jazz Festival (2008)
    • Pori Jazz Festival (2009)
    • Molde (Norway) Jazz Festival (2009)
    • Earshot Jazz Festival (2010)
    • Monterey Jazz Festival (2007)
    • Newport Jazz Festival (2011)
  • Solo Guest artist – Baku Jazz Festival. Performed improvisations with Shahin Novrasli in Baku Opera House based on traditional Azerbaijani music.
  • Round Robin duo performance with Bob Stewart, tuba.
  • Substitute musician – Broadway Production of "In the Heights"

2000-10

  • Performances/touring with Salsa artist Jimmy Bosch.
  • Multiple performances at major Jazz and Salsa festivals throughout Europe and Latin America including Umbria Jazz Festival and Heineken Jazz Festival (Puerto Rico).
  • Premiere of original extended work "Los Sazones", a commission by the Ravinia Festival for the Chicago Symphony and Jimmy Bosch's Salsa Dura. Conducts the first performance at Ravinia along with co-conductor Nicolas McGegon and soloists Jimmy Bosch and Pekka Kuusisto.
  • Conducts performance of "Los Sazones" with Santa Rosa Symphony with soloist Leila Josefowicz.
  • Performances of "Los Sazones" with Green Bay, Colorado, and Phoenix Symphonies with soloist Jesse Mills.
  • Repeat performance of "Los Sazones" with CSO on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Ravinnia Festival.
  • Conducts performance of "Los Sazones" with co–conductor Nicolas McGegan at Hollywood Bowl with Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Honors/Awards

  • Named in the Downbeat Critics and Readers Polls for Clarinet Category for 5 years straight.
  • Named "Jazz Musician to Watch for 2017" in London Guardian.  

Films

  • Saxophone soloist on select "Blues Clues" and "Wonder Pets" episodes. 
  • On screen appearances in "Spin City" (NBC series). 

Affiliations

Jazz Educators Network, College Music Society, North American Saxophone Alliance