Sue was the Assistant Director of the 16th World Saxophone Congress, 2012 and as one of Scotland's leading contemporary saxophonists she has given UK and Scottish premieres of many new works. She is one half of the McKenzie Sawers Duo who recently released their first CD, "The Coral Sea", with Delphian Records.
In demand as an educator, Sue teaches saxophone at St Andrews University, Edinburgh Napier University, Sheffield Music Academy and St Mary’s Music School. She has a busy private teaching practice and also teaches saxophone quartets/ensembles as well as teaching jazz improvisation workshops.
Sue is also the leader and founder of the Scottish Saxophone Ensemble who were part of the Made in Scotland Music Showcase, 2013 and the Director of the Scottish Saxophone Academy. She regularly performs with Salsa Celtica and the Glasgow Improviser’s Orchestra and recently performed with her own band, "Dark Grooves" at the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival 2013. She was chosen as part of Serious Music's talent development programme, Air Time, in 2014. Sue also plays in Syntonic with bass player Emma Smith and runs Bitches Brew which promotes female improvising talent.
Sue plays: Yanagisawa S902 and B992.
Billy Carrión Jr. never attended a music prep course, music camps,or a major musical school; instead it was passion, and hard work that has driven Billy’s young 15 year career. Even though he can be seen performing on as many as 13 instruments, baritone saxophone is his voice; even with a custom effects board developed for the baritone saxophone, dubbed ‘The Harmonic Weapon.’ Going the “old school route,” Billy used the music of the past, along with his logic, to learn, and earn his way into musics elite performers, instead of the more traditional lessons, and various music programs. Despite those things, he has managed to record and perform and remain prominent in many corners of music. His major achievements as a side man have blessed Billy with performances and recordings with some of musics legends including Eddie Palmieri – (Latin Jazz & La Perfecta), Ray Barretto, Henry Cole & The Afrobeat Collective, Los Pleneros De La 21, Jerry Medina y la Banda, Papo Vazquez, Ned Sublette, Don Sonero, Deecoy, The Fiendz, Robert Fitzpatrick, United Nation, Victor Manuelle, Andy Montañez, Nestor Torres, Tom Vella And The Wayside, Last Perfect Thing, Cecilia Celeste, Jak Tripa, Quincy Jones’ artist Alfredo Rodriguez, Joe Magnarelli, Giovanni Hidalgo, David Oquendo, among others…
Current running ensembles on saxophone include:
• Three Free
Billy Carrión Jr., Jon Di Fiore and Luke Celenza have been performing music for years. Their long-standing friendship is the tie that binds them together. They represent a strong collective thread from years of playing in Big Bands, traditional Piano Trio and even a Free Jazz Quintet.
This time, they’ve formed a new Ensemble stripped back to baritone saxophone, keyboards/piano, and drums. They’ve also written new “themes and vibes” that play to each other’s musical personalities.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/three-free/id836776285
• The Rican Rebels
Billy’s Roots to the world ensemble. Taking everything he has learned as a sideman of 15 years, he joins with some of the best musicians Puerto Rico Has to Offer, and performs a blend of Puerto Rican Roots, electronic soundscapes, melodies, and world rhythms from around the world to create a unique sonic experience. (Album out late 2014)
Billy also has a group that varies between 3-6 members that includes himself on baritone saxophone as well as.
http://jazzbarisax.com/baritone-saxophonists/next-generation/billy-carrion-jr/
featured on Jazzbarisax.com
Some videos:
http://youtu.be/bHhJ8zyWhEc Sextet highlight
http://youtu.be/2IuAX7TJORc Rican rebels first performance
http://youtu.be/7A7mWkk9lEk Solo with Three Free
http://youtu.be/2wPZjWM2fcU Solo with Henry Cole featured on WBGO's Toast The Nation New Years Program
Hailed by the New York Times as "a tenor saxophonist with an enigmatic, elegant and hard-driving style," JD Allen is a bright rising light on today’s international jazz scene. His unique and compelling voice on the instrument – the result of a patient and painstaking confrontation with the fundamentals of the art - has recently earned Allen a blaze of critical attention signaling his ascension to the upper ranks of the contemporary jazz world. Originally from Detroit, Allen’s apprenticeship, anchored by his lengthy tenure with Betty Carter, occurred largely in New York, where he worked with legends Lester Bowie, George Cables, Ron Carter, Louis Hayes, Frank Foster Big Band, Winard Harper, Butch Morris, David Murray, Wallace Roney. He added his voice to that of his contemporaries as well; Cindy Blackman, Eric Revis, Orrin Evans, Meshell Ndegeocello, Dave Douglas, Jeremy Pelt, Gerald Cleaver and Nigel Kennedy continue to call upon him to augment their musical visions. JD's debut album, In Search Of... (Red Records, 1999), won him the Best New Artist award in Italy, and reviewers praised him for his compositions and conceptual boldness. His second release, Pharoah’s Children (Criss Cross, 2002), again won him accolades for its thoughtfulness, maturity, and adventurousness. One of Jazziz Magazine's Critics Picks Top 10 Albums of the Year, the album was widely praised in the U.S. and Europe.
In 2008 Allen began an association with Sunnyside Records, which released I AM – I AM featuring Gregg August (bass) and Rudy Royston (drums) and garnered rave reviews from the New York Times (Ben Ratliff’s Playlist), Time Out NY
(music cover), All About Jazz, Jazzman, Jazz Wise and Downbeat. That year Allen appeared on NPR's Jazz Perspectives, WNYC's Soundcheck and WKCR's Musician's Show. Allen was named "Rising Star” in DownBeat's 2011 Critic’s Poll as well as a finalist in the 2010, 2009 and 2008 polls.
In 2009, Allen released his follow-up Sunnyside recording, Shine! which seems to have detonated the trail of musical gunpowder he had long been putting down. He received TOP 10 ALBUM OF THE YEAR in over 25 publications worldwide including; NPR’S Top 5 Albums of 2009 (Shine!), JazzTimes Top 50 Albums of 2009 (Shine!), Village Voice #9 Jazz Album of the Year (Shine!), Boston Globe Top Jazz Album of the Year, 2009 (Shine!). Word-of-mouth praise for the album led Lorraine Gordon, owner of the famed and historic Village Vanguard to invite him and his trio for a weeklong stint. The engagement was met with relentless coverage from the cultural press: Time Out New York selected his engagement as its top musical attraction for that week; he appeared on WNYC’s Leonard Lopate Show; his work was again discussed by Ben Ratliff on WBGO’ Josh Jackson’s show; and the New York Times reviewed his residency, commending Allen for his trio’s “fearless approach to a formidable tradition.” Allen’s final trio record with the label, VICTORY!, (Sunnyside) garnered Director Mario Lathan’s biographical short film on Allen the 2011 Jazz Journalist Association (JJA) award for BEST SHORT FILM and has received worldwide recognition including a feature on NPR’s
First Listen, an in-depth piece in the June issue of JazzTimes and 4**** stars from Downbeat.
High Note Records’ The Matador and The Bull (2012) and his most recent GRACE (2013) earned Allen consecutive Downbeat Critics Poll Award Winner for “TENOR SAXOPHONIST” and “COMPOSER” and equal critical acclaim.
JD Allen official website http://jdallenjazz.com/ All photos by Erika Nj Allen
Julian Chan is a freelance saxophonist/flutist based in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia. He graduated with a Masters degree in Jazz Performance from Queens
College in NYC, where he studied with jazz greats Antonio Hart, Michael Mossman,
(the late) Prof. Howard Brofsky and David Berkman.
Julian has been actively performing, since 2001, in Malaysia and other
parts of the Asian region, such as Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan and
China. He has performed with various Malaysian jazz luminaries - Michael
Veerapen, David Gomes, Junji Delfino, Jose Thomas among others; performed and
toured with Chinese international pop artistes such as Jonathan Lee and
Jeff Chang, as well as Malaysian pop artistes such as Ning Baizura, Dayang
Nurfaizah, Anuar Zain, Sheila Majid, Sharizan Borhan, among others. He has also
established himself well as a prominent saxophonist in the Malaysian music
scene, whether as a sideman, bandleader and as an educator. He is currently an
active member of one of Malaysia’s most sought-after jazz outfit, WVC TRiO+1, as
well as his own New Quartet.
Julian has been involved in a large variety of projects, ranging from club
shows, concerts, festivals, album and commercial recordings, music tours, as
well as theatre. He has recorded in several albums, both jazz and non-jazz.
Among notable albums he has recorded are Jonathan Lee’s SENSE AND SENSIBILITY
CONCERT (2006), Fung Chern Hwei’s FROM THE HEART (2010), Claude Diallo Situation
LIVE AT NO BLACK TIE (feat. JULIAN CHAN) (2010), WVC TRiO+1 ELEVEN (2009), and
to-be-released 2014 album by WVC TRiO+1 - WAITING FOR THAT DAY.
When not performing, Julian also teaches saxophone as a private instructor,
as well as an adjunct lecturer at the Institute of Music, UCSI University. He
also gives workshops/masterclasses in various music schools and music colleges
in Malaysia.
Julian Chan official website: www.julianchanmusic.com
Photo courtesy of Wong Horngyih
A diploma-course graduate of Shobi Conservatory (Tokyo), Arai has earned numerous honors and distinctions including the Akamatsu Award; First Prize in the Shobi Wind & Percussion Instrument Competition; Second Prize in the Fourth Japan Wind & Percussion Competition (Saxophone); the Encouragement Award in the Tokyo International Music Competition for Chamber Ensemble (Trouvère Quartet); Second Place in the Tokyo International Music Competition for Chamber Ensemble (Trouvère Quartet); and the Fifth Japan Band Music Academy Award (Performance Division) (Trouvère Quartet).
Arai released his solo debut CD, "Fantasia" (Meister-music), in 2000. His "A Homage to Marcel Mule" (Toshiba EMI) won Grand Prize at the 2001 National Arts Festival sponsored by the Agency for Cultural Affairs. Additionally, he performs on "Six Caprices for Two Saxophones" (Meister-music), a popular duo recording with Shinichiro Hikosaka. Arai's latest solo album, "Yuube no uta" (Florestan) has opened new frontiers for the saxophone and netted strong acclaim.
A longstanding Trouvère Quartet member, Arai has studied saxophone under Kenichiro Muto, Keiji Shimoji, and Yuichiro Omuro.
In 1978 he released his first album as a leader, "Burnin' Wave," while still a university student. As one of Japan's best-known saxophonists, Honda has since recorded with a host of world-celebrated musicians including Chick Corea, Freddie Hubbard, and Christopher Cross among others.
Honda is also widely known for his versatile skills as a composer and arranger of scores for TV dramas, commercials, movies, and classical music genres.
He received the highest honors from the Japan Academy for his work on the soundtrack for the movie, Marusa no onna (Juzo Itami, director).
Honda has released numerous original albums and soundtracks. One of his latest releases is with the Hyper Chamber Music Unit, "SMILE!"
As a composer, he is currently concentrating his energies on the preparation of a work commissioned by Band Restoration 2012.
After graduating from university, he spent three years at Berklee College of Music in Boston and had opportunities to perform with Natalie Cole and Nat Adderly.
Miyazaki first met and developed close friendships with members of the group T-Square in New York. Later, after his return to Japan, he became an active T-Square member himself. In the period leading up to that event, Miyazaki performed with the Boz Scaggs Japan Tour as well as with domestic artists touring Japan.
In 2000 Miyazaki left T-Square and launched his solo career. In that capacity, he has performed extensively in session work and recordings and has held regular lessons and clinics in Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Kochi.
In 2004 he performed together with the Azuchi Takahashi unit A.O.I on their CD, "Mouth to Hands," and in 2006 released "Nostalgia," a solo album on the Pony Canyon label.
Miyazaki has attracted a broad following of saxophone fans with his powerful yet soulful tone.
Official website: http://www.miyazaki-sax.com
Yabe hails from Shizuoka Prefecture. He graduated at the top of his class in 1998 with a degree in saxophone performance from Kunitachi College of Music (Tokyo). He performed that same year at his college's graduate concert, the Yamaha New Faces Concert, and at the Suntory Hall Rainbow21 debut concert. Yabe was also an awarded finalist in the 1995 Japan Soloist Contest.
In 2000, he completed graduate course studies at Shizuoka University, and earned the Honorable Mention prize at the first Gustav Bumcke International Saxophone Competition in Dortmund, Germany.
Yabe's career transcends genres. He has performed in settings ranging from solo recitals and chamber music to orchestras, wind ensembles, live-house jazz, and rock band dates.
He has studied saxophone under Yuji Ishiwata, Keiji Shimoji, Yoshiyuki Hattori, Atsuyasu Kitayama, Nobuya Sugawa, Yasuto Tanaka, and Fabrice Morietti. In addition, he has participated in master classes led by Masato Kumoi, J.M. Londeix, E. Rousseau, J.Y. Fourmeau, and J. Ledieu.
Currently Yabe serves as a part-time instructor at Tokoha Gakuen Junior College and Shizuoka Shimizu-minami High School.
Born December 10, 1975 in Nerima Ward, Tokyo, Ide during his college years was involved in Meiji University's Modern Jazz Study Group and Big Sounds Society Orchestra, and later graduated from the Berklee College of Music in Boston. While enrolled at Meiji, Ide earned awards as a soloist in events ranging from the Yamano Big Band Contest and Asakusa Jazz Contest to the Ota Jazz Festival.
To date, Ida has performed with an array of combos and big bands including the Kenichi Tsunoda Big Band, Masato Honda B.B. Station, Funk Orchestra T.P.O., Fun Brothers' Workshop, Tokyo Chutei-iki ("Tokyo Mid/Low Frequency Band Limits"), and the Ryudo Uzaki group. In addition, he leads the band O.J.B. ("One Night Jam Session Band") with Ryudo Uzaki and Kouichi Iwaki. Ide has also participated in concert tours as a sideman for Yuzo Kayama, Yukari Ito & Mie Nakao, and Kaori Mizumori.
In 2009 Ide and percussionist Ryohei Okabe formed Oodutukodutu (http://oodutukodutu.web.fc2.com/), a ground-breaking new saxophone and percussion duo unit that enlists handheld instruments in a vast array of sizes and shapes to create its unique sound. In April 2011 the duo released its first album, "Oodutukodutu," and later performed at the Earth Celebration.
Ide also currently works as a regular with The Shocking, Tokyo Brass Art Orchestra, and the Miggy and Jazz Orchestra.
"My first Yanagisawa was an S-800 soprano sax. It was through the sound I achieved with that horn that I sensed the single-minded devotion and passion for detail that everyone at Yanagisawa shares about the craft of instrument-making. I have become a total Yanagisawa addict now and own Yanagisawas of most every size, from soprano to baritone. They have become absolutely essential tools in helping me to create and shape the sound I'm after, and they also offer excellent ergonomics. I honestly feel delighted, fortunate, and grateful that such a trusted sax maker of this caliber is operating right here in Japan." Shinji Ide
Ide's official website: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/ide/shinji/index.html
Kobayashi hails from Hotakamachi (now Azumi City) in Nagano Prefecture. He took up the saxophone in middle school and began serious studies of the instrument under Teiji Iijima and Keiji Munesada during his high school years. Kobayashi is a Kunitachi College of Music graduate and has also completed the Music and Media Arts Shobi diploma course. He currently lives in Nagano Prefecture.
Kobayashi is involved in diverse forms of music performance but also is engaged as an educator, offering wind instrument instruction and lessons through public schools and music schools within and outside Nagano Prefecture. He also offers instruction to aspiring saxophonists of all levels.
Kobayashi is a member of the TAD Wind Symphony and serves as a part-time instructor for Saku Chosei Junior and Senior High School.
He has studied saxophone and chamber music under Keiji Shimoji, Yuji Ishiwata and Yoshiyuki and Mariko Hattori, and has participated in master classes given by Jean-Marie Londeix.
