GARY SMULYAN, BARITONE SAXOPHONE!
BASS CLARIN ET By Seth Graves
In 1980, unlike many of his colleagues stage the spirit, style and savvy of a deep and peers Smulyan didn't have to go very toned master of bebop. "Gary Smulyan's far to move into New York City proper lineage comes more from musicians like where he became part of the Mel Lewis Cecil Payne, Leo Parker, Pepper Adams, Jazz Orchestra then under the direction Serge Chaloff and Nick Brignola - the of Bob Brookmeyer, tonight's commis few baritonists that dared to master the sioned artist, composer and guest conduc tricky, chromatic music known as bebop," tor. Smulyan also found work with other wrote All About Jazz's Francis Lo Kee in important large ensembles including the a review. "Indeed...Smulyan is fluent in Mingus Epitaph band and the Smithso the language." He was heavily influenced nian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra. by Adams who was known as "The Gradually establishing himself the Knife" for his hearty tone and the energy talented Smulyan was asked to share the of his rhythmic playing style. Smulyan's stage and the recording studio with a Homage was recorded following Adams' stunning potpourri of luminaries includ death, and every track on the recording, ing: trumpeters Freddie Hubbard and released in 1994, is written by Adams. BARITONE SAXOPHONIST GARY Dizzy Gillespie, saxophonist Stan Getz, Similarly, Smulyan organized the Three Smulyan was born April 4, 1956, in pianist Chick Corea, timbales king Tito Baritones Band, which places him in the Bethpage, New York. The gifted multi-in Puente, and R&B/Blues and soul icons company of two of his seniors - Ron strumentalist started his music career by Ray Charles, B.B. King and Diana Ross. nie Cuber and Nick Brignola. The group first learning alto saxophone during his Smulyan, in addition to performing released Plays Mulligan in 1998, the date teenage years on Long Island. Today he is and recording in support of a myriad of serving as a tribute to the late Gerry Mul critically acclaimed across-the-board and people began to accumulate a discogra ligan, one of the foremost baritone saxo recognized as a major voice on the bari phy as a leader. At this point in his career phonists in jazz history and a mentor for tone saxophone. His playing is marked he has at least 10 recordings out under many artists, including Smulyan. by an aggressive rhythmic sense, an intel his own name. Meanwhile he continues "Smulyan's tone seems to get bigger
ligent and creative harmonic approach u to play with wide variety of artists - each and his ideas more expansive from album and perhaps most importantly - a strong presenting him with an opportunity to to album," wrote long-time critic Doug and incisive wit. fully express himself. In addition to his Ramsey in Jazz Times magazine. In 1995, While still in high school, he had the work on Monday nights with the Van WBGO, the all-jazz, Newark, N.J.-based chance to sit in with major jazz artists guard Jazz Orchestra, Smulyan remains NPR station voted Smulyan's Saxophone such as legendary trumpeter Chet Baker, close with Lovano, working with him in Mosaic as one of the best 25 CDs of saxophonist Lee Konitz, trombonist Jim his nine-piece Nonet; then there is the 1995; two years later the Boston Globe my Knepper and violinist Ray Nance. exhilarating and liberating Dave HoJland selected the baritone saxophonist's Gary After graduating high school he at Octet and the seminal bassist's Big Band. Smulyan with Strings as one of the 10 best tended SUNY-Postsdam and Hofstra Uni Beyond that, Smulyan has also enjoyed jazz CDs of 1997. versity before he joined Woody Herman's stints in the cooperative Three Baritone Always in search of new ideas, in Young Thundering Herd in 1978. It was a Saxophone Band as well as working with 2008 Smulyan released High Noon - The remarkable collection of young musicians powerhouse tenor saxophonist George Jazz Soul ofFrankie Laine; it is a nine-piece who ultimately would find themselves in Coleman in his octet and the Dizzy band tribute to the prolific 1940s and the forefront of present-day jazz. Joining Gillespie All-Star Big Band that, similar 1950s pop singer Frankie Laine who died Smulyan in the band were saxophonist to the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, is com in 2007 at age 93. "This is the kind of Joe Lovano, bassist Marc Johnson and prised of some of the world's best players. album whose melodies linger after the drummer John Riley, who would eventu No matter who he is performing session's over," wrote another long-time ally become a fixture in the Vanguard with - or whether he is leading his own critic, Owen Cordle of Charlotte News Jazz Orchestra. band at the time - Smulyan brings to the and Observer.
42 JAZZ SERIES CONCERT REVIEW - WWW.WEALWAYSSWING.ORG RGENSTERN Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts - Wednesday, February 18, 2009 - 7 P,M,
Gary Smulyan ... These days Smulyan the Long-Island native lives in Amherst, Mass., with his As A Leader wife, pianist and conductor Joan Corna- Blue Suite With Brass (Criss Cross) David Holland Big Band, Overtime I Cary Smulyan With Strings (Criss Cross) (Sunnyside) chio. He is a faculty member of William Hidden Treasures (Reservoir Records) B.B. King, Live at the Apollo (Verve) Paterson University and serves as artistic High Noon - The Jazz Soul Of Frankie Mike LeDonne, Bout Time (Criss Cross) director at Berkshire Hills Music Acad Laine (Reservoir Records) Mike LeDonne, Feeling ofJazz emy in South Hadley, Mass. Homage (Criss Cross) (Criss Cross) The baritone saxophonist, who is ca More Treasures (Reservoir Records) Mel Lewis, Definitive Thad Jon~: Live pable of doubling and tripling on other Saxophone Mosaic (Criss Cross) from the Village Vanguard, Vol 1 reed and wind instruments, is a four-time (Music Masters Jazz) The Lure ofBeauty (Criss Cross) winner of the Down Beat Readers Poll Mel Lewis, Live at Village Vanguard The Real Deal (Reservoir Records) and a multiple winner of numerous other Three Baritone Saxophone Band Plays (Sony) official polls including the Jazz Journal Mulligan (Dreyfus) Mel Lewis, Lost Art (Music Masters Jazz) ists Award for Baritone Saxophonist of With Others Mel Lewis, Soft Lights and Hot Music the Year. He is a five-time GRAMMY® Carla BJey, Looking for America (ECM) (Music Masters Jazz) award winner for his work with B.B. King, Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, Carnegie Hall Mel Lewis, 20 Years at the Village Lovano, Holland and the Vanguard Jazz Jazz Band (Blue Note) Vanguard (Atlantic) Orchestra. At press time the group was George Coleman, Danger High Voltage Joe Lovano, Streams ofExpression up for a third GRAMMY® for its Mon (Two & Four Recording)
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