From New York special guest: Sam Newsome, Soprano saxophone (+): A Jazz performance legend in his own time. [05/09/24]

Newsome: Yet a master really overlooked, part of so much creative music ‘round the globe! With Boston’s own creative musicians, our important leaders:

1st set: Sam Newsome, solo soprano! 2nd set: The quartet! Newsome, Rosenthal, Lantner, Karlson

What is a CMS (Boston) project: Premier Out-of-State/Region musician(s) with Boston’s own creative; and chosen by our musician(s):

Boston invites the Jazz / Improv world in!

You (should) know of, have heard live these exclusive (our) home musicians, central to a growing, important, creative music scene!

Eric Rosenthal, drums, 4tet formed by, the significant .01% creative improv music monthly Lilypad series curator!

There isn’t another drummer you’d want to hear than Eric!

Steve Lantner, piano, There isn’t another pianist you’d want to hear than Steve!

Brittany Karlson, bass, There isn’t another young bassist you’d want to hear than Brittany!

Event: Music: Improv, Free Jazz, New Music

A rhythm “section” of leading master & up-and-coming Boston creative improv artists!

(Sam) “Newsome expands the sound of a single soprano saxophone into a one man band.” Mark Corroto - All About Jazz wrote:

The Straight Horn of Africa, “a modern masterpiece.” - Ed Enright, Downbeat magazine

Many of the notes and sounds used in his compositions and improvisations stem from his sound palette of extended techniques and saxophone preparations.

New York-based saxophonist and composer Sam Newsome in the medium of solo saxophone, an approach for which he gained world-wide critical acclaim with his 2009 recording, Blue Soliloquy: Solo Works for Soprano Saxophone.

Conceptually speaking, Newsome sees himself more along the lines of a visual artist who paints with notes and sounds rather than shapes and colors.

Sam Newsome (born April 28, 1965)

He studied Jazz Composition & Arranging at the Berklee College of Music from 1983 to 1987 under Bill Pierce, George Garzone, Andy McGhee, and Hal Crook. Some of his classmates were Javon Jackson, Danilo Perez, Delfeayo Marsalis, Mark Turner, Julian Joseph and Donny McCaslin.

In 1995 Newsome decided to concentrate exclusively on soprano saxophone. In 2005, Newsome began focusing on solo saxophone performance.

In addition to his solo recordings and performances, Newsome has collaborated with saxophonist David Liebman, drummer Andrew Cyrille, pianists Ethan Iverson and Jean-Michel Pilc. Newsome also plays regularly as a member of Francisco Mora Catlett's AfroHorn, The Bad Plus: Science Fiction, Fay Victor's SoundNoise and On the Quiet Side, and Meg Okura's Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble.

Newsome has since released several critically acclaimed solo saxophone CDs:

Sonic Journey: Live at the Red Room (2020);

· Chaos Theory: Song Cycles for Prepared Saxophone (2019);

· Sopranoville: Works for Prepared and Non-Prepared Saxophone (2017);

· The Straight Horn of Africa (2014);

· The Solo Concert: Sam Newsome Plays Monk and Ellington (2013);

· The Art of the Soprano, Vol. 1 (2012).

Newsome often attaches tube extensions to the neck of the soprano that significantly changes the timbre of the instrument as well as extends the soprano’s range by an octave or two.

Newsome has also received numerous accolades for his adventurous work, including this year’s 2020 Instant Award in Improvised Music, along with fellow avant-gardists Peter Brotzmann and John Butcher. He was also named a nominee for Soprano Saxophonist of the Year by the 2020 Jazz Journalist Association. Past recognitions include the 2018 New Music USA Grant, the 2018 Alpert/Ragdale Prize in Music Composition and the 2016 NYFA Fellowship for Music Composition

In addition to his solo work, Newsome leads a trio with Hilliard Greene and Reggie Nicholson. He is a frequent collaborator with drummer Andrew Cyrille, vocalist Fay Victor, and tours regularly with Pepperland, a music and dance work by Mark Morris and Ethan Iverson that pays tribute to The Beatles.

From New York special guest: Sam Newsome, Soprano saxophone (+): A Jazz performance legend in his own time.

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