Litchfield Jazz Festival Announces 2012 Artist-in-residence, Baritone Saxophonist Gary Smulyan

Source: Lindsey Turner
June 9, 2012
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Goshen, CT �� Litchfield Jazz Festival announces the 2012 Artist-in-Residence for the 17th Annual Litchfield Jazz Festival. The honor goes to baritone saxophonist

Gary Smulyan

saxophone, baritone
b.1956

" data-original-title="" title="">Gary Smulyan. Known as a master of bebop, Smulyan is one of the major voices on his instrument today. Winner of six Grammy Awards, his latest honors include winner of the 2009 and 2010 Jazz Journalist Award for Baritone Saxophonist of the Year, the 2009 Down Beat Critics Poll for Baritone Saxophone, and the 2011 Down Beat reader��s Poll.

Gary got the jazz bug early in high school sitting in with artists like Chet Baker and Lee Konitz. After college he joined Woody Herman��s Young Thundering Herd. With him in that band were saxophonist

Joe Lovano

drums
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Lovano, bassist

Marc Johnson

bass
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Marc Johnson and drummer

John Riley

drums
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">John Riley ��all major names in jazz today. In 1980, he became part of the Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra. He also worked with the Mingus Big Band and the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra.

Gary has shared the stage and studio with luminaries like

Freddie Hubbard

trumpet
1938 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Freddie Hubbard and

Dizzy Gillespie

trumpet
1917 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Dizzy Gillespie,

Stan Getz

saxophone, tenor
1927 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Stan Getz,

Chick Corea

piano
1941 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Chick Corea,

Tito Puente

drums
1923 - 2000

" data-original-title="" title="">Tito Puente,

Ray Charles

piano and vocals
1930 - 2004

" data-original-title="" title="">Ray Charles,

B.B. King

guitar, electric
1925 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">B.B. King and

Diana Ross

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Diana Ross. He currently has more than 10 CDs as a leader. He now works regularly with Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, with the Joe Lovano Nonet (with whom he appeared on the 2011 Litchfield Jazz Festival) and with the Dave Holland Octet and Big Band. He has also enjoyed stints with tenor saxophonist George Coleman and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band.

These days Gary lives in Amherst, MA, with his wife, pianist and conductor Joan Cornachio. He is a faculty member of Amherst College and serves as the artistic director at the Berkshire Hills Music Academy in South Hadley, MA. He joined the Litchfield Jazz Camp as a teaching artist in 2011.

This year marks Gary��s second appearance on the LJF. His Salute to George Coleman features Mr. Coleman��s own arrangements with Gary on baritone sax, Mr. Coleman��s young prot��g�� and our special guest

Eric Alexander

saxophone, tenor
b.1968

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric Alexander on tenor,

Jeff Lederer

woodwinds

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeff Lederer and

Don Braden

saxophone, tenor
b.1963

" data-original-title="" title="">Don Braden also on tenors, Onaje Allen Gumbs, piano,

Marcus McLaurine

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Marcus McLaurine, bass,

Matt Wilson

drums
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Matt Wilson, drums (Artist-in-Residence from 2010/2011),

Dave Ballou

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Ballou, trumpet, and

Kris Allen

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Kris Allen, alto. This ensemble debuted last season on Litchfield Jazz Camp��s series, Kent Has That Jazz and rocked the house.

Gary Smulyan appears with his Salute to George Coleman at the Litchfield Jazz Festival at Goshen Fairgrounds, Goshen, CT on August 11 at 5:15 pm. He can also be heard all weekend long leading panel discussions and clinics at the Festival. For tickets or information visit http://www.litchfieldjazzfest.com, call 860-361-6285, and find the Litchfield Jazz Festival on http://www.facebook.com/litchfieldjazzfestival and http://www.twitter.com/litchfieldjazz.

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