The Miami Saxophone Quartet is a new and exciting addition to the Miami music scene. Comprised of four of South Florida's top saxophonists, Gary Keller, Gary Lindsay, Ed Calle, and Mike Brignola, the group performs pieces by many of the greatest jazz and classical composers, as well as their own repertoire of original works.
Take Four Giant Steps, the Miami Saxophone Quartet's debut album . . .
Friends of the Miami Saxophone Quartet:
As many of you may already be aware, baritone saxophonist Mike Brignola was seriously injured in an automobile accident on November 24th in Spokane, Washington. Mike will be hospitalized for quite some time and is facing an arduous recovery. The most recent news (as of December 5th) is that Mike is out of intensive care and progressing a little each day. The deluge of cards and calls has made quite an impression on the hospital staff in Spokane and we are sure they are a boost for Mike, so keep em' coming!
Cards can be sent to:
Sacred Heart Medical Center
101 W Eighth Avenue
Spokane, WA 99220
Patient Michael Brignola RM 238
Please do not send flowers, as they are not allowed in his room.
The new Miami Saxophone Quartet album, Take Four Giant Steps, made Bob Parlocha's list of the Top 25 New Releases. Bob Parlocha, host of Jazz with Bob Parlocha on WFMT in Chicago, is a nationally known jazz expert and former program director and host of KJAZ in San Francisco.
Chicago-based WFMT, best known for its classical music programming, made its first foray into jazz with the launch of the WFMT Jazz Satellite Network, March, 1997. The shows satisfy a pressing need among public radio stations for high-quality, low-cost mainstream jazz programming to augment locally-produced shows, particularly over nights. WFMT now feeds eleven hours of programming, featuring host Bob Parlocha, to more than 75 radio outlets across the country each evening. For additional information, check out http://www.jazzwithbobparlocha.com/top25.
Gary Keller is perhaps best known as the Professor of Saxophone at the University of Miami, where he has been a member of the faculty since 1982. In addition to his teaching he maintains an active performance schedule, having toured/recorded/performed with a wide diversity of jazz artists and ensembles including Woody Herman, Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, Dave Liebman, Ira Sullivan, Jaco Pastorius, Maria Schneider, Jim McNeely, Manny Album, Kenny Werner, Chico OíFarrill, Kenny Wheeler, Clare Fischer, and the University of Miami Concert Jazz Band. He has also performed/recorded with the Florida Philharmonic, New World Symphony, and the American Jazz Philharmonic. His debut CD on Double-Time Records has garnered critical praise, including a three and one half star award from the prestigious Penguin Guide to Recorded Jazz. [For more about Gary, click here]
Gary Lindsay has performed with dozens of international stars including Frank Sinatra and the Brecker Brothers. He is a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Award in Jazz Composition and was nominated for a Grammy in arranging for his work with Arturo Sandoval. In addition his pieces have been performed and recorded by Maynard Ferguson, The Airmen of Note, and the University of Miami Concert Jazz Band. He has composed and arranged a number of pieces for the Miami Saxophone Quartet.
Ed Calle needs little introduction. One of the world's top recording saxophonists, he has worked with artists as diverse as Frank Sinatra, Ricky Martin, and Lenny Kravitz. His playing is featured on hundreds of recordings by today's top artists in the Pop, Jazz, and Latin idioms. He is also a Concord recording artist and has three CDs released under his own name. [For more about Ed, click here]
Mike Brignola has been a member of the Miami Saxophone Quartet since its inception in 1996. Since making the choice to concentrate on the baritone saxophone some 25 years ago, Brignola has performed in just about every imaginable musical setting, including seven years in the big band led by jazz legend Woody Herman. He is an alumnus of the Eastman Jazz Ensemble and the University of Miami Concert Jazz Band and has enjoyed an active career as a soloist, ensemble performer and educator, having performed and recorded with scores of name artists. Brignola states, "It was a privilege to be a member of Woody Herman's "Four Brothers" saxophone section, which in a way was one of the jazz world's best known saxophone quartets. I am honored to have the opportunity to continue the tradition on the instrument started by Harry Carney, Gerry Mulligan and Serge Challof. I am also excited about performing with the Miami Quartet because our repertoire is a blend of jazz and concert idioms. Keller, Lindsay, and Calle, coupled with Lindsay's writing, are an unbeatable combination."
"....the art of the Miami Saxophone quartet was divine."
Javier Ortiz, www.AllAboutJazz.com (click here to read the entire review)
"This is the hottest group to surface lately from the mix that is the Miami music scene. Each concert is a 'tour de sax.'"
John E. Brown, Biscayne Bay Tribune
For booking information please contact:
Walker Entertainment
10240 S.W. 121 Street
Miami, FL 33176
office: (305)238-4808
fax: (305)238-3285
www.walkerentertainment.com