Chis Potter plays “The Great American Songbook” with the SC Jazz Masterworks Ensemble at the Newberry Opera House

About

Newberry, S.C. – Renowned saxophonist Chris Potter is returning to his home state to help launch the new SC Jazz Foundation and SC Jazz Masterworks Ensemble. Potter plays “The Great American Songbook” with the SC Jazz Masterworks Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Robert Gardiner, Friday, January 25, 2019, 8:00 p.m., at the Newberry Opera House, 1201 McKibben Street, Newberry, SC. Tickets are available at www.SCJazz.org. An after party with more live jazz, hosted by Bar Figaro, 944 Main St., Newberry, SC, is a fundraiser for the SC Jazz Foundation and begins immediately after the performance.

Created in 2018 by Gardiner, a Professor of Music at Lander University in Greenwood, SC, the foundation supports the ensemble and the mission to present jazz concerts at the highest artistic level and to support jazz and jazz education in SC. The Jazz Masterworks Ensemble is comprised of 18 of the most outstanding jazz musicians, soloists, and bandleaders from across South Carolina and into North Carolina. (See roster and links to biographies below.) Since launching last year the ensemble’s first two performances included Wycliffe Gordon Swings! with the SC Jazz Masterworks Ensemble at the Newberry Opera House and a performance at the SC Jazz Festival. Future shows include “Carolina Shout! with the SC Jazz Masterworks Ensemble” on April 26, 2019, at Harbison Theater in Columbia, SC.

A world-class soloist, accomplished composer and formidable bandleader, saxophonist Potter has emerged as a leading light of his generation. DownBeat called him “One of the most studied (and copied) saxophonists on the planet” while Jazz Times identified him as “a figure of international renown.” Jazz sax elder statesman Dave Liebman called him simply, “one of the best musicians around,” a sentiment shared by the readers of DownBeat in voting him second only to tenor sax great Sonny Rollins in the magazine’s 2008 Readers Poll.

A potent improviser and the youngest musician ever to win Denmark’s Jazzpar Prize, Potter’s impressive discography includes 15 albums as a leader and sideman appearances on over 100 albums. He was nominated for a Grammy Award for his solo work on “In Vogue,” a track from Joanne Brackeen’s 1999 album Pink Elephant Magic, and was prominently featured on Steely Dan’s Grammy-winning album from 2000, Two Against Nature. He has performed or recorded with many of the leading names in jazz, such as Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland, John Scofield, the Mingus Big Band, Jim Hall, Paul Motian, Dave Douglas, Ray Brown and many others. See Potter’s full bio at www.ChrisPotterMusic.com.

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SC Jazz Masterworks Ensemble Members:

Amos Hoffman -guitar, oud, recording artist

Bert Ligon -piano, guitar, composer, Director of Jazz Studies at the University of South Carolina

Brad Jepson -trombone, President of the Greenville Jazz Collective

Charlie Polk -lead trumpet, South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra, freelance musician

Chuck Dalton -lead trumpet, Charleston Jazz Orchestra, freelance musician

Dr. Dick Goodwin -trumpet, composer, Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of South Carolina

Donald Mack -trombone, freelance musician

Kobie Watkins -drums, international touring and recording artist

Lauren Meccia -saxophone, Director of Jazz Bands at the University of South Carolina and USC Aiken

Mark Rapp -trumpet, founder of ColaJazz, recording artist

Mark Sterbank -saxophone, Charleston Jazz Orchestra, Associate Professor of Jazz and Saxophone at Charleston Southern University

Dr. Matt Olson -saxophone, Professor of Saxophone and Director of Jazz Studies at Furman University

Dr. Michael Wilkinson -trombone, Assistant Professor of Trombone at the University of South Carolina

Dr. Mitch Butler -trombone, touring artist and clinician

Reggie Sullivan – bass, touring artist

Dr. Robert Gardiner – founder and director, saxophone, Professor of Music at Lander University

Robert Slade -bass trombone, Commander and Conductor of the 208th Army Band

Dr. Tracy Patterson -saxophone, Associate Professor of Saxophone and Woodwind Chair at Winthrop University

Kristi Hood -vocalist, freelance musician

SCJazz.org