GREG ABATE
Candid Recordings:
Biography:
Saxophonist and composer, has been performing for more than twenty years. When asked why he chose the field of music, Abate answers, "It seems that's what I am. To me everything is music." Not surprisingly, his wife Denise calls him Note Link. Abate's lifelong passion has made him well known on the jazz scene as a top-shelf player of Be Bop. Abate has been widely acclaimed by critics internationally and most recently as follows:
"A confident player, Abate has a wonderful musical intensity which fits the post-Bop tradition!" Ken Franckling of JazzTimes.
"Greg Abate is living proof that the flame of mainstream bebop is alive and passionately kept by new generation." New England Monthly
"His note selection is impeccable and the splashy, lyrical, liquid quality of his melodic saxophone runs is accessible and seductive." Bob Angell, Providence Journal Bulletin
Musical Background: Greg studied at Berklee College of Music specializing in the arranging and composition area. After completing his studies, he moved to Los Angeles where he auditioned successfully for the Ray Charles lead alto chair and spent two years touring with the Ray Charles Band all over the United States, Europe and Japan.
Upon his return to New England in 1985, Greg spent two years in the first tenor chair for the 'Artie Shaw Orchestra' under the direction of Dick Johnson. Since that time, Greg has led his own quartet performing in clubs and concerts all over the North East and Canada and appearing as a featured artist in numerous festivals such as the Canadian Jazz Festival, George Wein's Saratoga Jazz Festival in Long Island, N.Y. and more recently as a headliner in the Jazz Festival in Vienne, France.
Abate, has performed with Tony Bennett, Vic Damone, Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, and many other celebrities. In autumn 1991 Greg Abate was the host and saxophone of 'Bop City Live,' a weekly jazz series at CAV featuring Hal Crook, Marshall Wood, Paul Phillips, Art Cabral, Herb Pomeroy and other top shelf performers of mainstream jazz.
Candid recordings: CCD 79513 Greg Abate Quartet/Bop City (Live At Birdland) CCD 79530 Greg Abate/Straight Ahead Featuring Claudio Roditi CCD 79715 Greg Abate Quartet/Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde Feat. Richie Cole.