This newest incarnation of The Anne Sajdera Quartet offers up incisive and poignant compositions from modern jazz masters like Herbie Hancock, Kenny Kirkland and Stefon Harris, as well as Sajdera’s original pieces and compositions from other brand new composers, in a dynamic and provocative concert featuring Greg Johnson (sax), Anne Sajdera (piano), Gary Brown (bass) & Deszon Claiborne (drums).
Pianist/composer Anne Sajdera has long been an invaluable part of the San Francisco Bay Area music scene — as leader of her own ensembles and performing with artists such as Alexa Weber Morales, Terrence Brewer and Sandy Cressman. Her outstanding debut Azul (JAZZIZ Magazine 2012 Top Ten Critic's Poll, Latin Jazz Corner's Great Latin Jazz Albums of 2012), released on her own label and co-produced by Ray Obiedo, highlights her exquisite touch, rhythmic acuity, and melodic resourcefulness. Her newest project is a collaboration with two of Prague's finest jazz artists, trumpeter Miroslav Hloucal and alto saxophonist/bassist Jan Fečo. Sajdera is currently working on her next release.
Greg Johnson is quickly becoming recognized as a luminary figure in the Jazz community. Equally at home in multiple musical genres, Greg has developed a unique musical style that combines Jazz, Classical and Popular music. As a saxophonist, Greg has appeared in concert and on mainstream recordings with Jazz greats Curtis Fuller, Billy Taylor, Dick Oatts, Alan Pasqua, Peter Erskine, Bob Mintzer and many more. He has appeared on stage with Pop & Rock acts such as Saint Motel, Robin Thicke and Barry Manilow at some of the biggest festivals and venues in the world. As a composer, Greg’s music has been heard and performed around the country and the world in both Jazz and Classical contexts in small group, big band and symphonic formats. Having lived in Los Angeles for the past five years, Greg is now the Director of Jazz Studies at the Marin School of the Arts in the San Francisco Bay Area. Greg has released three recordings; Invisible, GJ3 and City People, and has contributed to dozens more. Recently, Greg was added to the 2017 Grammy ballot in the category of "Best Improvised Jazz Solo" for his work on Aarón Serfaty's In the Game.
Gary Brown is a skilled and versatile bassist on both acoustic and electric instruments. His clear, solid foundation, as well as his melodic rainbow of color and counterpoint, established him as a much sought-after artist for major recording, performance and production projects around the world. While enrolled in San Jose State University's Art/Design/Music program, Gary came to realize that music was his true calling and made the decision to make it his life and his career. He has brought a unique sound and approach to each and every endeavor he has been involved with. In the past 30 years, Gary has recorded and performed with such notable artist as Flora Purim & Airto, Steve Winwood, George Duke, Santana, Lyle Mays, Azar Lawrence, Narada Michael Walden, Gregg Rolie, Dianne Reeves, Roy Ayres, Ernie Watts, Jeff Beck, Torninho Horta, Larry Coryell, Pharoah Saunders, Eddie Henderson, Andy Narell, Pete and Sheila (Sheila E.) Escovedo, Bernie Worrell, and Patrice Rushen. Gary has composed music for film and television with Pray for Rain, a film and soundtrack production team whose credits include work for major cable networks HBO, Lifetime, Showtime and Cinemax, as well as for the major television networks ABC, NBC and CBS. Credits include the cult film Sid & Nancy, The Linguini Incident (starring David Bowie), Straight to Hell, Trust Me, Zandalee (with Judge Reinhold and Nicholas Cage), and the Fox television series Key West, to name a few. Currently dividing his time performing with Gregg Rolie, Narada Michael Walden, the Rebeca Mauleon Group, Akira Tana, and Babatunde Lea, Gary continues to compose, perform and produce with various artists and is writing music for his first solo project.
A native of the Bay Area, Deszon Claiborne began his musical career at the early age of ten. Virtually self-taught in the beginning, he went on to study with world-renowned drummers such as Richard Peterson, Rick Quintinel (Chuck Brown school of Drumming), James Levi, Billy Cobham and Kenneth Nash, an experience which provided him with a strong foundation in jazz, rhythm & blues and world music. He has had the pleasure of performing or recording with the following artists: Peter Apfelbaum, Don Cherry, Charles Brown, Angela Bofill, Les McCann, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Robben Ford, Boz Scaggs, Greg Howe, Henry Butler, Giovani Hildalgo, Kai Eckhardt, John Handy, Taj Mahal, Donald Harrison, Rodney Franklin, and many others. In addition to his performing and recording credits, Deszon is also an educator. He has taught both private and group lessons to students of all ages and levels, youth to adult, and beginning to advanced. Deszon has also participated in music education programs in the Bay Area over the last 20 years, including Berkeley Jazz School, Jazz Camp West, Stanford Jazz Camp, Lafayette Summer Music camp, Moody’s Jazz Camp, Just Say Jazz, and Adventures in Music.
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