Steve Heckman Quartet at The Sound Room

Steve Heckman is a multi-saxophonist/flutist/clarinetist who has composed over 120 original compositions, and has played with such notables as trumpeters Eddie Henderson, Howard McGhee, Chet Baker, and Tom Harrell; trombonists Roswell Rudd, Urbie Green and Si Zentner; pianists Benny Green, Andrew Hill, Jim McNeely, George Cables, and Jessica Williams; guitarists John Abercrombie, Howard Alden, Cal Collins, Mimi Fox, and Bruce Foreman; drummers Jimmy Cobb, Billy Higgins, Donald Bailey, Eddie Moore, and Pete Escovedo; and vocalists Jackie Ryan, Madeline Eastman, Kellye Gray, Judy Wexler, Julie Kelly, Buddy Connor, Frankye Kelly, and Fran Foston. His work has been praised by saxophonists as diverse as Stan Getz ("Beautiful"), Charles Lloyd ("A beautiful talent"), and Pharoah Sanders ("This cat can play!"). Journalist/multi-reedman Tim Price called Steve "a kick-ass saxophonist with finesse" with a "world-class sound." Steve has received international acclaim for his 4 CD's as a leader, beginning with his debut album "With John in Mind" (1999/reissued 2003) inspired by his primary influence, John Coltrane; continuing with "Live at Yoshi's" (2005), chosen by the San Francisco Chronicle's Andrew Gilbert as one of the 10 best albums by a Bay Area jazz musician. His 3rd CD, "Born to be Blue" (his debut on the Jazzed Media label) featuring N.Y. guitar virtuoso Howard Alden along with the Bay Area's top musicians, pianist Matt Clark, bassist Marcus Shelby and internationally acclaimed drummer Akira Tana hit the top 20 on the Jazz Week charts, remaining on the charts for 12 weeks. His 4th CD, "Search for Peace" (2014) (featuring the same quintet of musicians as "Born to be Blue") hit #10 on the Jazz Week charts, and remained on the charts for almost 4 months. It also hit #3 on the Roots Music Report. The following has been said of Steve's playing:...

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Steve Heckman is a multi-saxophonist/flutist/clarinetist who has composed over 120 original compositions, and has played with such notables as trumpeters Eddie Henderson, Howard McGhee, Chet Baker, and Tom Harrell; trombonists Roswell Rudd, Urbie Green and Si Zentner; pianists Benny Green, Andrew Hill, Jim McNeely, George Cables, and Jessica Williams; guitarists John Abercrombie, Howard Alden, Cal Collins, Mimi Fox, and Bruce Foreman; drummers Jimmy Cobb, Billy Higgins, Donald Bailey, Eddie Moore, and Pete Escovedo; and vocalists Jackie Ryan, Madeline Eastman, Kellye Gray, Judy Wexler, Julie Kelly, Buddy Connor, Frankye Kelly, and Fran Foston. His work has been praised by saxophonists as diverse as Stan Getz ("Beautiful"), Charles Lloyd ("A beautiful talent"), and Pharoah Sanders ("This cat can play!"). Journalist/multi-reedman Tim Price called Steve "a kick-ass saxophonist with finesse" with a "world-class sound." Steve has received international acclaim for his 4 CD's as a leader, beginning with his debut album "With John in Mind" (1999/reissued 2003) inspired by his primary influence, John Coltrane; continuing with "Live at Yoshi's" (2005), chosen by the San Francisco Chronicle's Andrew Gilbert as one of the 10 best albums by a Bay Area jazz musician. His 3rd CD, "Born to be Blue" (his debut on the Jazzed Media label) featuring N.Y. guitar virtuoso Howard Alden along with the Bay Area's top musicians, pianist Matt Clark, bassist Marcus Shelby and internationally acclaimed drummer Akira Tana hit the top 20 on the Jazz Week charts, remaining on the charts for 12 weeks. His 4th CD, "Search for Peace" (2014) (featuring the same quintet of musicians as "Born to be Blue") hit #10 on the Jazz Week charts, and remained on the charts for almost 4 months. It also hit #3 on the Roots Music Report. The following has been said of Steve's playing:

"Saxophonist Steve Heckman has absorbed bits and pieces of many masters a matte finish take on Sonny Rollins, a fondness for Zoot Sims, and a hint of Coleman Hawkins merge with the Trane influence to create something altogether different, yet totally traditional. Heckman's music is straight ahead, built in the image of those who came before him, but his blend-horn sound belongs to no one else. The soul and sound of a true saxophone sophisticate."
Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz, 2013.

"Lyrically intense. For those of you unfamiliar with Heckman's work, then think Coltrane, Dexter Gordon and Hank Mobley in a jazz scientific experiment that wenthorribly right. Introspective, intimate and intensely lyrical best describe one of 2013's better releases. (Born to be Blue) 5 Stars" ***** Brent Black, Critical Jazz

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