Jamie Saft is an American keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist and composer. He was born in New York City, and studied at
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university on the border of Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1852 as Tufts College by Christian universalists who sought to provide a nonsectarian institution of higher learning. ...
and the
New England Conservatory of Music
The New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) is a private music school in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the oldest independent music conservatory in the United States and among the most prestigious in the world. The conservatory is located on H ...
.
Saft moved from Brooklyn to the Hudson Valley around 2007, and lived near
Roswell Rudd
Roswell Hopkins Rudd Jr. (November 17, 1935 – December 21, 2017) was an American jazz trombonist and composer.
Although skilled in a variety of genres of jazz (including Dixieland, which he performed while in college), and other genres of musi ...
. The two often played together, and Rudd passed on knowledge of some of his own music and that of
Herbie Nichols
Herbert Horatio Nichols (January 3, 1919 – April 12, 1963) was an American jazz pianist and composer who wrote the jazz standard " Lady Sings the Blues". Obscure during his lifetime, he is now highly regarded by many musicians and critics.
Lif ...
.
He has performed and recorded with an eclectic variety of artists including
John Zorn
John Zorn (born September 2, 1953) is an American composer, conductor, saxophonist, arranger and producer who "deliberately resists category". Zorn's avant-garde and experimental approaches to composition and improvisation are inclusive of jaz ...
, Wadada Leo Smith,
Iggy Pop
James Newell Osterberg Jr. (born April 21, 1947), known professionally as Iggy Pop, is an American singer, musician, songwriter and actor. Called the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Godfather of Punk", he was the vocalist and lyricist of ...
,
Steve Swallow
Steve Swallow (born October 4, 1940) is an American jazz bassist and composer, known for his collaborations with Jimmy Giuffre, Gary Burton, and Carla Bley. He was one of the first jazz double bassists to switch entirely to electric bass guitar. ...
,
Bobby Previte
Bobby Previte (born July 16, 1951 in Niagara Falls, New York) is a drummer, composer, and bandleader. He earned a degree in economics from the University at Buffalo, where he also studied percussion. He moved to New York City in 1979 and began ...
, and
Marc Ribot
Marc Ribot (;
born May 21, 1954) is an American guitarist and composer.
His work has touched on many styles, including no wave, free jazz, rock, and Cuban music. Ribot is also known for collaborating with other musicians, most notably Tom Wait ...
. He has also written several original film scores including '' Murderball'' and ''
God Grew Tired of Us
''God Grew Tired of Us'' is a 2006 American documentary film about three of the "Lost Boys of Sudan", a group of some 25,000 young men who have fled the wars in Sudan since the 1980s, and their experiences as they move to the United States. The fil ...
''; selections from these were released by
Tzadik Records
Tzadik Records is a record label in New York City that specializes in avant-garde and experimental music. The label was established by composer and saxophonist John Zorn in 1995. He is the executive producer of all Tzadik releases. Tzadik is a n ...
as ''
A Bag of Shells
A, or a, is the first letter and the first vowel of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''a'' (pronounced ), plural ''aes'' ...
''. The same label has released several of Saft's recordings.
Cuong Vu
Cuong Vu (born 19 September 1969) is a Vietnamese-American jazz trumpeter. In addition to his own work as a bandleader, Vu was a member of the Pat Metheny Group.
Biography
Born in Saigon on September 19, 1969, Vu immigrated to Seattle with his ...
(Avant, 1996)
* ''
Sovlanut
''Sovlanut'' is an album by Jamie Saft which was released on the Tzadik label in 2000.Tzadik catalogue accessed Janua ...
'' (Tzadik, 2000)
* ''
Breadcrumb Sins
''Breadcrumb Sins'' is an album by Jamie Saft which was released on the Tzadik label in 2002.Tzadik catalogue accesse ...
Black Shabbis
''Black Shabbis'' is an album by multi-instrumentalist Jamie Saft which was released on the Tzadik label in 2009. The extreme metal album examines a number of antisemitic concepts and incidents throughout history.
Reception
In his review for A ...
'' (Tzadik, 2009)
* ''
A Bag of Shells
A, or a, is the first letter and the first vowel of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''a'' (pronounced ), plural ''aes'' ...
'' (Tzadik, 2010)
* ''
Borscht Belt Studies
''Borscht Belt Studies'' is an album by Jamie Saft which was released on the Tzadik label in 2009.
Reception
In his review for Allmusic, Thom Jurek notes that "Saft divides the album into musical sections that alternate by cut. Some compositions ...
'' (Tzadik, 2011)
* ''
Fight Against Babylon
''Fight Against Babylon'' is an album by keyboardist Jamie Saft's New Zion Trio which was released on the Veal label in 2011.Veal ...
'' with New Zion Trio (Veal, 2011)
* ''
Chaliwa
''Chaliwa'' is an album by Jamie Saft's New Zion Trio which was released on the Veal label in 2013.Allmusic album ...
'' with New Zion Trio (Veal, 2013)
* '' The New Standard'' (RareNoise, 2014)
* ''Sunshine Seas'' with New Zion Trio (RareNoise, 2016)
* ''
Loneliness Road
''Loneliness Road'' is an album by keyboardist Jamie Saft, bassist Steve Swallow and drummer Bobby Previte with vocals by Iggy Pop featured on three tracks which was released on the RareNoise label in 2017.
Reception
On All About Jazz, Dan McC ...
Solo a Genova
''Solo a Genova'' is a live solo album by keyboardist Jamie Saft recorded at the Teatro Carlo Felice in Italy and released on the RareNoise label in early 2018.
Reception
On All About Jazz, Dan McClenaghan said "Pianist Jamie Saft's Solo A Geno ...
Jerry Granelli
Gerald John Granelli (December 30, 1940July 20, 2021) was an American-Canadian jazz drummer. He was best known for playing drums on the soundtrack '' A Charlie Brown Christmas'' with the Vince Guaraldi Trio.
Early life
Granelli was born to Jack ...
* ''Enter, A Dragon'' (Songlines, 1998)
* ''Crowd Theory'' (Songlines, 1999)
* ''Music Has Its Way with Me'' (Perimeter, 1999)
* ''El oh el ay'' (Love Slave, 2001)
* ''
The Only Juan
''The Only Juan'' is a live album by drummer Jerry Granelli and keyboardist Jamie Saft which was recorded in Southport, Connecticut and released on the Love Slave label in 2002.Bobby Previte
Bobby Previte (born July 16, 1951 in Niagara Falls, New York) is a drummer, composer, and bandleader. He earned a degree in economics from the University at Buffalo, where he also studied percussion. He moved to New York City in 1979 and began ...
* ''
Too Close to the Pole
''Too Close to the Pole'' is an album by Bobby Previte's Weather Clear, Track Fast released on the Enja Records, Enja label in 1996.The Coalition of the Willing'' (P-Vine, 2006)
* ''Mass'' (RareNoise, 2016)
* ''Music from the Early 21st Century'' (RareNoise, 2020)
With
John Zorn
John Zorn (born September 2, 1953) is an American composer, conductor, saxophonist, arranger and producer who "deliberately resists category". Zorn's avant-garde and experimental approaches to composition and improvisation are inclusive of jaz ...
Voices in the Wilderness
''Masada Anniversary Edition Volume 2: Voices in the Wilderness'' is the second album in a series of five releases celebrating the 10th anniversary of John Zorn's Masada songbook project. It features 24 compositions by Zorn, each performed by di ...
'' (Tzadik, 2003)
* ''
The Unknown Masada
''Masada Anniversary Edition Volume 3: The Unknown Masada'' is the third album in a series of five releases celebrating the 10th anniversary of John Zorn's Masada songbook project. It features twelve previously unreleased Masada compositions perfor ...
O'o
''O'o'' is an album by John Zorn released in 2009. It the second album by The Dreamers following their 2008 release '' The Dreamers''. The title refers to the '' ʻōʻō'' of the Hawaiian Islands, the last living members of the now-extinct son ...
Six Litanies for Heliogabalus
''Six Litanies for Heliogabalus'' is an album by John Zorn. It is the third album to feature the "Moonchild Trio" of Mike Patton, Joey Baron and Trevor Dunn, following '' Moonchild: Songs Without Words'' (2005) and ''Astronome'' (2006) and the ...
'' (Tzadik, 2007)
* ''
The Big Gundown
''The Big Gundown'' ( it, La resa dei conti, lit=The Settling of Scores) is a 1966 Spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Sollima, and starring Lee Van Cleef and Tomas Milian.
Plot
Possessing a reputation for bringing criminals to justice, r ...
'' (Tzadik, 2000)
With others
*
Marshall Allen
Marshall Belford Allen (born May 25, 1924) is an American free jazz and avant-garde jazz alto saxophone player. He also performs on flute, oboe, piccolo, and EWI (an electronic valve instrument made by Steiner, Crumar company).
Allen is best ...
, ''Ceremonial Healing'' (RareNoise, 2019)
*
Bad Brains
Bad Brains are an American rock band formed in Washington, D.C. in 1976. Originally a jazz fusion band under the name Mind Power, they are widely regarded as pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members have objected to the use of this ...
Cyro Baptista
Cyro Baptista (born December 23, 1950) is a Brazilian percussionist in jazz and world music. He creates many of the percussion instruments he plays.
Career
Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Baptista arrived in the U.S. in 1980 with a scholarship to C ...
, ''
Beat the Donkey
''Beat the Donkey'' is an album by percussionist Cyro Baptista, which marked the debut of his rotating percussion and dance ensemble that would become known as Beat the Donkey, which was released on the Tzadik label in 2002.Love the Donkey
''Love the Donkey'' is an album by percussionist Cyro Baptista's percussion and dance ensemble Beat the Donkey, which was released on the Tzadik Records, Tzadik label in 2005. The album was privately released as ''Beat the Donkey Beat'' in 2004.
...
'' (Tzadik, 2005)
*
Jane Ira Bloom
Jane Ira Bloom (born January 12, 1955) is an American jazz soprano saxophonist and composer.
Early years
Bloom was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to Joel and Evelyn Bloom. She began as a pianist and drummer, later switching to the alto saxophon ...
, ''
Like Silver, Like Song
''Like Silver, Like Song'' is a studio album by American jazz saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom, which was recorded in 2004 and released on April 15, 2005, by Artistshare label.
Reception
Ken Dryden of AllMusic wrote, "Jane Ira Bloom has been one of th ...
'' (ArtistShare, 2005)
*
Oren Bloedow
Oren Bloedow (born July 3, 1965) is an American singer, guitarist and bassist. He founded the band Elysian Fields in 1995 with Jennifer Charles. His father, Jerry Bloedow, was a playwright, poet, and film editor whose theater, the Hardware Poe ...
& Jennifer Charles, ''La Mar Enfortuna'' (Tzadik, 2001)
*
Sasha Dobson
Sasha Dobson (born March 31, 1979) is an American jazz singer from Santa Cruz, California.
Early life
Dobson comes from a musical family. Her father, Smith Dobson (Smith Weed Dobson IV, 1947–2001) was a pianist who recorded with Mark Murphy ...
, ''Aquarius'' (Creek Valley, 2013)
* Dave Douglas, '' Freak In'' (Bluebird, 2002)
* Dave Douglas, '' Keystone'' (Greenleaf Music, 2005)
*
Peter Epstein
Peter Coleman Epstein (born January 18, 1967) is an American jazz saxophonist.
Biography
Epstein learned clarinet as a youth from his father, Ed Epstein, who played saxophone, but picked up his father's instrument in his teens, playing in high ...
, ''Staring at the Sun'' (MA, 1997)
* Gaudi, ''Magnetic'' (RareNoise, 2017)
*
Chuck Hammer
Chuck Hammer is an American guitarist and soundtrack composer, known for textural guitar work with Lou Reed, David Bowie, and Guitarchitecture. As an artist, Hammer is best known for his Guitarchitecture recordings, though he is also widely re ...
, ''Blind On Blind'' (AVA, 2016)
*
Hasidic New Wave
Hasidic New Wave is an American experimental klezmer music group. Its members, all of whom were improvisational jazz musicians from downtown Manhattan, formed for the purpose of fusing Hasidic musical styles (such as freylekhs and horas) with ele ...
, ''From the Belly of Abraham'' (Knitting Factory, 2001)
*
Frank London
Frank London (born 1958 in New York) is an American klezmer trumpeter who also plays jazz and world music.
Early life
London was born to a Reform Jewish family and grew up in New York and Connecticut. He started playing the trumpet in fourth g ...
, ''Scientist at Work'' (Tzadik, 2002)
*
Mat Maneri
Mat Maneri (born October 4, 1969) is an American composer, violin, and viola player. He is the son of the saxophonist Joe Maneri and Sonja Maneri.
Career
Maneri has recorded with Cecil Taylor, Guerino Mazzola, Matthew Shipp, Joe Morris, Ger ...
, ''Pentagon'' (Thirsty Ear, 2005)
*
Joe McPhee
Joe McPhee (born November 3, 1939) is an American jazz multi-instrumentalist born in Miami, Florida, a player of tenor, alto, and soprano saxophone, the trumpet, flugelhorn and valve trombone. McPhee grew up in Poughkeepsie, New York, and is ...
, ''Ticonderoga'' (Clean Feed, 2015)
*
Youn Sun Nah
Na Yoon-sun ( ko, 나윤선; born August 28, 1969), also known as Youn Sun Nah, is a South Korean jazz musician.
Life and career
Na Yoon-sun was born on August 28, 1969, in Seoul. Her parents are musical: her father, Na Young-soo (나영수) ...
, ''She Moves On'' (ACT, 2017)
* Orange Then Blue, ''Hold the Elevator'' (GM, 1999)
*
Ruper Ordorika
Ruper Ordorika, born at Oñati (Gipuzkoa) in 1956, is a Basque singer-songwriter. He is generally considered one of the greatest renewers of basque songwriting.
He was part of the literary group Pott, with, among others, writers Joseba Sarriona ...
Roswell Rudd
Roswell Hopkins Rudd Jr. (November 17, 1935 – December 21, 2017) was an American jazz trombonist and composer.
Although skilled in a variety of genres of jazz (including Dixieland, which he performed while in college), and other genres of musi ...
Wadada Leo Smith
Ishmael Wadada Leo Smith (born December 18, 1941) is an American trumpeter and composer, working primarily in the fields of avant-garde jazz and free improvisation. He was one of three finalists for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Music for ''Ten Free ...
, ''
Lake Biwa
is the largest freshwater lake in Japan, located entirely within Shiga Prefecture (west-central Honshu), northeast of the former capital city of Kyoto. Lake Biwa is an ancient lake, over 4 million years old. It is estimated to be the 13th ol ...
'' (Tzadik, 2004)
* Wadada Leo Smith, '' Red Hill'' (RareNoise, 2014)
*
Chris Speed
Chris Speed (born February 12, 1967) is an American saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer.
Early life and career
Speed grew up outside of Seattle and studied classical piano and clarinet from an early age. He later began studying jazz, took up ...
, ''Iffy'' (Knitting Factory, 2000)
*
Cuong Vu
Cuong Vu (born 19 September 1969) is a Vietnamese-American jazz trumpeter. In addition to his own work as a bandleader, Vu was a member of the Pat Metheny Group.
Biography
Born in Saigon on September 19, 1969, Vu immigrated to Seattle with his ...