Michael Zilber Quartet


Michael Zilber is a San Francisco-based saxophonist and composer. Jazz legend Dave Liebman calls him “one of the best players and composers around anywhere. Period!”

He has released 11 albums as a leader, the latest being Originals for the Originals, his homage to saxophone giants, which has been hailed by 2015 Jazz DJ of the year Brad Stone as "one of the premier releases of all time on Origin Records of Seattle." Featuring Dave Kikoski, James Genus and Clarence Penn, the album was released in January 2017. In late 2016, he and guitar virtuoso John Stowell released Basement Blues, their 3rd recording together on Origin Records.

Zilber is currently a sideman in trumpeter/composer Erik Jekabson’s Stringtet, as well as playing and composing for the highly regarded Electric Squeezebox Orchestra, whose recent release Cheap Rent received 4.5 stars in DownBeat.

Zilber also teaches at the California Jazz Conservatory where his student groups have won more than a dozen national DownBeat awards.

He appeared previously at Chez Hanny with the Michael Zilber Quartet, the John Stowell/Michael Zilber Quartet, and MQW Trio with Michael Zilber.

http://www.michaelzilber.com/

Listen to “Originals for the Originals”


Pianist Keith Saunders spent his formative years in Los Angeles where he studied with Charlie Shoemake and Horace Silver. Keith worked extensively in L.A. with such well known artists as Eddie Harris, Roy McCurdy, Bill Holman, and Bill Watrous, as well as recording with Dick Berk's Jazz Adoption Agency.

After moving to New York City in 1984, Keith worked and/or recorded with Richie Cole, Richie Vitale, Hank Crawford, Mickey Roker, Ralph LaLama, Frank Wess, and Valery Ponamarev. In 1991, Keith became the leader of The NY HardBop Quintet, a cooperative unit featuring Joe Magnarelli and Jerry Weldon, which released four recordings for the TCB Montreux Jazz label.

Relocated to the Bay Area, Keith appears with Calvin Keys, Noel Jewkes, Jim Grantham, Chris Amberger, Patrick Wolff, Erik Jekabson, Smith Dobson, Peppe Merolla, and Dave Rocha.

Keith appeared previously at Chez Hanny with the Robb Fisher-Keith Saunders Trio, Frank Tusa, Peck Allmond, and the Keith Saunders Trio.


Bassist Tommy Folen has been a freelance musician for over 10 years in the San Francisco Bay Area. After attending the CSUH Music Program he worked as a teacher in the Oakland Unified School district as well as doing private lessons in the East Bay from 2004-2009.

He has played everything from orchestral bass to jazz and blues, at venues including The Fillmore, Yoshi's, various clubs all over Europe, and New York's Summerfest. He has performed with the Electric Squeezebox Orchestra and the Evan Francis Group.


Drummer Akira Tana has worked with Sonny Rollins, Sonny Stitt, Zoot Sims, Hubert Laws, Milt Jackson, Jim Hall, Art Farmer, Tete Montoliu, Paul Winter, Paquito D'Rivera, James Moody, J.J. Johnson, Lena Horne, the Heath Brothers, and Manhattan Transfer. He has appeared on over 150 recordings.

Tana co-led a quintet with bassist Rufus Reid, called TanaReid, which released five CDs. A further five CDs followed with his own bands, Otonowa, and The Secret Agent Men Band.

Akira appeared here previously with Larry Vuckovich, Jerome Sabbagh, Jon Mayer, Knucklebean, and Tim Armacost/David Berkman.

http://www.akiratana.com/


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