greg abate quartet

Saturday, August 26th - 6:15 pm - 7:45 pm
The Main Stage

Greg Abate

Greg Abate is a world-renowned and in-demand saxophonist, flutist, and composer. An international jazz recording artist and 4-time Grammy® nominee.  His latest recording, Magic Dance: the music of Kenny Barron, with Kenny Barron, Dezron Douglas, and Johnathan Blake was number 1 on the JazzWeek charts in 2021 for 7 consecutive weeks and was listed as one of the top jazz albums of 2021 in many publications. He has recorded 21 recordings as a leader and multi-reed performer.  Greg Abate consistently places in the annual Downbeat Readers’ Poll for Alto Sax players.  Placing number 2 in 2021 and number 3 in 2022.

A highlight in Greg’s jazz journey is his collaboration with the great Phil Woods on 2 recordings and in several live performances. Phil Woods stated, ”I sleep a lot better knowing that there are alto saxophone players like Greg.“ He continues to carry on the hard-driving be-bop tradition that is a direct lineage to Phil Woods and Charlie Parker.

Abate has prolifically recorded and performed with the biggest names in jazz history.  Beginning with his early days as lead alto saxophonist for the Ray Charles Orchestra, he has recorded and performed with the likes of Claudio Roditi, Jerome Richardson, Paquito D’Rivera, James Moody, Bobby Watson, Lionell Hampton, Dave Liebman, Slide Hampton, James Moody, Elvin Jones , Hank Jones, Benny Green, Brian Bromberg , James Williams, Hilton Ruiz, Barry Harris, Billy Hart, Kenny Washington, Mickey Roker, Rufus Reid, Akira Tana, Tim Ray, George Mraz, Mark Walker, John Lockwood, Harvie S,  Billy Drummond, Ray Drummond, Bill Cunliffe, Alan Broadbent, Lew Tabackin, Marvin Stamm , Nick Brignola, Dr Lonnie Smith, Duduka da Fonseca , Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney , Tony Bennett, and many more!

During the past 8 years, Greg Abate has recorded 5 critically acclaimed albums.  Greg is in the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame, is an adjunct jazz faculty member at RI College, and is alumnus of Berklee College of Music.

Bill O’Connell

After 40 years long career that has seen him excel as a leader, soloist, arranger, musical director, and accompanist for some of the most celebrated names in jazz and Latin music, Grammy-nominated Bill O’Connell can lay claim to a track record of challenging and artistic-diverse triumphs that few of his peers can match.  Bill has displayed his versatility performing, writing, and arranging for numerous jazz and Latin jazz artists including Sonny Rollins, Chet Baker, Mongo Santamaria, Dave Valentin, Gato Barbieri, as well as vocalists Astrud Gilberto and Kenny Rankin. 

“Bill O’Connell’s latest Savant recording cements his place as a master of the broadest spectrum of musical styles, a giant of modern jazz, and a member of Latin jazz royalty.” – FYE.com

Harvie S

Harvie S, an award-winning bassist, educator, composer, arranger, and producer, is continually challenging himself and his peers, expanding the borders of musical direction.  His latest recording “Going for it” with Mike Stern and Alan Dawson has garnered rave reviews.

Harvie S is an active educator. He is a Professor of Jazz Bass and Jazz Ensemble at Manhattan School of Music, in both Undergraduate and Graduate divisions. Currently, developing new music for a variety of musical ensembles and recordings, Harvie S is integrating his lifetime of musical experience and research into opening doors to new and exciting pathways of creative expression. He has also written a series of bass duets that are revolutionary in their concept for teaching and performing.

His Duo CD with Kenny Barron “Witchcraft” on High Note records was Number one on Jazz Week and stayed on the Jazz Week Charts for 14 weeks. He played and produced the heralded Alan Broadbent CD “New York Notes” which was on the jazz week Charts for 16 weeks and peaked at #4.  His latest project with Co-Led by Roni Ben-Hur is “Wondering” on dot time Records.

A legendary bassist, he has performed and recorded with Stan Getz, Chet Baker, Dexter Gordon, Tony Bennett, Ray Baretto, Michael Brecker, Jean Pierre Rampal, Paquito D’Rivera, Gil Evans, Art Farmer, Mark Turner, Jim Hall, Stefon Harris, Billy Hart, Lee Konitz, Yusef Lateef, Dave Leibman, Joe Lovano, Pat Metheny, Paul Motion, Chico O’Farrill, Danilo Perez, Maria Schneider, Zoot Sims, Toots Thielemans, Ray Vega, James Williams, Phil Woods, Louie Bellson, and countless others. He can be heard on twenty albums as a leader, fifteen as a co-leader, and over four hundred albums as a sideman.

These recordings include his work with James Brown, Kenny Barron, Chick Corea, Tom Harrell, Sheila Jordan, Steve Kuhn, Pat Martino, Alan Broadbent, Wycliff Gordon, David Mathews, Sheila Jordan, Alan Broadbent, James Weidman, Lee Konitz, Eddie Henderson, James Moody, Danilo Perez, Anat Cohen, James Weidman, Mike Stern, Dave Leibman, John Scofield, Dr. Billy Taylor, Dave Liebman, Yusef Lateef, and Grover Washington Jr.

Jason Tiemann

Jason Tiemann is a New York City-based jazz drummer, where he maintains a busy schedule as a freelance performer and educator. Admittedly drawing influence from the great(s) Philly Joe Jones, Tony Williams, Elvin Jones and Billy Higgins, Tiemann is quickly forging his musical voice on the New York scene by fusing his depth of historical foundation with crisp technique and propulsive, intuitive swing.

Tiemann is currently on the jazz faculty of the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at the University of Hartford. Additionally, he has been an artist/clinician for the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops since 1998. Before moving to NYC, he was an active component of the Midwest Jazz community where he was in constant demand throughout the region as a performer and educator and was afforded the opportunity to accompany numerous jazz luminaries.

Throughout his career, he has performed and/or recorded with an astonishing array of musicians including, but certainly not limited to, Benny Golson, David Liebman, Harold Mabern, Eric Alexander, Mike LeDonne, Peter Bernstein, Slide Hampton, and countless others on the New York scene. Jason is an endorsing artist for Yamaha drums, Remo drumheads, and Innovative Percussion sticks, mallets and brushes.