8/28/2019
Jade Synstelien (Guitar) // Josh Lawrence (Trumpet) // Caleb Wheeler Curtis (Alto Sax) // Jon Irabagon (Soprano Sax) // Jon Beshay (Tenor Sax) // Robert Edwards (Trombone) // Max Seigel (Trombone) // Jack Glottman (Piano) // Alexi David (Bass) // Phil Stewart (Drums)
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5/23/2019
George DeLancey (Bass) // Rose Ellis (Vocalist) // Jerrick Mathews (Trombone) // Tadataka Unno (Piano) // Alex Raderman (Drums) // Stacy Dillard (Soprano Sax) // Caleb Wheeler Curtis (Alto Sax) // Jon Beshay (Tenor Sax) // Paul Nedzela (Baritone Sax) // Mike Sailor (Trumpet) // Josh Lawrence (Trumpet) // Robert Edwards (Trombone)
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Brooklyn, NY based saxophonist Caleb Curtis “lives at the junction of rigorous preparation and willingness to explore.” (Jazz Speaks) His playing and compositions are informed by a constantly searching, at times introspective, brash and melodic. In addition to band-leading, Caleb is a core member of Walking Distance (Sunnyside Records) Orrin Evans & The Captain Black Big Band (Smoke Sessions Records), and Josh Lawrence & Color Theory (Posi-Tone Records).
Legendary pianist Mulgrew Miller said “Caleb has a wonderful, singing, projecting sound. To me, that’s the ultimate for a horn player.” His new album Brothers (produced by Orrin Evans and featuring Josh Lawrence, Eric Revis, Luques Curtis, Mark Whitfield Jr. and Seamus Blake) was recently released on Imani Records, All About Jazz said the music was “sharp-witted, bracing, and, at times, wonderfully brash.” Neighborhood (Ropeadope Records), the 2015 debut album from the Brooklyn based collective quartet Walking Distance, for which Caleb composes and plays alto saxophone, was met with critical acclaim. Their new album Freebird feat. Jason Moran (Sunnyside Records) has been widely praised by The New York Times, DownBeat Magazine, Bandcamp (best of September 2018), JazzTimes and others:
“[Walking Distance] tears into the new stuff it has created, sounding ageless.”
– The New York Times
“this offering from Walking Distance has me wanting to shout this recommendation from the rooftops. I can't possibly recommend this album enough.”
– Bandcamp, best jazz of September 2018
“Throughout Freebird, Parker’s signature eighth-note triplets and bold chromatic turns emerge and just as quickly disappear as the bebop icon’s canon is cleverly, and lovingly, mutated.”
– DownBeat Magazine (Editor’s Pick)
Caleb holds a Bachelor's of Music from Michigan State University, and a Masters in Music from William Paterson University. He can be seen with the Caleb Curtis Quartet, Walking Distance, Josh Lawrence and Color Theory, Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big Band, Curtis/Sperrazza/Garabedian, Asterids Alto Quartet, the Fat Cat Big Band, the Mike Sailors Nonet, and the Gregorio Uribe Big Band. He has performed at the Blue Note, Jazz Standard, Smalls, Smoke, Zinc Bar, and many other NYC clubs. Caleb has developed an individualistic approach to improvisation and sound, and has been hailed as “one of the most interesting altoists in a long time.” (Jazzwise)
In addition, Caleb has played with many extraordinary musicians including Jason Moran, Mulgrew Miller, Duane Eubanks, Houston Person, Orrin Evans, Eric Revis, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Kevin Eubanks, Buster Williams, Lenny White, Gene Jackson, Jack Walrath, Kevin Hays, Saul Rubin, David Gibson, Lafayette Harris, Ralph Bowen, Ben Williams, Justin Brown, Sarah Elizabeth Charles, Gregorio Uribe, Ben Wolfe, Luques Curtis, Seamus Blake, Marquis Hill, Marta Sánchez, Stacy Dillard, Jon Irabagon, EJ Strickland, Matt Clohesy, Vinnie Sperrazza, Jeremy Siskind, Glenn Zaleski and many others.
Caleb is a D’Addario Woodwinds Artist