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Bill Kirchner

Bill Kirchner is a composer-arranger, saxophonist, bandleader, educator, record and radio producer, and jazz historian. Born in Youngstown, Ohio, Bill graduated in 1975 from Manhattan College in New York City. From then until 1980, he lived in Washington, D.C., playing with the Mike Crotty big band, the Bernard Sweetney quartet, and his own groups.

Since July 1980, Bill has lived in New York City. A few months after moving back to New York, Bill began the Bill Kirchner Nonet. His intent was to have an ensemble with the intimacy and adventurousness of the best small groups and the power and excitement of a big band. Most of the Nonet's compositions and arrangements — rich in tonal, harmonic, and rhythmic colors — are by Bill. The players, improvisers all, are among New York's finest. The Bill Kirchner Nonet has appeared at major festivals, concerts, and nightclubs throughout the United States.

Bill's arrangements, in addition to those for his Nonet, have been recorded by Dizzy Gillespie, Lee Konitz, the Smithsonian Jazz Repertory Ensemble, and singer Patti Austin. Among his sideman credits as a player are live performances or recordings with Mel Lewis and the Jazz Orchestra; the American Jazz Orchestra; singers Anita O'Day, Chris Connor, Sheila Jordan, Karen Akers, and Anita Gravine; violinist Joe Kennedy, Jr.; bassist Reggie Johnson; and bandleaders Mousie Alexander, Ray Anthony, Mario Bauza, Larry Elgart, Tom Pierson, Tito Puente, and Bobby Rosengarden.

As a leader, Bill has appeared extensively as a saxophonist in duo, trio, and quartet settings. In 1989, he and pianist Michael Abene were among the first American jazz artists to play concerts in Taiwan.

He has recorded nine albums as a leader for the Jazzheads, Evening Star, A-Records, and Sea Breeze labels.

Since 1992, Bill has been closely involved with new and reissued jazz recordings—as a producer, compiler, and liner-notes annotator—for Blue Note, BMG, Challenge, Columbia, Denon/Savoy, Fantasy, GRP, Mosaic, the Smithsonian Collection of Recordings, Verve, and Warner Bros.

Bill is the editor of "The Oxford Companion to Jazz" (Oxford University Press, 2000) and "A Miles Davis Reader" (Smithsonian Institution Press, 1997).

He teaches advanced jazz composition, jazz history, and improvisation ensembles at The New School University in New York City. He also teaches Duke Ellington and Miles Davis courses at Manhattan School of Music.

Awards

Grammy, NAIRD "Indie", Jazz Journalists Association awards


Tags

Radio & Podcasts

Bill Kirchner and George Wein

Read "Bill Kirchner and George Wein" reviewed by Joe Dimino


Representing a bridge between the old world and new world of jazz, we begin the 719th Episode of Neon Jazz with veteran musician, educator and broadcaster Bill Kirchner joined by his Nonet off his 2014 CD Lifeline. We also visit some veteran players with some fresh new sounds like John DePaola, Benoit Delbecq and Gabriel Evan. We are happy to introduce you to the young Kentucky Hammond B-3 cat Kendall Carter. We also say good-bye to a few musicians we ...

17
Interview

Bill Kirchner: Finding Music's Intimacy

Read "Bill Kirchner: Finding Music's Intimacy" reviewed by R.J. DeLuke


The extremely accomplished Bill Kirchner--composer, arranger, saxophonist, writer, editor, teacher--enjoys a career anyone would be proud of. He's played with important musicians, led outstanding groups and had his arrangements played by top-shelf musicians and bands. In 1996, he won a Grammy for Best Album Notes for the revered Columbia/Mosaic re-issue Miles Davis and Gil Evans: The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings. Many of the accomplishments came about despite severe physical setbacks. In 1993, he was found to have a ...

958
Interview

Bill Kirchner: Renaissance Man

Read "Bill Kirchner: Renaissance Man" reviewed by R.J. DeLuke


Like it or not, it's a 'What have you done for me lately?' world in many respects. If that phrase has grown tiresome on you, consider Bill Kirchner in the world of jazz music. With him, it's more like 'What haven't you done?' Period. The art form has gone through periods of struggle in the country where it was invented, but don't blame Kirchner. He's done his part. As a player, arranger, composer, educator, producer, author and historian, ...

136
Album Review

Bill Kirchner Nonet: Trance Dance

Read "Trance Dance" reviewed by Mark Corroto


You can’t just jump in your car these days and go check out a jazz nonet. For that matter, live jazz doesn’t exist in most of our cities, except in New York where an arm and a leg or your first born is generally the admittance price to see “the stars.” But, I digress. Back to my point about larger ensembles, for instance the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra requires grants and funding to stay afloat. The Either/Orchestra, one of the ...

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Recording

Bill Kirchner: For All We Know

Bill Kirchner: For All We Know

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Carol Fredette was a lovely and much-admired singer who see-sawed between cabaret and jazz. When she sang jazz, her voice grew hushed, as if telling you a secret. It also could become husky and rich, as on songs like This Is Always and Long Ago and Far Away. Born in 1940, she started singing right after college in the late 1950s with the touring big bands of Sal Salvador, Larry Elgart and Neal Hefti. Sadly, none of those dates were ...

1

Video / DVD

Bill Kirchner: Evening of Indigos

Bill Kirchner: Evening of Indigos

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Saxophonist Bill Kirchner was on a roll in 1993. He had studied with saxophonist Lee Konitz, pianist Harold Danko and arranger Mike Crotty. He was leading a nonet that recorded several albums. His arrangements had been recorded by Konitz, Dizzy Gillespie and Patti Austin. And he had annotated numerous projects for a range of major labels. But that year, Bill was diagnosed with a non-malignant but life-threatening tumor in his spinal cord. The tumor was removed after two major surgeries, ...

1

Recording

Recent Listening: Bill Kirchner

Recent Listening: Bill Kirchner

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey

Bill Kirchner, An Evening Of Indigos (JazzHeads) Soprano saxophonist and composer Kirchner’s concert in New York a year ago has appeared in its entirety as an album. Kirchner overcame daunting physical problems to be able to play the concert—indeed, to be able to play at all. Throughout the jazz community it is known that removal of a tumor on his spinal chord kept him alive but also left him with a limp and with his right hand all but immobilized. ...

3

Recording

"An Evening Of Indigos," 2-CD Set By Saxophonist/Composer/Arranger Bill Kirchner, Due Oct. 16 From Jazzheads Records

"An Evening Of Indigos," 2-CD Set By Saxophonist/Composer/Arranger Bill Kirchner, Due Oct. 16 From Jazzheads Records

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity

Renowned as a renaissance man of jazz—as an influential bandleader, sideman (on all of the saxophones, clarinets, and flutes), composer, arranger, record and radio producer, educator, writer, and editor—Bill Kirchner is also one of jazz’s most deeply soulful soprano saxophone stylists. He plays soprano exclusively on his forthcoming album An Evening of Indigos, a 2-CD package featuring Kirchner in the intimate company of pianist Carlton Holmes, a veteran of the leader’s now-inactive nonet; Nashville-based bassist and vocalist Jim Ferguson; and ...

1

Interview

Bill Kirchner at the New School

Bill Kirchner at the New School

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Back on Oct. 7, soprano saxophonist Bill Kirchner performed at New York's New School, where he teaches. Bill was accompanied by singer Holli Ross, singer/bassist Jim Ferguson and pianist Carlton Holmes. It was an extraordinary evening—so extraordinary that I wondered whether anyone was recording it. It turns out the school videotaped the concert and has made it available at YouTube. Before I show it to you, a few words about Bill and why he's such an inspiration. In addition to ...

Recording

5 CD Discoveries of the Week

5 CD Discoveries of the Week

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

This week, I recommend a pair of superb jazz orchestral CDs, new music from a cutting-edge Blue Note artist, and two terrific rock sets...  Dig arrangers Gil Evans and Thad Jones? Then you're going to love the Bill Kirchner Nonet's Lifeline (Jazzheads). Recorded live in 2001, Bill's arranging style is just as multilayered and brooding as Evans and as shrewd and mighty as Jones. Songs latch onto a mood and develop with sharp elegance and intelligence, telling a story and ...

1

Radio

"Jazz from the Archives" is on Notice

"Jazz from the Archives" is on Notice

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey

Over the past several years, I have occasionally alerted Rifftides readers to Jazz From the Archives radio programs created and hosted by Bill Kirchner. Exploring the work of important jazz artists, Bill brings to the shows his skills as a writer and producer and his insights as a big-league saxophonist, arranger and composer with intimate knowledge of the music and its makers. Now, for what appear to be slight financial reasons, the Newark jazz station WBGO is making it impossible ...

145

Education

Sittin' in with Bill Kirchner

Sittin' in with Bill Kirchner

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Early yesterday morning I took the subway down to 14th Street and walked east to the campus of the New School University. I was on my way to sit in on Bill Kirchner's Jazz History class. Some weeks ago Bill had invited me to attend whenever I wished, and I specifically chose to hear him talk about Miles Davis.

In addition to being a terrific teacher (his students adore him), Bill is a renowned saxophonist and arranger, journalist and author. ...

171

Recording

Bill Kirchner's Recommended Big Band List

Bill Kirchner's Recommended Big Band List

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey

For his advanced composing and arranging students, saxophonist, composer, arranger and educator Bill Kirchner recently compiled a list of recommended big band CDs recorded since 1955. Kirchner teaches at The New School in New York City. Bill agreed to let me share the list with Rifftides readers, who may find some of their favorites but not others.

RECOMMENDED BIG BAND CDs, 1955-PRESENT--Bill Kirchner

Muhal Richard Abrams: The Hearinga Suite (Black Saint)

Count Basie: April in Paris, ...

136

Recording

Evening Star Records Releases New Bill Kirchner CD, "Everything I Love"

Evening Star Records Releases New Bill Kirchner CD, "Everything I Love"

Source: All About Jazz

Evening Star Records is pleased to announce the release of Everything I Love, a newly recorded CD by saxophonist-composer-arranger Bill Kirchner. The CD features Kirchner on soprano saxophone, Eddie Monteiro on MIDI-accordion and vocals, Ron Vincent on drums and percussion, and on two tracks, the legendary vocalist Jackie Cain (of Jackie and Roy). Kirchner describes the repertoire as “unabashedly eclectic". It comprises six originals of widely varying moods, including a tribute to the late soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy. Also featured ...

"Bill Kirchner is one of those rare musicians who is able to synthesize an awareness of the past with his own voice, taking jazz in new directions that are firmly based on tradition." —Benny Carter
Primary Instrument

Saxophone

Location

New York City

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music: Adjunct Faculty, 1991-present (all undergraduate students). Classes include: Advanced Composing/Arranging (1991-present); Jazz History (1996-present); Jazz & Ballet (2000-01); Composers Forum (2001-02); Composition Styles (2002-05); Improvisation Ensemble (2006-07, 2014-present); Contemporary Jazz & Its Exponents (2010, 2013-14); Music of Bill Evans (2013). Manhattan School of Music: Adjunct Faculty, 2004-present. (undergraduate and graduate students). Music of Duke Ellington; Music of Miles Davis. New Jersey City University: Adjunct Faculty, 2002-2015. Jazz History (Master’s Program); Jazz Composition Styles (Master’s Program). Rutgers University/Newark: Guest Lecturer of Graduate Seminars, 2002-03, 2006 (Jazz-Research Master’s Program). Artist-in-Residence: KUG Institut für Jazz (Graz, Austria), 2001, 2014; Muzikhochschule Luzern (Switzerland), 2001; Sibelius Academy (Helsinki, Finland), 2002; U.S. Embassy in Armenia (sent by U.S. State Dept.), Jazz Appreciation Month, 2004; Composer-in-Residence, Henry Mancini Institute, Los Angeles, CA, 2000. Clinics: Colleges and schools across the U.S. and overseas for over 35 years.

Clinic/Workshop Information

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

For All We Know

Self Produced
2022

buy

An Evening Of Indigos

Jazzheads Records
2015

buy

Quiet Now

Jazzheads
2014

buy

Everything I Love

Evening Star Records
2005

buy

Trance Dance

A-Records
1999

buy

Videos

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