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Chris Potter

A world-class soloist, accomplished composer and formidable bandleader, saxophonist Chris Potter has emerged as a leading light of his generation. Down Beat called him "One of the most studied (and copied) saxophonists on the planet" while Jazz Times identified him as "a figure of international renown." Jazz sax elder statesman Dave Liebman called him simply, "one of the best musicians around," a sentiment shared by the readers of Down Beat in voting him second only to tenor sax great Sonny Rollins in the magazine's 2008 Readers Poll.

A potent improvisor and the youngest musician ever to win Denmark's Jazzpar Prize, Potter's impressive discography includes 15 albums as a leader and sideman appearances on over 100 albums. He was nominated for a Grammy Award for his solo work on "In Vogue," a track from Joanne Brackeen’s 1999 album Pink Elephant Magic, and was prominently featured on Steely Dan’s Grammy-winning album from 2000, Two Against Nature. He has performed or recorded with many of the leading names in jazz, such as Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland, John Scofield, the Mingus Big Band, Jim Hall, Paul Motian, Dave Douglas, Ray Brown and many others.

His most recent recording, Ultrahang, is the culmination thus far of five years’ work with his Underground quartet with Adam Rogers on guitar, Craig Taborn on Fender Rhodes, and Nate Smith on drums. Recorded in the studio in January 2009 after extensive touring, it showcases the band at its freewheeling yet cohesive best.

Since bursting onto the New York scene in 1989 as an 18-year-old prodigy with bebop icon Red Rodney (who himself had played as a young man alongside the legendary Charlie Parker), Potter has steered a steady course of growth as an instrumentalist and composer-arranger. Through the '90s, he continued to gain invaluable bandstand experience as a sideman while also making strong statements as a bandleader-composer-arranger. Acclaimed outings like 1997’s Unspoken (with bassist and mentor Dave Holland, drummer Jack DeJohnette and guitarist John Scofield), 1998’s Vertigo, 2001’s Gratitude and 2002’s Traveling Mercies showed a penchant for risk-taking and genre-bending. "For me, it just seemed like a way of opening up the music to some different things that I had been listening to but maybe hadn’t quite come out in my music before," he explains.

Potter explored new territory on 2004’s partly electric Lift: Live at the Village Vanguard (with bassist Scott Colley, drummer Bill Stewart and keyboardist Kevin Hays) then pushed the envelope a bit further on 2006’s Underground (with guitarist Wayne Krantz, electric pianist Craig Taborn and drummer Nate Smith). As he told Jazz Times: "I've wanted to do something more funk-related...music that seems to be in the air, all around us. But also keep it as free as the freest jazz conception."

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17
Album Review

Chris Potter: Eagle's Point

Read "Eagle's Point" reviewed by Chris May


The question that comes to mind after listening to Eagle's Point is this: why have the four musicians, who have known each other since the 1990s, never recorded together before? For the combination of Chris Potter, Brad Mehldau, John Patitucci and Brian Blade is a real meeting of minds; the stars are in perfect alignment. Potter's previous release, Got The Keys To The Kingdom (Edition, 2023), was a live set, recorded at New York's Village Vanguard, and ...

31
Readers Poll Results

Your Favorite Living Jazz Saxophonists

Read "Your Favorite Living Jazz Saxophonists" reviewed by Michael Ricci


Member votes were tabulated and this list represents our favorite living jazz saxophonists. Fully transparent and easily verifiable, All About Jazz's living saxophonists poll was conducted during the 2023 calendar year up and ran up through January 24, 2024. We would like to thank every member who participated in creating this impressive list (200 total!) for the next generation of jazz enthusiasts to discover. 1Chris Potter2Joshua Redman3Sonny Rollins4Joe Lovano5Charles Lloyd6Branford Marsalis7Kenny Garrett8David Sanborn9Kamasi Washington10David Murray11Eric Alexander12Jan Garbarek13Dave Liebman14James ...

Live Review

Mantova Jazz Festival 2023

Read "Mantova Jazz Festival 2023" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi


Mantova Jazz Festival Mantova, vari luoghi 13.10-10.11.2023 Giunto alla 43ma edizione, il jazz festival di Mantova continua a dimostrarsi attento agli sviluppi del jazz contemporaneo con programmi autorevolmente attrattivi, che presentano il meglio del panorama internazionale senza dimenticare i talenti locali. L'idea di fondo che ha guidato l'ultima rassegna era una ricognizione sulle “possibilità di un mainstream progressivo" attraverso quattro concerti che hanno visto di scena il quartetto “New Jawn" di ...

3
Radio & Podcasts

Chris Potter, Kait Dunton, Funkwrench Blues, Andrew Gorny & More

Read "Chris Potter, Kait Dunton, Funkwrench Blues, Andrew Gorny & More" reviewed by Ludovico Granvassu


This week we focus on the reissue of a seminal project bridging acid jazz and trip-hop, the soundtrack to a film without pictures, a trip east bound and down fusion lane, a great crop of guitarists deserving wider recognition, and saxophonists of well-deserved recognition.Happy listening!Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Marden Hill “Come On" Blown Away [Reissue] (Acid Jazz) 0:16 Host talks 4:45 Funkwrench Blues “The Calling" Soundtrack to ...

9
Play This!

Chris Potter Underground: The Wheel

Read "Chris Potter Underground: The Wheel" reviewed by Mike Jacobs


Saxophonist Chris Potter has struck gold with many of his lineups but his Underground was indeed a special one, as this 2009 clip shows. With drummer Nate Smith, keyboardist Craig Taborn and guitarist Adam Rogers joining in, “The Wheel" turns and burns so, it may take a minute to notice the absence of a bassist but it's likely you won't care either. (Special kudos to Taborn for being able to engage in offstage banter while laying down a dynamite 15/8 ...

2
Liner Notes

Ryan Kisor: Power Source

Read "Ryan Kisor: Power Source" reviewed by C. Andrew Hovan


Taking full advantage of what might be termed his “second wind," Ryan Kisor has grown into one of the most mature trumpeters of his generation. Back in 1990 when he impressed his elders by taking the prize at the Thelonious Monk Institute trumpet competition, things appeared promising and a major record label deal even came through the following year, but it might have been a slight case of a bit too much too soon. It seemed as quickly as his ...

1
Live Review

Chris Potter's Generations at SFJAZZ

Read "Chris Potter's Generations at SFJAZZ" reviewed by Harry S. Pariser


Chris Potter SFJAZZ CenterSan Francisco, CA April 23, 2023 Veteran saxophonist and composer Chris Potter, onstage at the beginning of the final performance of a four-night presentation in San Francisco of “Generations," his remarkable new suite, informed the audience that “There are eight movements, and each of them is named for a passage from Ecclesiastes 3:'There is a season, and a time for each purpose.' The first movement is “To Be Born." The ...

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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Chris Potter

Jazz Musician of the Day: Chris Potter

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Chris Potter's birthday today!

A world-class soloist, accomplished composer and formidable bandleader, saxophonist Chris Potter has emerged as a leading light of his generation. Down Beat called him “One of the most studied (and copied) saxophonists on the planet" while Jazz Times identified him as “a figure of international renown." Jazz sax elder statesman Dave Liebman called him simply, “one of the best musicians around," a sentiment shared by the readers of Down Beat in ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Chris Potter

Jazz Musician of the Day: Chris Potter

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Chris Potter's birthday today!

A world-class soloist, accomplished composer and formidable bandleader, saxophonist Chris Potter has emerged as a leading light of his generation. Down Beat called him “One of the most studied (and copied) saxophonists on the planet" while Jazz Times identified him as “a figure of international renown." Jazz sax elder statesman Dave Liebman called him simply, “one of the best musicians around," a sentiment shared by the readers of Down Beat in ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Chris Potter

Jazz Musician of the Day: Chris Potter

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Chris Potter's birthday today!

A world-class soloist, accomplished composer and formidable bandleader, saxophonist Chris Potter has emerged as a leading light of his generation. Down Beat called him “One of the most studied (and copied) saxophonists on the planet" while Jazz Times identified him as “a figure of international renown." Jazz sax elder statesman Dave Liebman called him simply, “one of the best musicians around," a sentiment shared by the readers of Down Beat in ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Chris Potter

Jazz Musician of the Day: Chris Potter

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Chris Potter's birthday today!

A world-class soloist, accomplished composer and formidable bandleader, saxophonist Chris Potter has emerged as a leading light of his generation. Down Beat called him “One of the most studied (and copied) saxophonists on the planet" while Jazz Times identified him as “a figure of international renown." Jazz sax elder statesman Dave Liebman called him simply, “one of the best musicians around," a sentiment shared by the readers of Down Beat in ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Chris Potter

Jazz Musician of the Day: Chris Potter

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Chris Potter's birthday today!

A world-class soloist, accomplished composer and formidable bandleader, saxophonist Chris Potter has emerged as a leading light of his generation. Down Beat called him “One of the most studied (and copied) saxophonists on the planet" while Jazz Times identified him as “a figure of international renown." Jazz sax elder statesman Dave Liebman called him simply, “one of the best musicians around... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget on ...

6

Advocacy

Photographer Jimmy Katz Announces Giant Step Arts, Artist-focused Non-profit Supporting Modern Jazz Innovators

Photographer Jimmy Katz Announces Giant Step Arts, Artist-focused Non-profit Supporting Modern Jazz Innovators

Source: Braithwaite & Katz Communications

“[Katz] has developed an exceptional body of work in the jazz field, covering the elder statesmen, the icons, the mainstream and the young lions. In the process, he has developed his own style with the camera that is as identifiable as Armstrong’s tone on trumpet or Coltrane’s sound on tenor sax.”—Michael Cuscuna, producer, Blue Note Records For nearly 30 years, photographer Jimmy Katz has documented the world of jazz—crafting iconic portraits of legendary artists, capturing historic moments in the recording ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Chris Potter

Jazz Musician of the Day: Chris Potter

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Chris Potter's birthday today!

A world-class soloist, accomplished composer and formidable bandleader, saxophonist Chris Potter has emerged as a leading light of his generation. Down Beat called him “One of the most studied (and copied) saxophonists on the planet" while Jazz Times identified him as “a figure of international renown." Jazz sax elder statesman Dave Liebman called him simply, “one of the best musicians around... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget on ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Chris Potter

Jazz Musician of the Day: Chris Potter

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Chris Potter's birthday today!

A world-class soloist, accomplished composer and formidable bandleader, saxophonist Chris Potter has emerged as a leading light of his generation. Down Beat called him “One of the most studied (and copied) saxophonists on the planet" while Jazz Times identified him as “a figure of international renown." Jazz sax elder statesman Dave Liebman called him simply, “one of the best musicians around... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget on ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Chris Potter

Jazz Musician of the Day: Chris Potter

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Chris Potter's birthday today!

A world-class soloist, accomplished composer and formidable bandleader, saxophonist Chris Potter has emerged as a leading light of his generation. Down Beat called him “One of the most studied (and copied) saxophonists on the planet" while Jazz Times identified him as “a figure of international renown." Jazz sax elder statesman Dave Liebman called him simply, “one of the best musicians around... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget on ...

1

Education

Music Education Monday: Master classes with saxophonist Chris Potter

Music Education Monday: Master classes with saxophonist Chris Potter

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

Whether it's as leader of his own bands or as a sideman to the likes of Dave Holland, Paul Motian, and Dave Douglas, Chris Potter has been one of the most in-demand saxophonists in jazz for most of the 21st century. Potter, who will be 45 years old this Friday, has released more than 15 albums as a leader and appeared on more than 150 recordings by others, winning critical acclaim for his technical mastery, harmonic imagination, and rhythmic fluidity. ...

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Frank Macchia
composer / conductor
Patrick Cornelius
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Dave Mullen
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Ben Britton
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Cold Spring Jazz Quartet
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Ray Ferretti
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Chris Engel
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Jesse Dietschi
bass, acoustic
Benjamin Boone
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Joan Hutton
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Rob Cope
saxophone, soprano
Adam Nolan
saxophone
Anton Chekurov
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David Bernot
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Temidayo Balogun
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Rohan Buch
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Alex Madeline
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Photos

Concerts

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Eagle's Point

Edition Records
2024

buy

Mel's Vision

Criss Cross
2023

buy

Olympians

Modern Recordings
2023

buy

Got The Keys To The...

Edition Records
2023

buy

Rituals

Double Moon Records
2022

buy

Quixote

From: Olympians
By Chris Potter

Little Scorpio

From: Pride and Joy
By Chris Potter

Point of View Redux

From: Breakthrough
By Chris Potter

Videos

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