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Gary Keller

Gary Keller is perhaps best known as the professor of saxophone at the University of Miami, where he has been a member of the faculty since 1982. In addition to his teaching he maintains an active performance schedule and he has toured/recorded/performed with a wide diversity of jazz artists and ensembles including Woody Herman, Frank Sinatra, Dave Liebman, Ira Sullivan, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Jaco Pastorius, The Jaco Pastorious Big Band, Maria Schnieder, Jim McNeely, Manny Album, Billy Hart, Kenny Werner, Adam Nussbaum, Chico O'Farrill, Kenny Wheeler, Clare Fischer, and the University of Miami Concert Jazz Band. He has also performed/recorded with the Florida Philharmonic, New World Symphony, Naples Symphony, St Petersburg (Russia) Symphony, Chamber Music Palm Beach, and the American Jazz Philharmonic.

Gary Keller is the leader and founder of the Miami Saxophone Quartet and a Conn-Selmer endorsed artist. He has both written and been the subject of articles in publications including the Saxophone Journal, Woodwind Player, IAJE Journal, and the Saxophone Symposium. His Jazz Chord/Scale Handbook (Advance Music) is in use at universities worldwide. Click here for more.

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Conn-Selmer Corp. AMT Microphones

South Florida Jazz Orchestra: Cheap Thrills: The Music Of Rick Margitza

Read "Cheap Thrills: The Music Of Rick Margitza" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
October 10, 2020

In 2019, the acclaimed Michigan-bred, Paris-based tenor saxophonist Rick Margitza thought he was being asked to contribute a couple of charts to the University of South Florida Jazz Orchestra's fifth recording in its fifteen-year history as a working ensemble. But when SFJO founder and leader Chuck Bergeron looked at the charts he had an even better idea, and asked Margitza to write and / or arrange everything on the album, which thus became Cheap Thrills: The Music of Rick Margitza. ...

Album Review

South Florida Jazz Orchestra: Cheap Thrills: The Music Of Rick Margitza

Read "Cheap Thrills: The Music Of Rick Margitza" reviewed by Pierre Giroux

by Pierre Giroux
October 8, 2020

The concept of a large, tightly-knit big band in a recording studio, on a concert or jazz club stage may just be a plug-in memory in today's environment. Fortunately there is the fifteenth anniversary recording of The South Florida Jazz Orchestra directed by bassist/bandleader Chuck Bergeron, entitled Cheap Thrills: The Music Of Rick Margitza, to remind us what a disciplined inventive big band sounds like. With the exception of George and Ira Gershwin's “Embraceable You," all the other ...

"Keller's round, burnished tenor . . . is firmly rooted in jazz tradition with frequent nods and winks to the blues." Derek Taylor, Cadence Magazine

"Gary is long overdue to be properly recorded and especially doing the tunes of his long time compatriot Ron Miller. These are intricate and well thought out compositions, played impeccably and with inspiration by Gary and the stellar group he assembled. You will enjoy this artistic recording." David Liebman

***(*) "Miller's tunes are an exemplary bunch.... A thinkers delight...extremely well done." Penguin Jazz

"One couldn't ask for a more special group of players to perform the wonderful music of Ron Miller. This is an absolutely beautiful recording." Maria Schneider

"Keller's round, burnished tenor . . . is firmly rooted in jazz tradition with frequent nods and winks to the blues." Derek Taylor, Cadence Magazine

***(*) "Miller's tunes are an exemplary bunch.... A thinkers delight...extremely well done." Penguin Jazz

"One couldn't ask for a more special group of players to perform the wonderful music of Ron Miller. This is an absolutely beautiful recording." Maria Schneider

"An excellent collection of music and a perfect fit for 'Jazz After Hours.' I like [Gary's] sound on soprano as well as on tenor and everyone plays great. Very good project - I have nothing but high marks for it." Jim Wilke, "Jazz After Hours"

"Very solid album. I audition quite a bit of material as you can imagine, so when I see a quintet/sextet record, I always think 'what will make this date stand out from the other 5,000 records like this?' The answer, outside good soloists which you have in spades on this date is 'good writing.' Ron Miller has provided you with some fine pieces. I especially like that there is a certain amount of restraint on the date and I mean that in a good sense. No aimless blowing for its own sake—just well conceived tunes and solos that swing and flow together." Dan Polletta, WCPN FM Cleveland

"Keller's tenor and soprano, Wendholt's trumpet, Fedchock's trombone, Werner's piano, Gress's bass, and Billy Hart's drums (yes!) are all on target for solving Miller's musical challenges." Owen Cordle, Jazz Times Magazine

"...far from dry academic exercises...credit Keller's liquid phrasing and lush Ben Webster-like sound, as well as an excellent group that seems to be all of one mind, particularly the rhythm section of Werner, Gress, and the amazingly coloristic drummer Billy Hart." Bob Weinberg, City Link Magazine

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