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Stephen Gauci

tephen Gauci is recognized as one of the most strikingly original saxophonists on the New York City improvised music scene.

Stricken by a childhood illness that has left him with a profound hearing loss, Gauci was drawn to the clear, deep, tone of the tenor saxophone. This was the first step in a lifelong relationship with, and investigation of tone, timbre, and especially.. voice. The nature of Gauci’s hearing loss are that outer sounds require of him the utmost level of concentration and focus. The flip side, however, is that inner sounds, and the inner voice, are magnified… crystal clear and singing. The intense outward focus developed as a result of Gauci’s hearing impairment has been turned inward like a laser to illuminate, and manifest, the inner voice.

Gauci has performed and recorded with many of the leading improvisers of our time, including Cooper Moore, Joe Morris, Nels Cline, Karl Berger, Kenny Wessel, Kris Davis, Tyshawn Sorey, Daniel Carter, George Garzone, Nate Wooley, William Parker, Steve Swell, Mike Bisio, Adam Lane, Kevin Shea, William Hooker, Ingebrigt Haker Flaten, Dave Rempis.

Gauci runs the popular Bushwick Improvised Music Series, where he has presented over 600 concerts featuring many of New York’s greatest improvisers, as well as many international touring musicians. At two years and counting, the Bushwick Series is the longest running weekly avant jazz series in Brooklyn. Gauci also performs at the Bushwick Series every Monday with his working quartet featuring guitarist Sandy Ewen, bassist Adam Lane, and drummer Kevin Shea. Having performed every Monday for over two years, this is arguably one of the longest running avant jazz sets in New York City history.

Gauci has released twenty five records as a leader or co-leader. He currently runs Gaucimusic Recordings, releasing both live and studio recordings featuring many of the leading lights of Brooklyn’s improvised music community. His mission as a presenter/record producer is to nurture, document, and present to the world, Brooklyn’s incredibly diverse, multi-generational, ground breaking improvised music scene.

In addition to regular NYC performances, Gauci has performed in France, Sweden, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Portugal, and throughout the United States.

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Album Review

Stephen Gauci: Live At Sowieso, Berlin

Read "Live At Sowieso, Berlin" reviewed by John Sharpe


Tenor saxophonist Stephen Gauci cuts a busy figure in his native New York City. But with Live At Sowieso, Berlin he brings his brand of unbridled energy to the hotbed of free improv which is the titular German city with striking results. He retains one familiar face for the journey in the shape of drummer Kevin Shea, a longstanding member of the reedman's trio, who is still best known for his tenure in the anarchic Mostly Other People Do The ...

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Album Review

Stephen Gauci / Michael Bisio / Whit Dickey: Live At Scholes Street Studio

Read "Live At Scholes Street Studio" reviewed by John Sharpe


Tenor saxophonist Stephen Gauci sends another vital missive from the Brooklyn coal face, titled like several of its predecessors Live At Scholes Street Studio. Gauci has the knack of surrounding himself with top notch company and this is no exception. Joining him are two of the more seasoned avant jazz practitioners on the New York scene, bassist Michael Bisio and drummer Whit Dickey. Bisio himself holds the bass chair in pianist Matthew Shipp's Trio, a high profile outfit which Dickey ...

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Album Review

Stephen Gauci / Francisco Mela / William Parker / Matthew Shipp: Live at Scholes Street Studio

Read "Live at Scholes Street Studio" reviewed by John Sharpe


Tenor saxophonist Stephen Gauci provokes blistering unfettered performances from the starry cast on another installment of Live At Scholes Street Studio. Gauci embodies a fierce DIY ethos which manifests in producing multiple concert series in NYC as well as releasing consequent material on his own label and posting video documentation on his website. On this occasion, he is joined by three storied veterans of the avant-jazz scene in pianist Matthew Shipp, bassist William Parker and drummer Francisco Mela who bring ...

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Album Review

Gauci Leibson Parker Sorey: Live at Scholes Street Studio

Read "Live at Scholes Street Studio" reviewed by John Sharpe


Tenor saxophonist Stephen Gauci certainly knows how to pick a band. On another of his regular bulletins which go under the title Live At Scholes Street Studio, he has assembled a line-up to die for, notable for the appearance of Tyshawn Sorey on drums and William Parker on bass. Although Argentinian pianist Santiago Leibson may be less feted, he is a trusted collaborator who combined effectively with Gauci on Pandemic Duets (Gaucimusic, 2021), and he plays a full role on ...

Album Review

Stephen Gauci, Sandy Ewen: Studio Sessions Vol. 6

Read "Studio Sessions Vol. 6" reviewed by Alberto Bazzurro


Una lunga scorribanda tenoristica, piena zeppa di ruvidezze e intemperanze varie, il tutto attraverso otto episodi e quaranta minuti abbondanti di musica: ecco cosa ci offre, con episodiche pause-oasi più riflessive, questo sesto volume della saga delle Studio Sessions di Stephen Gauci, qui in compagnia della giovane chitarrista Sandy Ewen, il cui apporto, non fosse altro che proprio sul piano della presenza sonora, appare fin troppo mortificato dallo strapotere del suo compagno di cordata (e comunque dedicato a un rumorismo ...

Album Review

Ava Mendoza, Vijay Anderson, Stephen Gauci: Studio Sessions Vol. 4

Read "Studio Sessions Vol. 4" reviewed by Alberto Bazzurro


Free jazz della più chiara (e abbastanza indiscriminata, acritica) acqua è quello che ci accoglie da subito in questo album, inciso nel febbraio 2019 e pubblicato alla fine di quello stesso anno. Vi figura uno degli elementi più interessanti delle nuove leve del jazz (in realtà classe 1983, ma si sa che oggi, musicalmente parlando, si diventa maggiorenni attorno ai quaranta) come la chitarrista Ava Mendoza, ma il deus ex machina dell'operazione, nonché editore dell'album (ricorda un po' quei ragazzini ...

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Radio & Podcasts

More Pandemic Duets And Other New Releases

Read "More Pandemic Duets And Other New Releases" reviewed by Bob Osborne


On this week's show more of the outstanding Pandemic Duets curated by Stephen Gauci together with a selection of brand new releases including featured albums from Luciana Morelli, Noa Fort, Peace Flag Ensemble and Gregg Belisle-Chi interpreting the music of Tim Berne. We kick off the show with the Joel Frahm Trio.Playlist Joel Frahm Trio “Blow Poppa Joe" from The Bright Side (Anzic Records) 00:00 Luciana Morelli “Viaje" from Lo abismal, el agua (ears&eyes) 05:28 Noa Fort “The ...

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Recording

Stephen Gauci/ Kris Davis/ Michael Bisio - SKM (Clean Feed)

Stephen Gauci/ Kris Davis/ Michael Bisio - SKM (Clean Feed)

Source: Master of a Small House

Operating under the ostensible leadership of saxophonist Stephen Gauci, but still very much an ensemble affair, versatility factors prominently on this straightforward trio set. Gauci and bassist Michael Bisio are well-established colleagues, their associations formed in the last decade on a number of projects for CIMP. Canadian pianist Kris Davis moves in similar circles having worked with New York notables like Tony Malaby and Tom Rainey. Their rapport manifests right away, stressing spontaneity rather than any predictable path with their ...

Primary Instrument

Saxophone, tenor

Location

New York City

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

Lessons cover all aspects of musicianship including tone production, technique, reading, and improvisation. Beginners through advanced, children and adults welcome -references are available on request. Lessons are at my conveniently located downtown studio, or in your manhattan home. My rates are $50/hr or $40 for a 45 minute lesson. I offer a $10 discounted rate for students (with a valid student ID). Lessons cancelled less than 24 hrs in advance to be paid in full.

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