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Tivon Pennicott

Tivon Pennicott was born in Marietta, Georgia in December of 1985. He began studying tenor saxophone in high school, garnering recognition early on as an outstanding soloist in the Lincoln Center's Essentially Ellington competition, as well as the Georgia All-state Jazz Band. In 2004, he relocated to Miami to study at the Frost School of Music, where he had the opportunity to perform alongside artists such as: Dave Liebman, Randy Brecker, and Maria Schneider.

While still in college, guitar legend Kenny Burrell invited Tivon to join his quintet. He would then go on to appear on Burrell’s 2008 live release, "Be Yourself." Tivon’s continuing association with Burrell has led to numerous performance opportunities at many of America's greatest jazz venues including: Blue Note, Billboard Live (Japan) Catalina's Jazz Club (Los Angeles, Yoshi's Jazz Club (Oakland and San Francisco), Smalls Jazz Club etc. alongside special guests like Stevie Wonder, Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, and many others.

Tivon moved to New York in 2009 and has since established himself as a talented young leader. Tivon is a 2-time Grammy winner as well as a 2nd place winner in the prestigious Thelonius Monk Competition. He enjoys collaborating with a variety of bandleaders in their own tours as well as their recording projects- from Grammy winner Gregory Porter, appearing on his albums "Be Good" and "Liquid Spirit", to 2-time Grammy Award Winner, Esperanza Spalding, appearing on her crossover success, "Radio Music Society." He tours with the masterful drummer Al Foster, Roy Hargrove's RH Factor, Roy Hargrove Big Band, jazz songstress Nellie Mckay, R&B crooner Joe Thomas and central figures in the contemporary jazz scene, like Ari Hoenig, E.J. Strickland, Marko Djordevic, as well as many more.

Tivon’s own endeavors as a leader showcase his tenacity as a player, while also providing a forum for his audacious compositions. His unique style incorporates his masterful attention to rhythm, tasteful melodic lines, and his deep understanding of the importance of the groove. His maturity as a player extends far beyond his years, facilitating music that is refreshing, insightful, and deliciously exciting. Pick up his debut album "Lover of Nature" as a leader in late 2014.

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5
Album Review

Kaisa’s Machine: Taking Shape

Read "Taking Shape" reviewed by Hrayr Attarian


On her captivating second release, Taking Shape, Finnish bassist Kaisa Mäensivu demonstrates her singular talents as a composer and a bandleader. She is again at the helm of her cohesive group, Kaisa's Machine. It has been six years since her debut, years during which she established herself in her new hometown of New York. Her writing has transformed as she draws inspiration from the vibrancy of the city on this set of originals. Mäensivu sets the album's mood ...

12
Album Review

Anaïs Reno: Lovesome Thing: Anaïs Reno sings Ellington & Strayhorn featuring Emmet Cohen

Read "Lovesome Thing: Anaïs Reno sings Ellington & Strayhorn featuring Emmet Cohen" reviewed by Richard J Salvucci


The first time someone told me that Billy Strayhorn was a teenager when he wrote “Lush Life," I didn't believe it. Not so much because of the harmonic gymnastics, which were daunting enough, but because of the lyrics. “Romance is mush stifling those who strive, I'll live out a lush life in some small dive." No, someone had to have lived quite a bit to write something like that. No-one at eighteen could know that, so I thought, because I ...

9
Album Review

Anaïs Reno: Lovesome Thing: Anaïs Reno sings Ellington & Strayhorn featuring Emmet Cohen

Read "Lovesome Thing: Anaïs Reno sings Ellington & Strayhorn featuring Emmet Cohen" reviewed by Pierre Giroux


Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn were collaborators for several decades beginning in the late 1930s. They became so closely intertwined musically that it was frequently impossible to distinguish their work. Anaïs Reno a young and promising singer has chosen to use their compositions as the basis for her debut release Lovesome Thing: Anaïs Reno Sings Ellington & Strayhorn. This choice was not without risk as the harmonic structure and lyrics of some of the compositions are better suited to a ...

7
Interview

Tivon Pennicott: The Tiller

Read "Tivon Pennicott: The Tiller" reviewed by Zachary Weg


As heard on his cosmic new album, Spirit Garden (New Phrase Records, 2020), New York-based tenor saxophonist, Tivon Pennicott, is a sonic healer. Not only does his latest record convey the late-thirties artist's masterful composing abilities, it shows his deep engagement with everyday struggles yet also his effort to transcend them with his great willpower and generosity. Earthbound yet galactic, world-mired yet majestic, Spirit Garden is one of the finest, most assured jazz releases of the past five years and ...

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Recording

Grammy-Winning Saxophonist Tivon Pennicott’ Releases Soaring New Album

Grammy-Winning Saxophonist Tivon Pennicott’ Releases Soaring New Album

Source: Eric Taylor

Imagine a diary with no words. Inspired by saxophonist Tivon Pennicott’s experiences from relocating to New York City in late 2009, Lover of Nature is exactly that; each composition is a soundtrack to a day in the life, a cinematic overview of what was. Given that there are no lyrics, the music is open to interpretation although Pennicott has revealed their origins. It’s actually better not knowing; letting one’s imagination soar through the skies can actually deepen the relationship between ...

1

Interview

Interview: Saxophonist/Composer Tivon Pennicott

Interview: Saxophonist/Composer Tivon Pennicott

Source: Eric Taylor

Having played on two Grammy-winning albums, it was just a matter of time for saxophonist/composer Tivon Pennicott to explore his own artistry. With his band Sound Quartet, Pennicott has just released Lover of Nature, an album of sleek, sprightly jazz compositions that boldly showcases a brilliant new talent. In this interview, Pennicott discusses his musical origins and creative passions. Q: When did you learn to play the saxophone? A: I started playing saxophone at the age of 12. My dad ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Taking Shape

Greenleaf Music
2023

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Lovesome Thing:...

Harbinger Records
2021

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'2' feat. Tivon...

Puzzlemusik Records
2016

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Lover of Nature

Self Produced
2015

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