Fred Hess
”Hess has an obvious affinity for a wide range of jazz-related idioms; he melds them into a cool, brainy, and utterly natural composite. On tenor, Hess has a mellow, Lester-ish tone and what seems to be an encyclopedic knowledge of the tenor giant’s style. Still, his melodic sense also draws from the best of the modern idioms. His articulation is smooth and light; harmonically, he’s not adverse to going “out,” though he never discards the changes of a tune for the sake of expedience.” - All Music Guide
Born in Abington, Pennsylvania, Hess grew up in New Jersey, attending Trenton State College, before moving to Colorado in 1981. He graduated with a doctorate in music composition from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1991. His early experiences include studies with saxophonist Phil Woods, a stint with bandleader Fred Waring, and composing music for the world premiere of a Sam Shepard play. As a composer, his influences encompass the contributions of the great figures in jazz history, avant-garde classical sources, as well as Anthony Braxton and the members of the AACM. He is currently Director of Composition at The Metropolitan State College of Denver.
Committed to exploring the boundaries of both notated and improvised music, Hess attended the Creative Music Studio, Woodstock, NY, in 1979. Moving to Colorado, he began the Boulder Creative Music Ensemble in 1982. In addition to his own projects as a leader (BCME and The Fred Hess Group), he was the founding director of Denver’s Creative Music Works Orchestra and has been a member of drummer Ginger Baker’s Denver Jazz Quintet, as well as ensembles led by trumpeter Ron Miles. His current performing groups are the Fred Hess Band and the Fred Hess/Marc Sabatella Duo.
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Album Review
- Speak by Florence Wetzel
- Into the Open by Dan McClenaghan
- Hold On by Troy Collins
- Hold On by Dan McClenaghan
- Single Moment by Jerry D'Souza
- Single Moment by Dan McClenaghan
- Single Moment by Troy Collins
- In the Grotto by Dan McClenaghan
- In The Grotto by Troy Collins
- How 'Bout Now by Jerry D'Souza
August 06, 2012
"Speak" - New Fred Hess Big Band Album
February 23, 2011
Saxophonist/Composer Fred Hess Releases New Big Band CD As A Leader:...
August 19, 2009
Saxophonist/Composer Fred Hess Releases New Big Band CD as a Leader:...
March 29, 2004
Meet Trumpeter Jim Rotondi and Saxophonist Fred Hess on the AAJ...
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Albums
Blues For Bonnie Belle
From: SpeakBy Fred Hess