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Gary Schwantes

Gary Schwantes has developed a unique and compelling voice on saxophone and bamboo flutes, and as a composer and arranger. Based in San Francisco, he is founder and Artistic Director of ULTRA WORLD X-TET and produced the group's debut CD Moon and Legend as well as a live concert DVD Night Market. He has toured and recorded 3 CDs (Threedom, "4", Moose Lodge) with the North Carolina based jazz-funk trio Hip Bones and is a member of SF based Klezmania!, with whom he has recorded Sanctuary Grooves (CD) and several videos. Gary has also performed with groups under his name as well as with Pam Tillis, Weishan Liu, Lou Harrison, Allen Ginsberg, and many others. He released a CD with Chinese composer Gang Situ and has recorded with metal guitarist Jason Becker. He has composed music and done sound design for many organizations including Lily Cai Chinese Dance Company, Mickey Hart's Planet Drum, Craig Baldwin, Dimensions Dance Theater, ACT, and S.F. Legion of Honor Museum. He has received commissions and grants from Meet the Composer, ACT, S.F. Legion of Honor Museum, the Zellerbach Family Foundation and Chinese Cultural Productions and studied composition at Mills College with Lou Harrison and Anthony Braxton. Gary has a California Teaching Credential in Music and a wide variety of teaching experience.

Awards

Zellerbach Family Foundation Grants Awarded 2011, 2012 Graduate Assistantship Mills College

Gear

Tenor Sax: B&S Medusa, RPC Custom Made Mouthpiece
Soprano Sax: Yanagisawa Curved, Various Mouthpieces
Reeds: Alexander D.C., Vandoren Blue Box
Bamboo Flutes: Mostly Chinese, Some made to order, some lucky finds.


Tags

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Recording

Ultra World X-Tet CD Release: Moon and Legend

Ultra World X-Tet CD Release: Moon and Legend

Source: Michael Ricci

Introducing a new album for Ultra World X-tet... Moon and Legend

Ultra World X-tet performs a joyful, exotic, soulful and elegant fusion of East and West for the 21st Century. The band instrumentation includes Saxophone, Bamboo Flutes, Bass, Percussion, and Guzheng (23 string Chinese Zither). The Guzheng and Chinese Bamboo flutes bring a rich history of over 2000 years to the overall sound which is modern and adventurous. The X-tet's unique brand of “San Francisco World Jazz" casts ...

"To put it plainly Ultra World X-Tet is an extraordinary world class ensemble." -Examiner.com

"an excellent original from Gary Schwantes...hot solos from Schwantes and bassist Shannon Hoover."

"Hip Bones, from parts across the continent, hit Awful’s Towers again on Thursday, and the jazz/rock/funk trio sounded as tasty and musical as ever...the band’s Gary Schwantes tearing up a sax solo on a cover of Prince’s “Purple Rain.” -Roanoke Times

"Noteworthy Seriously funky jazz from San Francisco, this all-instrumental trio is fronted by hard-bopping saxman Gary Schwantes, who also plays bamboo flutes and keyboard samples..." -Connect Savannah

Photos

Music

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