Greg Tardy
“Music is an expression of the soul and I always try to speak through my horn,” says Gregory Tardy. “I once heard an older musician say ‘it is better to be felt than to be heard’. I never forgot that. That is my approach to playing any style of music.”
Born into a musical family, Gregory Tardy began his musical career studying classical clarinet. In high school, Gregory excelled in music, winning many awards and scholarships offers. While studying with renowned clarinetists Russell Dagon and Jack Snavely, Tardy began preparing for a symphony career. Over time, he began to be asked to play saxophone, to fill in missing gaps in various ensembles. Although he never practiced the saxophone seriously, Tardy began getting calls to play local funk gigs in the Milwaukee area. At the prodding of his older brother, Tardy finally listened to the duo recording of John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk playing “Monk’s Mood”, and then immediately determined to be a jazz musician.
His passion for the saxophone took over his studies and soon his clarinet was gathering dust. At this time, he moved to St. Louis and after a year of performing on the jazz and blues scene, he decided to move back to his birthplace, New Orleans, in order to focus his jazz studies even further. “This proved to be great move”, Tardy says. “ There were all of these outstanding players down there-many of which went on to be well known, like Nicholas Payton, Brian Blade, Victor Goines, Mark Turner, Delfeayo and Jason Marsalis and far too many others to mention. Many, like I, came to study with Ellis Marsalis; some were just hanging out. It was there that I really started to get my playing together.” While in New Orleans, Tardy also played with some of the local brass bands, did some gigging with the Neville Brothers, Allen Toussaint, and groups of all styles. But he never stopped pursuing jazz.
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- The Truth by Matthew Miller
- Abundance by AAJ Staff
- Abundance by Mark Corroto
- The Hidden Light by C. Michael Bailey
- The Hidden Light by Jim Santella
- Serendipity by Jim Santella
May 10, 2018
Elio Villafranca's "Cinque" Features Wynton Marsalis, Lewis Nash,...
May 24, 2017
Jazz this week: Christian McBride, The Soul Rebels, Greg Tardy, Grand...
April 20, 2006
April 22, 2004
Gene Ess with Greg Tardy, Thomas Morgan, and Gene Jackson at Jazz Spot...
January 31, 2003
Greg Tardy with Tom Harrell @ the Painted Bride in Phila - Feb 8th, 8PM
“Big sound, deep seated feel for the blues, and cerebral avante-garde chops.” —New York Magazine
“Tardy already has his own voice and is on track to help write the next chapter in jazz history.” —All About Jazz
“One of the bright hopes, Tardy sounds like a seeker, absolution and salvation in every solo.” —New York Times
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