Greg Ward
Greg Ward (born 1982) is rapidly emerging as one of the leading virtuoso saxophone players of his generation, with a unique versatility in a wide variety of styles including Modern Jazz, Funk, Latin as well as Classical, Indian, Klezmer and African Music. Ward grew up in a musical household, singing in Gospel groups as a child before the discovery of Charlie Parker led him to dedicate his life to the saxophone. Honors quickly followed, including the Downbeat Magazine High School Jazz Soloist Award (2000), participation in the exclusive Stean’s Institute at Ravinia (2001), scholarships from the Vail Jazz Workshop in Colorado, and selection as a Jazz Mentor with the Jazz Institute of Chicago. In 2002, Saxophone legend Fred Anderson hand-picked Ward to curate the Wednesday Night Jam Sesssions at Chicago’s Premier Jazz Club, the Velvet Lounge.
Ward has performed with musical greats including Von Freeman, Frank Wess, Al Jarreau, Carl Allen, Rufus Reid, Jeff Parker, Brian McNight and Hamid Drake, touring across the world in countries such as Peru, Singapore, Guam, Japan, Italy, Switzerland, Holland, France, and South Africa, and has been featured at festivals including Ravinia, Souns d’ Hiver, Montreaux Jazz Festival, Umbria Jazz Fest, Vision Festival in NYC, and Suoni Per Il Popolo Festival in Montreal. He is a member of Ernest Dawkins’ Chicago 12, the Occidental Brother’s Dance Band, Ted Sirota’s Rebel Souls, the Proliferation Quartet, Bindu and the Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble. He also leads the experimental soul band We Tree, and co-directs the TBD Improvisation Orchestra, and has recorded for the Roguart, 482 Music, Dawk Music, and Delmark (release in 2008) labels.
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Album Review
- Delicate Charms by Neri Pollastri
- The Shadows and The Light by Mark Corroto
- The Shadows and The Light by Kevin Press
- Delicate Charms by Jerome Wilson
- Delicate Charms by Mike Jurkovic
- Nature Work by Vincenzo Roggero
- Nature Work by Mark Corroto
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Album Review
- Stomping Off From Greenwood by Jerome Wilson
- Stomping Off From Greenwood by Mike Jurkovic
November 05, 2011
Greg Ward - Greg Ward's Phonic Juggernaut (2011)
September 29, 2010
Saxophonist/Composer Greg Ward's Fitted Shards Release of "South Side...
September 28, 2010
Greg Ward's Fitted Shards - South Side Story (2010)
August 27, 2010
On November 7 @ The Cornelia Street Cafe Catch the NYC Premiere of...
August 03, 2010
19/8 Records to Release South Side Story, the Debut Recording from...