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Jack Brandfield

New York City Native tenor saxophonist Jack Brandfield is a passionate musician who brings his own style in carrying the torch for interpreters of the Great American Songbook. His talents have been recognized by jazz luminaries that he has shared the stage with such as John Pizzarelli, Rodney Whitaker, Bill Cunliffe, and Harry Allen. Jack holds a B.M in Jazz Studies from Michigan State University and is currently a scholarship recipient from The Frost School of Music at The University of Miami where he is completing a M.M in Studio Music and Jazz.

He has performed in venues and festivals such as Rose Hall, The Detroit Jazz Festival, Swing 46, The Mahaiwe Theater, Music Mountain, Tuba Bach Festival, and Merrimans Playhouse working as a leader and sideman with Diego Rivera, Randy Napoleon, The Micheal Dease Big Band, Konrad Paszkudzki, Daduka De Fonseca, Muacha Adnet, James Chirillo, Pasquale Grasso, Paul Keller, Mike Karn, Felix Lemerle, Rick Roe, The Kevin Blanq Big Band, Paul Sikivie, Neal Miner, Clovis Nicolas, ect. Most recently, Jack was presented an Outstanding Soloist Award by Wynton Marsalis at the Inaugural Jack Rudin Jazz Competition at Jazz @ Lincoln Center.

Born in 1998, Jack grew up in New York City where he received mentorship from a handful of significant musicians. His experiences began while attending the famous LaGuardia High School for the Arts in Manhattan. It was during his time there that he built a close relationship with trumpeter and jazz band director Kevin Blancq. Under his tutelage Jack studied the history of jazz tradition through listening to records and studying the repertoire of the Great American Songbook. As a student in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Youth Academy he worked in ensembles directed by Ted Nash, Vincent Gardner, and Melissa Aldana getting opportunities to perform in both big band and small combo settings. He privately studied with saxophonist Dan Block. Receiving mentorship from NYC saxophone giant Harry Allen - who he still considers to be a mentor and influence - Jack got a taste of the NYC’s jazz scene by sitting in with him at venues such as Smalls and Mezzrow.

Jack moved to East Lansing, Michigan in 2016 to pursue a B.M degree in Jazz Studies at Michigan State University and study under saxophonist and pedagogue Diego Rivera. He also studied with professors Xavier Davis, Etienne Charles, Micheal Dease, and Randy Gillespie. Jack had the privilege of building close relationships with professor and guitarist Randy Napoleon and Distinguished Professor and world renowned bassist Rodney Whitaker, working in both of their quartets.. As a member of Jazz Orchestra 1 led by Rodney Whitaker, Jack performed across the state of Michigan and helped conduct over twenty high school educational workshops. When the band traveled to New York City to compete in the Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Inaugural Jack Rudin Jazz Competition they received third place and he was awarded as an Outstanding Soloist.

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