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Todd Herbert

Todd Herbert began his life as a musician at the age of 10 and has not looked back. Beginning on clarinet, he progressed to alto saxophone, eventually settling on the tenor sax. Herbert continued his music studies in high school and with private teachers in his hometown of Evanston, IL.. Advanced studies came at the University of Miami, considered one of the country's foremost training grounds for jazz musicians.

Herbert has now been playing professionally for 15 years, first with the Charles Earland Quartet. His stint with Earland took him around the US and his first taste of the international scene with stops in Germany, Japan and London. He then joined trumpet virtuoso Freddy Hubbard and as a member of his quintet toured for over two years. In 1997 Herbert moved permanently to New York City where he maintains a busy schedule of composing and performing. In addition to leading his own group, Herbert has also has enjoyed playing with jazz greats, Jimmy Cobb and Tom Harrell.

Pianist Willie Pickens calls Herbert a “a young giant” and predicts that the jazz world will hear a lot of more of his stylistic notes in years to come. Pickens looks forward to Herbert's occasional trips to Chicago and the opportunity to include him in any set that he has booked.

Herbert has released two CD's; The Todd Herbert Quartet, recorded in 1999 and produced by Freddie Hubbard + Mantis Evar, contains all original compositions. His follow up, a self-titled release, was issued in 2003 and features a number of long time jazz favorites ranging from Dig to Summertime to The Lamp is Low.

“Todd's a beautiful young cat”, says legendary tenor sax man, Von Freeman. “It's hard to find your own way, to come up with your sounds”, say the 83 year old jazzman---“Todd's on his way, he's paid his dues,” Freeman adds.

Others weigh in:

Chicago Reader jazz critic, Neil Tesser : “Herbert can part the waters of an arrangement with energetic technique and tireless drive. But he also has a reserved tone that honors the cool school of the '50s as much as the mainstream of the '80s, and in combination with his flying fingers, it produces a gentle creative tension in his playing.”

Philadelphia music critic, John Russo : “Todd Herbert totally captivated me with his 'Train' like style.” (After Herbert's performance with Tom Harrell.)

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238
Album Review

Todd Herbert: The Path to Infinity

Read "The Path to Infinity" reviewed by Christopher Shoe


If there is one thing done right on this album, it is the entourage of musicians that join tenor saxophonist Todd Herbert: pianists George Colligan and David Hazeltine, bassists Dwayne Burno and John Webber and drummers Darrin Becket and Joe Farnsworth. Herbert's two groups add an irreplaceable touch to the album. Their distinct personal talent and sensible musicality make Herbert shine. The Path to Infinity has an abundance of titles that lean towards the idea of the ...

170
Album Review

Todd Herbert: The Path to Infinity

Read "The Path to Infinity" reviewed by Jerry D'Souza


Tenor saxophonist Todd Herbert got his first big break with the Charles Earland Quartet. He was also a member of the Chicago Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra. He moved to New York in 1997, played with Tom Harrell and Jimmy Cobb, and led his own groups. It was a stint with Freddie Hubbard that led to this CD. Hubbard called Stan Chovnick, the president of Metropolitan Records and asked him to listen to Herbert's music.

Herbert has enough ideas up his horn ...

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201

Performance / Tour

Metropolitan Records CD Release Celebration at the Iridium Linda Presgrave Quartet 8PM & Todd Herbert Quartet 10PM

Metropolitan Records CD Release Celebration at the Iridium  Linda Presgrave Quartet 8PM & Todd Herbert Quartet 10PM

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

July 12 Metropolitan Records CD Release Celebration 8:O0PM - The Linda Presgrave Quartet Linda Presgrave - piano, Wei-Sheng Lin - bass, Seiji Ochiai - drums, Stan Chovnick - soprano sax 10:00PM - The Todd Herbert Quartet Todd Herbert - tenor sax, Jeremy Manasia - piano, Joel Forbes - bass, Jason Brown - drums At The IRIDIUM JAZZ CLUB 1650 BROADWAY (Corner of 51st) NEW YORK, NY 10023 RESERVATIONS: ...

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Naptown Legacy

Rubin Museum of Art
2013

buy

The Tree of Life

Metropolitan Records
2008

buy

The Path To Infinity

Metropolitan Records
2007

buy

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