Sharel Cassity

New York City saxophonist, composer, arranger, bandleader, woodwindist & recording artist Sharel Cassity tours the world performing straight- ahead jazz and original music to the delight of fans and critics. Appearing in Downbeat Magazine's Critics' Poll category for “Rising Star, Alto Saxophone” from 2010- 2013, this Oklahoma City native is quickly making waves on the New York jazz scene

New York City saxophonist, composer, arranger, bandleader, woodwindist & recording artist Sharel Cassity tours the world performing straight- ahead jazz and original music to the delight of fans and critics. Appearing in Downbeat Magazine's Critics' Poll category for “Rising Star, Alto Saxophone” from 2010- 2013, this Oklahoma City native is quickly making waves on the New York jazz scene. As a leader, Cassity has enchanted Manhattan's notoriously discriminating audiences at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola, Blue Note, NBC's Rainbow Room, and the West Village bop stop Smalls. She has also delighted crowds at Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center, Winter Jazzfest, Burghausen Festival, the Lake George Jazz Festival and The Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian to name a few. Cassity's experience as a sideman ranges from the big bands of Jimmy Heath, The Dizzy Gillespie All Stars, Nicholas Payton, Roy Hargrove, Joe Chambers, Orrin Evans, Lewis Nash, Anat Cohen, Revive da Live, Diva, Natalie Cole, Trisha Yearwood and Gregorio Uribe to the small groups of Cyrus Chestnut, Dizzy Gillespie Afro Cuban Experience, Wycliffe Gordon, Harry Whitaker, Winard Harper and John Lee. Cassity was awarded a full scholarship to Juilliard in 2005 after attending the New School (BA) and graduated with her MA in Jazz Studies. Also a talented woodwind specialist, Cassity is often called to perform on flute, alto flute, piccolo , clarinet and bass clarinet as well as soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones when necessary. Her craftsmanship has secured her concerts all over the world, including the Playboy Jazz Festival, Costa Rica Jazz Festival, Hanover Jazz Festival, Concord/Fujitsu Jazz Festival, Avery Fischer Hall, Merkin Concert Hall and Lincoln Center. Her recent release, “Relentless” (Jazz Legacy Productions) received a four star review in Downbeat Magazine, is available on itunes and distributed internationally by Allegro. Sharel has had the honor of being inducted into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame and has won numerous awards and commissions as a composer. Aside from touring with her band and as a sideman, Sharel is working on her upcoming release on the Venus Japan label.

Awards

2010-2013 Rising Star Alto Saxophone—Downbeat Critics Poll
2012 Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, Legacy Tribute Award
2008 Ravinia Steans Institute Residency
2007 ASCAP Young Jazz Composer's Award
2007 Downbeat Student Music Award, Composition
2007 Downbeat Student Music Award, Jazz Combo
2006 Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Residency
2006 IAJE Sisters in Jazz

Gear

Sharel is a Vandoren performing artist and plays Vandoren reeds, mouthpieces and ligatures exclusively. Sharel endorses R.S. Berkeley Virtuoso saxophones.