Home » Jazz Musicians » Zachary Lipton

Zachary Lipton

Born in New Rochelle, New York, Zachary Lipton began playing the saxophone at eight. He was selected as a high school senior to the first NY Youth Symphony Jazz Orchestra, performing with Slide Hampton and Jimmy Heath. Seeking both a rigorous academic experience and New York City’s myriad musical opportunities, Zachary earned his undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Economics at Columbia University. He also continued his musical education under Steve Wilson, Bill McHenry and Branford Marsalis, who praised, “Zack’s [rare] dedication to often overlooked elements of musicianship…. I am impressed with his innate sense of curiosity and meticulous attention to detail.”

While a senior at Columbia, he recorded a collection of original compositions on an album entitled First Steps, which was praised in a review on All About Jazz as “an engaging introduction, musically genuine and well-conceived.” The same reviewer noted, “Lipton's improvisational approach echoes the swiftness of 1960s-era Wayne Shorter (Flight) and the gracefulness of Dexter Gordon (March 1st, Waltz for Maya).”

Zachary has performed at venues throughout the city, including Smoke, the Knitting Factory, Columbia University, and the Underground Lounge and has toured Western France in La Rochelle, Ile De Re, and Châtelaillon. Zachary received strong press in France, with Sud Ouest calling him a “musical prodigy” and “one of the main attractions” of the New Orleans Jazz Festival. Zachary has also done clinics and performances at high schools and universities including Clark University and New Rochelle High School.

Drawing on his interest in computer science and new media, Zachary has explored the ways in which the Internet can create new modes of interaction between the artist and the audience. Transcending the use of the Internet as an interactive marketing tool for conventional media, he believes in breaking free from the product cycle of the CD, using his website, www.zacharylipton.com, to continually publish music, video, essays, and sheet music, while also exploring the artistic process through essays and visual media. Zachary can also be found online at http://facebook.com/zacharychaselipton, http://twitter.com/zacharylipton, and http://youtube.com/user/zacharylipton.

Gear

Rigotti Gold Reeds. Selmer Balanced Action Tenor, Selmer Mark VI Alto, Selmer Series III Soprano.


Tags

"Lipton's improvisational approach echoes the swiftness of 1960s-era Wayne Shorter (Flight) and the gracefulness of Dexter Gordon (March 1st, Waltz for Maya). The disc's ten tracks, all composed by Lipton, traverse a diverse array of tempos and grooves, with an underlying propensity to swing. Lipton's compositional skills shine bright on the opening track Shtuyot, the ballad, March 1st, and The Hodge Positionary, a frenzied romp with angular proportions. ... A gifted saxophonist and composer, Lipton has the potential to develop into an original voice on the jazz scene. First Steps is an engaging introduction, musically genuine and well-conceived."

Read more

Primary Instrument

Saxophone, soprano

Videos

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.