About this user
Saxophonist and composer Chris Greene was born in Evanston, IL and began his musical journey via his parents record collection, which included the soul and funk of the 1970s, the Motown and Stax sounds of the 1960s and the forward-thinking jazz of the 1950s.
He began playing saxophone at 10, and he eventually spent his formative years in the award-winning Evanston High School Wind and Jazz Ensembles. Around this same time, he began to play professionally with many local pop/rock and jazz bands.
In 1991, Greene went to Bloomington, IN to attend the prestigious Indiana University Jazz Studies program, which was created and administered by renowned professor and cellist David Baker. While in Bloomington, he studied saxophone performance, jazz arranging, composition, history and improvisation. Greene quickly made his mark within the ranks of the music departments; he rapidly developed his individual style by studying the recorded works of the masters (Davis, Parker, Ellington, Coltrane, etc.) and becoming lead alto saxophone in the IU concert and lab jazz bands.
Greene left the Indiana college town in 1994 and returned to Chicago. He immersed himself in the regional music scene and has since collaborated with some of the nations most creative and versatile musicians. A musical chameleon, Greene can be seen with the soul/deep house musical collective Mr. A. L. I., hip-hop band, The J Davis Trio, and his own critically acclaimed group, the Chris Greene Quartet. He has also backed up major artists such as Otis Williams and the Temptations and hip hop icon Common.
Selected discography (as a leader):
1998 - "On the Verge" - Chris Greene and New Perspective
2004 - "jazz" - Chris Greene and New Perspective
2007 - "Soul and Science - Volume One" - Chris Greene Quartet
2008 - "Soul and Science 2 - Electric Boogaloo" - Chris Greene Quartet
2009 - "Merge" - Chris Greene Quartet
"...dynamo...threads each tune with high-octane uplift." - JazzTimes
"Greene has some set of chops. Keep an eye on this kid." Marc Myers, Jazzwax.com
[Greene] brings to the table new interpretations with a wholesome willingness to explore and redefine the past. Chris K., Gods of Music
"...amazing young talent Chris Greene has sold me on his ability and his drive to be one of the best of all time. Hell, you can hear him learning with each note. Chris Gaige, Gods of Music.
Age
38
Hometown
Evanston, IL
Country
United States
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