Jeffrey "Saxophone Tall" Newton

I started playing Hammond organ in 1969 and saxophone in 1973. I practiced 15 hours a day in music school (DePauw University, Oakland University, Michigan State University), where I studied Jazz and Classical saxophone and composition, and minored in piano. I have studied and performed with some of Motown’s famous “Funk Brothers.” I have perfect pitch. I performed with Dave Brubeck at the Detroit Jazz Festival, Branford Marsalis at The Whiting Auditorium and The Temptations at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. I have played thousands of gigs of every type imaginable in my native Detroit, both as leader and sideman. I have written many original Jazz compositions and arrangements. Some of the Jazz world’s most luminary musicians have praised my saxophone playing, including Chick Corea, Dizzy Gillespie, Ravi Coltrane, Ron Carter, Billy Cobham, Steve Gadd and David Sanborn. I “cut” (played better than, according to the audience) the great James Carter (twice). I live in LA and am assembling a cutting-edge band to perform at The Baked Potato, Catalina Jazz Club, the Blue Whale, large venues and festivals, such as Monterey. I have applied to perform at the Newport Jazz Festival. I have some exciting live performances coming up in the near future as a special guest of recent Grammy® winner David Longoria, including Radio City Music Hall and Times Square in New York City. I am a cutting-edge, forward-thinking Jazz saxophonist and I push the boundaries of Jazz with aplomb.