Updated: November 10, 2024
Born: July 19, 1959
Award-winning composer and performer Chris Greco has followed a path in music of discovery and accumulation. He has composed and performed a broad and diverse range of jazz music, classical chamber, and concert hall music. He draws from the music traditions of the past and the present within the worlds of jazz, non-western music, twentieth century music, American popular music, and the classical music traditions.
As a composer and multi-instrumentalist Greco's development was shaped in Los Angeles. Guided by a broad approach he explored a variety of jazz styles, groups, and changing instrumental formats; duo, trio, quartet, quintet, sextet, and large ensembles. A significant contributor to the mainstream modern/post-modern, and mixed-genre jazz culture of Los Angeles in the '80s and '90s Greco released three recording projects on gwsfourwinds records that represent his broad view and the multi-style directions he explored with jazz-based music.
Chris Greco is a professor of music at Benedictine College. He composes in cycles, maintains an active cyclical performance itinerary, and continues to pursue his broad interests that are woven within a professional life of composing, performing, teaching, research, and recording in jazz, classical, and electronic music.
Degree
- D.M.A., Performance
- M.A., Music Composition
- B.A., Music
Awards
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Composition Award 2024 | Voices 1 - for piano and electronics | Electronic Masters Vol. 10, ABLAZE Records
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UO - Music Competition 2021 Semi-Finalist Mid-City Funk Video / Jazz Chris Greco Group
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International Song Competition 2017 Semi-Finalist Jazz Composition Rains and Prayers
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ASCAP-Plus Awards 2002-2014 concert music and popular music
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9th Annual Jazz Critics Poll: 2014 - Reissue, Chris Greco, Standards Vol. 1
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International Song Competition 2014 Finalist / Honorable Mention Jazz Composition The Open Door
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Trane Of Thought 2013 CD - CMJ Top 50 Jazz Albums
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Hollywood Music in Media Awards 2013 Finalist Jazz Composition Oliver
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International Song Competition 2013 Semi-Finalist Jazz Composition Oliver
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Hollywood Music in Media Award "Best Jazz" Award 2012 Maia
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International Song Competition 2012 Semi-Finalist Jazz Composition Messages
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Hollywood Music in Media Awards 2011 Finalist Jazz Composition Merope
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International Song Competition 2011 Semi-Finalist - The Open Door
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Julius Hemphill Composition Award 2001 Finalist - The Flight Of A Bird Leaves No Trace
Gear
- Buffet Clarinets
- Powell Flutes
Artist Roster
Tags
All About Jazz Articles
Chris Greco Quartet: Trane Of Thought
by Dan Bilawsky
This record isn't an out-and-out tribute to saxophonist John Coltrane. The title--and title track--may suggest that it's all about that legendary figure, and the album-ending “Soul Eyes" serves as a secondary nod of affirmation, but saxophonist/multi-reedist Chris Greco doesn't just plant his flag on Coltrane's domain and call it a day. Sure, he delivers probing and edgy swing, hints of mysticism, and rapid runs that recall Coltrane's work, but he doesn't pattern his every move after the man.
Continue ReadingA Casual Stroll Down The Free Jazz / Avant Garde Avenue
by AAJ Staff
Since most of the readers of this column who write to me seem to be rather at home with the Swing and Be Bop or Hard Bop and Cool Jazz eras, I have been meaning to write a piece on Free Jazz and its slightly sterner-miened cousin Avant-Garde. There can be hardly a doubt that reactions will ensue rather like dormant seeds sprouting to sudden life with the first rains' This piece was inspired by Chris Greco, a ...
Continue ReadingChris Greco Trio: Pleiadian Call
by Rex Butters
A recurring topic in some jazz mainstream press these days involves the proliferation of independent labels and their potential to dull the music's quality with mediocrity. Somewhere in the argument lurks trust in infallible A&R departments with unlimited resources. Sony's not done signing people yet, but until they get around to Chris Greco, be happy he runs his own label. Pleiadian Call finds the multi-reed musician in good company with Chris Colangelo on bass and Kendall Kay on drums and ...
Continue ReadingChris Greco: Pleiadian Call
by AAJ Staff
Pleiadian Call successfully showcases the amazing versatility and the intellectual depth of multi-instrumentalist Chris Greco and his trio. He alternates masterfully between soprano, alto, and tenor saxophones, flute and clarinet with true aplomb on this recording of mind-stimulating, original modern jazz. The first number, befittingly titled “The Open Door," is an interesting, improvisationally strong piece that begins with a sedate introduction, but soon enough lets its hair down, allowing an unbridled avalanche of improvisation to break through. ...
Continue ReadingChris Greco Trio: Pleiadian Call
by Dan McClenaghan
Multiple reedman Chris Greco has put together a near suite on Pleiadian Call : loose, fluid, sometimes haunting compositions that seems to fit together like the pieces of an aural jigsaw puzzle, with a sound similar to fellow reedman Marty Ehrlich's. The trio format allows for a lot of space, and bassist Chris Colangelo and drummer Kendall Kay know when to lay out, and when to lean in. Greco's switching between the reeds--soprano, alto ...
Continue ReadingArticles Across the Web
...or were mentioned in an All About Jazz article.
- FAME Review - Standards Vol. 1
- FAME Review - Trane of Thought
- Gapplegate Review - Trane of Thought
- Birmingham Times | Musical Notes - Standards Vol. 1
- Improvijazznation Issue #148 - Standards, Vol. 1
- Jazz Improv, Vol. 4, #3 - Pleiadian Call / Music for Trio
- Midwest Record Entertainment Reviews - Trane of Thought
- Discography and Reviews Page - Europe Jazz Network
- 9th Annual Jazz Critics Poll: 2014 - Standards Vol. 1
- A New Sound From a Pro - Trane of Thought | 5 Stars
- Greco Duo Music - Los Angeles Times - Circa 1993
- Crowdfunding I
Chris Greco - Standards, Vol. 1 - 2014 CD Release
Source:
Kari-On Productions
As a saxophonist, clarinetist, and flutist Chris Greco free lanced, recorded, explored small, medium, and large group formats and was a significant contributor to the jazz culture of Los Angeles during the 80's and 90's. His Los Angeles jazz projects can be found on the gwsfourwinds records label. Standards, Vol. 1, a knockout disc played by supreme multi-instrumentalist Chris Greco together with a tight three-man backing group is a sublime slice of different facets of jazz. They range from numbers ...
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Chris Greco - Nominee - Hollywood Music In Media Awards 2013
Source:
Chris Greco
Official Nomination Hollywood Music in Media Awards 2013. Chris Greco's jazz composition “Oliver" is a nominee for the 2013 Hollywood Music in Media Awards event. “Oliver" is a simmering up-tempo line that features Greco's wide command and nuanced approach on the tenor saxophone. For the third consecutive year reed player Greco has received a HMMA jazz composition nomination. “Oliver" can be found on the release Trane Of Thought on the Gwsfourwinds label. The HMMA event takes place November 21, 2013 ...
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Chris Greco - Best Jazz "Maia" - Hollywood Music In Media Awards 2012
Source:
Chris Greco
Chris Greco received “Best Jazz" for his composition “Maia" Thursday November 15, 2012 at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards. The event, representing many categories and independent artists, was held at the classic and refurbished Fonda Theater in Hollywood, CA. “Maia" is from Greco's GWS-Fourwinds release Trane of Thought and represents one aspect of his varied work. Recorded in Los Angeles, “Maia" explores grooves and an electro-acoustic group compliment, with wide open improvisations that push and soar. Greco performs on ...
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Chris Greco - Nominee - Hollywood Music In Media Awards 2012
Source:
Chris Greco
Official Nomination Hollywood Music in Media Awards 2012. Chris Greco's jazz composition “Maia" is a nominee for the 2012 Hollywood Music in Media Awards event. This is the second consecutive year reed player Chris Greco has received a HMMA jazz composition nomination. Maia can be found on the release Trane of Thought on the independent GWS-Fourwinds label. The event takes place November 15, 2012, at The Fonda Theater, Los Angeles, CA. The event is in it's fifth year, and over ...
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Chris Greco - Nominee - Hollywood Music in Media Awards 2011
Source:
Chris Greco
Official Nomination Hollywood Music in Media Awards 2011 November 17, 2011, Hollywood, California Chris Greco Jazz “Merope" About Chris Greco Multi-instrumentalist Greco free lanced, recorded, explored small, medium, and large group formats and was a significant contributor to the jazz culture of Los Angeles during the 1980's and the 1990's. His jazz recordings from this period can be found on the independent label GWSFourwinds Records. The record logo reads “Music for the 21st Century reflecting directions in modern ...
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Kansas Jazz Collective at Benedictine College on September 29, 2010
Source:
Chris Greco
Kansas Jazz Collective September 29, 2010 7:30 pm Benedictine College—O'Malley-McAllister Auditorium 1020 N. Second Street Atchison, KS USA This is the first concert of a new jazz series to be held at Benedictine College (KS) under the direction of Chris Greco. The 2010 Kansas Jazz Collective will be comprised of Kansas City area jazz musicians and present a straight-ahead modern jazz quintet representing the music of some outstanding composer and performers of ...
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Kansas Jazz Collective
Source:
Chris Greco
This is the first concert of a new jazz series to be held at Benedictine College (KS) under the direction of Chris Greco.
The 2010 Kansas Jazz Collective will be comprised of Kansas City area jazz musicians and present a straight-ahead modern jazz quintet representing the music of some outstanding composer and performers of the past. Each KJC concert at BC will present a different view of jazz music's variegated styles.
Kansas Jazz Collective 2010 Players: Chris Greco—alto saxophone, clarinet. ...
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Kansas Jazz Collective at Benedictine College (Atchison, KS) on September 29
Source:
Chris Greco
Kansas Jazz Collective September 29, 2010 7:30 pm Benedictine College O'Malley-McAllister Auditorium 1020 N. Second Street Atchison, KS USA This is the first concert of a new jazz series to be held at Benedictine College (KS) under the direction of Chris Greco. The 2010 Kansas Jazz Collective will be comprised of Kansas City area jazz musicians and present a straight-ahead modern jazz quintet representing the music of some ...
read more
Kansas Jazz Collective - Chris Greco - March 10, 2010
Source:
Michael Ricci
Concert Date: March 10, 2010
The first concert of a new jazz concert series to be presented annually at Benedictine College (KS) under the direction of Chris Greco. The Kansas Jazz Collective will be comprised of Kansas area jazz musicians, and each year will present a different view of jazz music's variegated styles.
This year will begin the concert series with a straight-ahead modern jazz quintet representing some outstanding composer/performers of the past.
Kansas Jazz Collective Players Chris ...
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- Chris Greco-Standards, Vol. 1: "This one is definitely a winner for jazz lovers. A totally excellent jazz listen with some of the highest energy I've heard in 2014! A MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED." Improvijazzation Nation Issue 148, 10/20/2014
- "Standards, Vol. 1, y'all, is the sort of crazy, too hip, freaky, whoa-listen-to-THAT, jazz-plus material that got me so hip to Dave Liebman, Paul Motian, and other world class hipsters back when I was discovering not only ECM but also Brubeck, Miles, Weather Report, and all the rest of the cats who still have my brain jangled....Greco interprets classic jazz numbers in a way that makes you think he wrote 'em, and he grabs straight-ahead by the throat, jumps on its back and makes it dance, which is EXACTLY what ears like mine are forever athirst for." FAME Review, Mark S. Tucker, 8/15/2014.
Primary Instrument
Woodwinds
Location
Kansas City
Credentials/Background
D.M.A., Performance (UCLA)
M.A., Music Composition
B.A., Music
Contact by email for availability and rates.
Christopher J. Greco, DMA
Professor of Music
Benedictine College
1020 N. Second Street
Atchison, KS 66002
Office (913) 360-7599
E-mail: [email protected]
Courses Taught
Music theory, coordinator
Music composition, coordinator
Orchestration
Counterpoint
Seminar in Composition
Studio Woodwinds (flute, clarinet, oboe, saxophone)
Chamber music
History of Jazz (summer online)
