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Greg Tardy
“Music is an expression of the soul and I always try to speak through my horn,” says Gregory Tardy. “I once heard an older musician say ‘it is better to be felt than to be heard’. I never forgot that. That is my approach to playing any style of music.”
Born into a musical family, Gregory Tardy began his musical career studying classical clarinet. In high school, Gregory excelled in music, winning many awards and scholarships offers. While studying with renowned clarinetists Russell Dagon and Jack Snavely, Tardy began preparing for a symphony career. Over time, he began to be asked to play saxophone, to fill in missing gaps in various ensembles. Although he never practiced the saxophone seriously, Tardy began getting calls to play local funk gigs in the Milwaukee area. At the prodding of his older brother, Tardy finally listened to the duo recording of John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk playing “Monk’s Mood”, and then immediately determined to be a jazz musician.
His passion for the saxophone took over his studies and soon his clarinet was gathering dust. At this time, he moved to St. Louis and after a year of performing on the jazz and blues scene, he decided to move back to his birthplace, New Orleans, in order to focus his jazz studies even further. “This proved to be great move”, Tardy says. “ There were all of these outstanding players down there-many of which went on to be well known, like Nicholas Payton, Brian Blade, Victor Goines, Mark Turner, Delfeayo and Jason Marsalis and far too many others to mention. Many, like I, came to study with Ellis Marsalis; some were just hanging out. It was there that I really started to get my playing together.” While in New Orleans, Tardy also played with some of the local brass bands, did some gigging with the Neville Brothers, Allen Toussaint, and groups of all styles. But he never stopped pursuing jazz.
In 1992, Tardy recorded his first solo project, Crazy Love. 1992 is also the year that he was picked up by Elvin Jones Jazz Machine, a relationship that lasted several years. During the time with the legendary Elvin Jones, Tardy felt that it was finally time to move to the Big Apple. In New York, he went on to perform and record with an extremely large array of prominent artists including: Tom Harrell, Dave Douglas, Wynton Marsalis, Jay McShann, Steve Coleman, Betty Carter, James Moody, Bill Frisell, Rashied Ali, John Patitucci, and many more. In 1999, Tardy began to play in various bands led by the great Andrew Hill; a relationship that lasted many years and produced several highly acclaimed recordings. He has also performed and/or recorded alongside many other notable saxophonists, such as Joe Lovano, Mark Turner, Chris Potter, Dewey Redman, Ravi Coltrane, and many others. In more recent years, Tardy has gone full circle, bringing his clarinet out of retirement, using it on recordings by Tom Harrell, Ohad Talmor/Steve Swallow, Stefon Harris, Chris Potter, and Andrew Hill.
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Andrew Hill Sextet Plus 10: A Beautiful Day, Revisited
by Alberto Bazzurro
Registrato dal vivo al Birdland dal 24 al 26 gennaio 2002, il materiale di questo doppio CD (nonché doppio vinile) raggiunge oggi i quasi 83 minuti di durata, aggiungendo, rispetto all'edizione originaria uscita pochi mesi dopo il concerto, un'alternate take inedita del brano che intitola l'album e una versione ampliata di 11/8," riposizionando nel contempo i nove brani complessivi in quanto a ordine di apparizione." Ne vien fuori un'opera che possiamo tranquillamente definire monumentale, anche proprio per la ...
Continue ReadingAndrew Hill Sextet Plus Ten: A Beautiful Day, Revisited
by Dan McClenaghan
The heyday of pianist Andrew Hill (1931-2007) happened during his hang with Blue Note Records, where he released ten albums between 1963 and 1970, including 1964's Black Fire, a splendid quartet session featuring saxophonist Joe Henderson; 1964's Point Of Departure), that featured a freewheeling sextet that included Henderson, multiple reedist Eric Dolphy and trumpeter Kenny Dorham; to Passing Ships (1969), with an exuberant multi-horn group that included trumpeter Woody Shaw, trombonist Julian Priester and flutist Joe Farrell. For those with ...
Continue ReadingMargherita Fava: Tatatu
by Neri Pollastri
Ventottenne veneta di formazione classica, la pianista Margherita Fava è stata fulminata dal jazz nel 2013, quasi per caso, e da allora ha coltivato la sua formazione in quella direzione, trasferendosi negli U.S.A. prima con una borsa di studio, poi stabilmente, insegnando. Ed è negli Stati Uniti, nell'Ohio, che ha registrato questo suo primo disco, prodotto dal bassista Rodney Whitaker, poi missato a New York ed edito in Italia da Caligola. I tre quarti d'ora di musica di ...
Continue ReadingMargherita Fava: Tatatu
by Hrayr Attarian
Italian pianist Margherita Fava comes across as a mature composer and a sensitive performer on her captivating debut Tatatu. Based in Knoxville Tennessee, USA, Fava is a consummate musician and educator whose unique set of talents is on full display here as she leads a quartet on two covers and six of her poetic originals. For instance, her Tidal Waves" has a mystical atmosphere. Over the rhythm trio's percolating refrains saxophonist Greg Tardy lets loose a lyrical melody ...
Continue ReadingGreg Tardy, Sammy Nestico & Elvin Jones
by Joe Dimino
From modern day saxophonist Greg Tardy, we swing into the 685th Episode of Neon Jazz. This show features a host of songs from artists who released music during 2020. We also talked to quite a few musicians during that pandemic year for their wisdom and insights into survival during an era of no live music. They include David Sills, Sara Caswell and Michelle Lordi. Finally, we say farewell to prolific composer Sammy Nestico. Playlist Greg Tardy I Swing ...
Continue ReadingFerenc Nemeth: Freedom
by Friedrich Kunzmann
Like a playground for improvisation, Hungarian drummer Ferenc Nemeth's newest recording abounds with joy and, in accord with the album title, a strong sense of Freedom. Not only does Freedom continue the bassless concept of his 2012 release Triumph (Dreamers Collective), but the New York-based percussionist allows himself to tap his intuition, often leading to simpler structures and minimal harmonic progressions. It is in such melodically generous frames that Nemeth--accompanied by his compatriot Tzumo Arpad on keys and Gregory Tardy ...
Continue ReadingElio Villafranca: Cinque
by Maurizio Zerbo
Questo doppio CD è dedicato alla memoria di Joseph Cinque, che nel 1839 capeggiò la rivolta degli schiavi africani imbarcati sulla nave Amistad con destinazione Cuba e le sue piantagioni di zucchero. È un progetto ambizioso sulla diaspora africana in cui la narrazione vocale delle vicende storiche ben si combina ad un sontuoso apparato musicale, articolato in una suite di cinque movimenti. A fare da trait d'union, l'ancestrale retroterra ritmico della regione congolese, su cui vengono di volta in volta ...
Continue ReadingElio Villafranca's "Cinque" Features Wynton Marsalis, Lewis Nash, Vincent Herring, Steve Turre, Greg Tardy & Freddie Hendrix
Source:
Scott Thompson Public Relations
Cinque is a five movement suite inspired by the story of Joseph Cinque, who in 1839 led a successful revolt aboard the slave ship La Amistad, days after being sold and transported to a sugar plantation in Cuba. Elio Villafranca's most ambitious project today, showcases the cultural diversity of the five Caribbean islands of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, The Dominican Republic, and Jamaica; while simultaneously highlighting the Congolese musical heritage woven into the fabric of each of these diverse nations, ...
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Jazz this week: Christian McBride, The Soul Rebels, Greg Tardy, Grand Marquis, and more
Source:
St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
The calendar of live jazz and creative music coming up in St. Louis features several noteworthy visitors for the Memorial Day weekend, including a renowned.bassist and bandleader; a veteran saxophonist who's played with some very well-known jazz names; one of New Orleans' busiest brass bands; and more. Let's go to the highlights... Wednesday, May 24 Bassist Christian McBride opens a four-night engagement continuing through Saturday at Jazz at the Bistro. Having played the club in 2014 with his trio and ...
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Greg Tardy Coming to Portland
Source:
All About Jazz
DEPRIEST FAMILY JAZZ, a local nonprofit focused on bringing jazz to families in concert settings, is proud to present an evening with virtuoso jazz musician Greg Tardy.
Tardy is an exceptional saxophone, clarinet and flute player and has been playing and recording with the legendary Andrew Hill. He is touring in Europe with Hill's band this spring.
The concert is Saturday, May 27, 7:30p.m. at The University of Portland's Buckley Center Auditorium, at 5000 North Willamette Boulevard in North Portland. ...
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Gene Ess with Greg Tardy, Thomas Morgan, and Gene Jackson at Jazz Spot 4/23/2004
Source:
All About Jazz
Greg Tardy with Tom Harrell @ the Painted Bride in Phila - Feb 8th, 8PM
Source:
All About Jazz
Tenor saxman GREG TARDY has been hailed by New York Magazine for his: big sound, deep-seated feel for the blues, and cerebral, avant-garde chops."
Formerly of the Elvin Jones Jazz Machine with whom he toured extensively, Tardy is a trailblazing player and composer, whose latest CD, Abundance, came out on Palmetto Records in 2001.
He'll play the Painted Bride with special guest, trumpeter TOM HARRELL, on Saturday, February 8th @ 8PM. Tickets are $10 for members/ $20 nonmembers. 230 Vine ...
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“Big sound, deep seated feel for the blues, and cerebral avante-garde chops.” —New York Magazine
“Tardy already has his own voice and is on track to help write the next chapter in jazz history.” —All About Jazz
“One of the bright hopes, Tardy sounds like a seeker, absolution and salvation in every solo.” —New York Times
Bernell Jones II
saxophonePhotos
Music
A Beautiful Day
From: A Beautiful Day, RevisitedBy Greg Tardy
Evensong
From: Morning StarBy Greg Tardy
Cinque + Narration 2 (Part 1)
From: CinqueBy Greg Tardy
Cheetah
From: The TruthBy Greg Tardy