Welcome to Philadelphia Jazz Project
Tenor Madness - Jazz Walk Mixtape
Mar 18, 2018
In September of 2016, Philadelphia Jazz Project [PJP] and a group of collaborators presented nine days of free events celebrating the 90th birthday of the legendary Philadelphia Jazz artist, John Coltrane. It was called, Coltrane At 90: Philadelphia Celebrates John Coltrane: A nine day celebration of John Coltrane. Among the many events that took place, the Tenor Madness ensemble performing in Fairmount Park directly across the street from the John Coltrane House, was one of the most amazing performances of the celebration.
Download the Tenor Madness - Jazz Walk Mixtape Below.
Tenor Madness is a musical ensemble formed through the instigation of the Philadelphia Jazz Project for a Pop Up Concert at the Reading Terminal Market back in 2014. Since then, the ensemble has performed several times including at Frosty II at The Irvine Auditorium in 2015 and at the Philadelphia Clef Club as part of Celebrating Coltrane 2017.
The group has been led by veteran saxophonist and bandleader, Sam Reed and has featured a who’s who of Philadelphia area saxophonists, including Charles Cunningham, Tim Price, Elliott Levin, Carl Grubbs, Terry Lawson, Korey Riker, Yesseh Ali, Michael Pedicin, Larry McKenna, Josh Lee, Dylan Band, Gilberto Cruz, Pete Chavez and Julian Pressley. The name Tenor Madness is a tribute to the 1956 Sonny Rollins recording of the same name, that is most notable as being the only known recording featuring both saxophone giants, Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane.
On Saturday afternoon, September 17, 2016, at East Park Reservoir in Fairmount Park, the gentlemen of Tenor Madness came together to honor John Coltrane as part of during an all day, outdoor celebration called, The Jazz Walk - Giant Steps. The group consisted of saxophonists, Sam Reed, Larry McKenna, Julian Pressley, Tim Price, Pete Chavez, Gilberto Cruz and Charles Cunningham (89 year old friend of John Coltrane's), as well as bassist, Kenny Davis and drummer Jeff Johnson.
PJP is proud to share the music created by these gentlemen that afternoon in the mixtape, Tenor Madness | Jazz Walk.
The compositions are as follows:
1. Blue Train
2. Equinox
3. Tenor Madness
Tenor Madness Ensemble
Sam Reed - tenor sax [music director]
Larry McKenna - tenor sax [arranger]
Charlie Cunningham - tenor sax
Pete Chavez - tenor sax
Tim Price - tenor sax
Julian Pressley - alto sax
Gilbert Cruz - baritone sax
Kenny Davis - bass
Jeff Johnson - drums
Recorded by Chip Powell
All songs written by John Coltrane
If you have unfortunately, missed our concerts, or don't live any where near us, our mixtapes give you a chance to experience the great performances that hundreds of other people have witnessed. Probably, the most important thing is that the price of this music is absolutley FREE!!! So, check it out and pass the word to friends and family who are music lovers as well.
Downloading: To download, click the download links below, when page with audio appears, let it download to your browser and then go to File/Save Page As... Be sure to save file as mp3.
TENOR MADNESS - JAZZ WALK
Released March 2018
Music composed by John Coltrane, performed by Sam Reed, Larry McKenna, Pete Chavez, Tim Price, Julian Pressley, Charles Cunningham, and Gilbert Cruz.
Duration: 40 minutes
File Size: 58 MB
You can also download PJP Mixtapes at:
THE SAXOPHONISTS:
Pete Chavez is a Philadelphia-based saxophonist with deep west coast roots. Over his long career, Chavez has worked with many legendary artists including Woody Forrest, Jackie Wilson, Jackie “Moms” Mabley, “Big” John Patton, John Scofield, Archie Shepp, Jaco Pastorius and Woody Shaw. Since his arrival in Philly, Chavez has performed with local legends, Bootsie Barnes, Mickey Roker, Shirley Scott, Norman Connors and many more.
Gilberto Cruz is a baritone saxophonist from South Jersey. He attended Camden High School and studied Biology at Rutgers University in Camden, NJ. Cruz has performed as a sxophonist with numerous bands and bandleaders in the Philadelphia area for over 25 years.
Charles Cunningham is a life long, Philadelphia tenor saxophonist. He was once an executive member of Philadelphia Local #274, "The Black Musicians Union" and the first Black elected official of Philadelphia Local #77: "The White Musicians Union." During his career, Cunningham served as a bandleader to the youthful, Lee Morgan, Reggie Workman and McCoy Tyner. Charles Cunningham was also a very close friend of legendary saxophonist, John Coltrane.
Larry McKenna is a veteran, Philadelphia saxophonist, arranger and educator. He has taught at UArts, Temple University, West Chester University and Widener University. He has also performed with Woody Herman, Clark Terry, Buddy DeFranco, Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra. McKenna's arrangements have been performed on “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson and in the Nicholas Cage movie “Birdy,” in which Larry McKenna played and appeared.
Julian Pressley is an alto saxophonist, born in Philadelphia who lives in North Jersey. During his career, he's worked with Edgar Bateman, Lionel Hampton, Aretha Franklin, Freddie Hubbard, The Four Tops, Panama Francis' Savoy Sultans, The Temptations, Odean Pope's Saxophone Choir, Warriors of the Wonderful Sound and is currently a member of the JC Hopkins Biggish Band.
Tim Priceis a saxophonist and educator Reading, PA. He teaches saxophone at the New School in NYC and is a Selmer Sax clinician. During his career, Tim Price has performed with Bennie Green, Lew Tabackin, Don Patterson, Major Holly, Jack McDuff, Cecil Payne, Richie Cole, Charlie Watts from the Rolling Stones, Gary Burton, Dr. John, Phil Woods, Shirly Scott, Trudy Pitts, Sonny Stitt and John LaPorta. Tim Price performs and conducts music clinics around the globe.
Saxophonist Sam Reed has been a leading member of the Philadelphia jazz and music scene for over 60 years. Inspired to play music through his friendship with Albert "Tootie" Heath, the youngest of the legendary, Heath Brothers, Mr Reed has played a role in The Uptown Theater years and The Sound of Philadelphia years. Sam Reed has worked with Odean Pope, Teddy Pendergrass and led his own ensembles.
Check Out Tenor Madness At The Reading Terminal Market
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Thanks to all of our collaborators and partners, Thanks to the venues and their staff, as well as our sound technicians, photographers and video teams. Major shout outs to PJP Staff: Melissa Talley-Palmer, Julia Lopez, Lynn Washington, Stephanie Seiple, Antoine Haywood, J. Michael Harrison, Eric Battle, James Solomon, and Karen Smith for fully and wholeheartedly engaging in this intense journey with me. Thanks to our many volunteers and other workers who put in some serious sweat and hours as well.
Special Thanks: Kathryn Ott Lovell - Commissioner: Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Ellen Ryan of The Fairmount Park Conservancy, Gretjen Clausing - Executive Director of PhillyCAM, Kelly Lee - Chief Cultural Officer: Philadelphia Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Chip Powell, Steve Rowland, Karen Smith and Bill Johnson of WRTI.
Tenor Madness-Jazz Walk was recorded live at East Fairmount Park in September 2016 and edited at Lynasha Studios. This mixtape is a production of The Philadelphia Jazz Project; which is a sponsored project of CultureTrust Greater Philadelphia, with funding provided by The Philadelphia Foundation.
