Saul Rubin Zebtet

Saul is a consummate musician, a person who is aware of the feelings of others and a person who is gentle in that sense. He is everything I could ask for in a band mate.” Sonny Rollins "Saul has it all together and is a positive force in the world of the guitar. He plays hip melodies, which he’s totally in touch with when improvising. His harmonies, both with his impeccable comping and chord soloing, employ refreshing voicings, and certainly keep the listener involved." Gene Bertoncini A mainstay on the New York jazz scene, Saul Rubin graduated from the Hartt School of Music, where he majored in composition and studied jazz with the legendary saxophonist Jackie McLean and saxophonist/arranger Paul Jeffrey, before moving back home to New York. Since then his soulful and virtuosic playing has been heard alongside some of the world's greatest jazz musicians, including Sonny Rollins (touring Europe and the US), Roy Hargrove (he arranged for the Roy Hargrove Big Band album Emergence (Verve, 2009), and has toured extensively with them throughout Europe, Canada, Japan and the US), Renee Fleming, John Hicks, Victor Lewis, Bob Cranshaw, Sammy Figueroa, Johnny O'Neal, Hank Jones, Frank Wess, Cameron Brown, Candido, Winard Harper, Larry Willis, Sue Terry, Essiet Essiet, Willie Jones III, Eric Revis, James Hurt, Gerald Cannon, Sherman Irby, Lew Soloff, Jonathan Batiste, Roberta Gambarini, and many more. In 2009, Saul opened Zeb’s in a New York loft in Chelsea, a performance and production space where countless artists have since performed and recorded. In 2010 he began curating a successful weekly jazz vocal series (hosting and accompanying such luminaries as Gregory Porter, Roseanna Vitro, Nancy Harms, Bob Dorough, Johnny O’Neal, Tessa Souter and Brianna Thomas). For three years he has produced the NYC Jazz Guitar Festival, showcasing some of the world’s best jazz guitarists, including Bucky Pizzarelli, Gene Bertoncini, Peter Bernstein and Paul Bollenback. He has performed at the Blue Note (Tokyo and New York), the Jazz Standard, Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, Fat Cat, Smalls, Mezzrow, the Hollywood Bowl, and concert halls all over the world, including London, Vienna, Geneva, Barcelona and Prague. As well as recording for other artists, he has released two albums as a leader, The Saul Rubin Quartet (2004), featuring John Hicks, Gerald Cannon and Montez Coleman, and Saul Rubin: The Zebtet (Red Records, 2015), featuring Stacy Dillard, JohnnyO'Neal and Fabio Morgera. www.saulrubin.com Bassist, composer, educator and producer Danton Boller has been residing in New York City since the late 90s. He was mentored in Los Angeles by legendary bassist “Senator” Eugene J. Wright of the Dave Brubeck Quartet. He has toured internationally and recorded with top jazz artists of his generation as a member of the Roy Hargrove Quintet, Seamus Blake Quartet, Anthony Wilson Nonet and Ari Hoenig's “Punk Bop.” Danton’s versatility and appreciation for all genres of music has propelled him to the stage and studio with an eclectic array of influential artists: Alvin Queen, Bridget Everett, Justin Robinson, Run the Jewels, Ernie Andrews, Elvis Costello, Elysian Fields, Taylor Mac, Fela! on Broadway featuring Patti Labelle, Taran Killam, Bennie Wallace, Seun Kuti, Robert Glasper, and Jon Fishman (of Phish), to name a few. Currently, Danton can be seen performing in the HBO documentary film Taylor Mac’s 24-Decade History of Popular Music, and is seen perfroming in the film Can You Ever Forgive Me? (starring Melissa McCarthy) performing with Justin Vivian Bond. Danton music directed and performed on Austin City Limits with Kat Edmonson and co-produced Edmonson’s highly lauded release on Sony records, Way Down Low, with Al Schmidt (Frank Sinatra, Paul McCartney, Henry Mancini, etc.). Danton’s 2023 release Space (released on the ONBO Records label) showcases his original compositions and features fellow Roy Hargrove alumni Justin Robinson, Willie Jones III, and Tadataka Unno. Danton is currently the adjunct professor of Applied Jazz Bass at Western Connecticut State University and teaches private lessons in NYC. For more information visit dantonboller.com or email [email protected]. Saxophonist Mike Lee Mike Lees musical career has taken him many places musically and around the world. From the mid to late 80s he resided in Brooklyn, New York where developed his musical concepts with many associates and mentors. This period of creative inspiration was high-lighted by his lessons with Joe Lovano and his musical collaborations with his then roommate, Dave Douglas. Inspired by the wealth of information these associations gave him, he returned to Cleveland to assimilate this material. This was a productive time musically. Along with constant practicing this period was punctuated by gigs with Marcus Belgrave, Bobby Watson, Geri Allen, Joe Lovano, Rosemary Clooney, Marlon Jordan, Johnny Coles and touring as a member of the Woody Hermans Thundering Herd. In 1993 Lee resumed residency in New York City and flourished on the the jazz scene playing on numerous occasions with The Village Vanguard Orchestra (Formerly The Thad Jones/ Mel Lewis Orchestra) the Maria Schneider Orchestra (with whom he was featured in Marias CNN profile) and the Bill Mobley Big Band with which he performed and recorded along side acclaimed pianists James Williams, Harold Mabern and Mulgrew Miller. He has appeared around town with small groups which include New York musicians such as guitarists John Hart and Ron Affif, bassist Ron McClure, and drummer Elliot Zigmund. Two of Mikes compositions were selected among the top five in the 1997 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz and BMI International Jazz Composers Competition. He was a member of Joe Lovanos Celebrating Sinatra touring ensemble. His critically acclaimed CD, Above the Battleground, Consolidated Artists Productions (CAP), featuring Tim Hagans on trumpet, Tim Horner on drums, Matt Ray on piano and Ben Allison on bass was released in 1998. My Backyard (Omnitone) released in 2000. Both albums received very high praise from trade publications. Beginning in the late 90s, Mike became a very in demand Jazz Educator and guest soloist. He has toured the United States and Europe since then, performing with local rhythm sections and presenting clinics at over 100 universities and schools. Mike Lee has been a part of the greater New York Jazz Scene for almost 30 years. Since his early associations with Dave Douglas and Joe Lovano in the 80's, through his stint with the Woody Herman Orchestra and regular gigs with The Village Vanguard Orchestra and Maria Schneider Orchestra in the 90's to his current associations with Oliver Lake's ensembles, Wallace Roney Orchestra, and Michele Rosewoman's New Yor-Uba, Lee has a proven track record as a versatile soloist and a consummate ensemble musician. As a leader, he fronted the renowned Cecil's Big Band for six years and co-leads the ground breaking quartet, New Tricks. He performs with his trios regularly at his weekly Hat City Kitchen Jam Session as well as Trumpet's Jazz Club and other area venues. Weblinks: www.mikeleejazz.com In demand drummer, Jason Brown, has been a driving force behind major artists since the early days of his career. A graduate of Oberlin Conservatory, Ohio; Brown learned his trade under the tutelage of Billy Hart.For seven years he toured and recorded with Grammy nominated vocalist & composer, Carmen Lundy; with Pat Martino he appeared at major festivals worldwide, such as Jarasum International Jazz Festival and Rochester Jazz Festival. He has also worked with renowned artists such as Lizz Wright, Cedar Walton, Nicholas Payton, Wayne Escoffery and Kurt Rosenwinkel. Now a key member of Amina Figarova’s Sextet, Jason Brown has performed at the Joy of Jazz Festival in Johannesburg and major venues throughout Europe and the USA. As a leader, Brown has been a featured artist with the Jazz Philharmonic Orchestra of St Petersburg on several occasions and taken his quintet, featuring saxophonist Steve Grossman, to the White Knight’s Festival in Russia. He has also led his own bands at Smalls Jazz Club and various other venues in New York and throughout the USA, Russia and Ukraine.