Will Vinson & Bryn Roberts Quartet 1

ABOUT WILL VINSON:

Originally from London, Alto Saxophonist/Composer Will Vinson moved to New York City in 1999 and has remained there ever since. Since his arrival, he has appeared and/or recorded with Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Ari Hoenig, Marcus Gilmore, Chris Potter, Kurt Elling, Lage Lund, Aaron Parks, and many others.

Will is a member of a number of leading ensembles, including pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba’s Quartet (he appears on Charlie and the Grammy-nominated Caminos), Ari Hoenig’s Punk Bop and Nonet (Will appears on Inversations, Bert’s Playground and Live at Smalls), Miguel Zenon’s Identities Orchestra (Grammy-nominated for Identities are Changeable), and his own groups featuring, among others, Lage Lund, Jeff Ballard, Aaron Parks, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Shai Maestro and Mike Moreno.

Will has an international reputation as a leader and sideman. All About Jazz New York describes Will as playing “with a relentless force”. Thomas Michelsen of Denmark’s Politiken, hails this “very exciting saxophonist” with a “beautiful, softly modulating tone”, and John Fordham of The Guardian described a "superb solo of rugged leathery sounds turning into mellifluous high notes” with “secure control and storming energy". Time Out London calls will an "exciting young altoist with a lethal approach to writing and soloing”.

Will has released 7 CD’s as a leader/composer. The 6th, Perfectly Out of Place (5Passion, 2016, and featuring Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Mike Moreno, Matt Penman, Jeff Ballard and Jo Lawry) was described as “a marvel of compositional design” by All About Jazz, and led Jazzwise to hail “Vinson’s ability to cut through to the emotional heart of a song”. Downbeat described a collection of tunes that “challenge the notion of how jazz is defined in this era.” Will's most recent CD is It's Alright With Three on Criss Cross Jazz, featuring Gilad Hekselman and Antonio Sanchez. Will's saxophone playing is executed with incredible power and dramatic sensitivity, and is characterized by his imposing sound and technique; influenced by saxophonists from Cannonball to Chris Potter, he nevertheless brings his own unique approach to every performance.

ABOUT BRYN ROBERTS:

Bryn Roberts is pianist, keyboardist and composer who is in demand in a wide variety of musical contexts.

He has performed, toured and recorded extensively both as a leader and sideman, and is a mainstay at NYC jazz clubs like Smalls, Mezzrow, The Jazz Gallery, the 55 bar and Dizzy's. An acclaimed composer and bandleader, Roberts has four albums out featuring his own music: his debut “Present Tense”, “Ludlow” (featuring Seamus Blake, Drew Gress and Mark Ferber), “Fables” (featuring Seamus Blake, Orlando le Fleming and Johnathan Blake) and his most recent release, a duo album with guitarist Lage Lund called “Nightsong”.

Roberts has toured widely with his own groups including festival, radio and club appearances across the USA, Canada, the UK, Spain and Japan with some of New York’s finest musicians: Matt Penman, Jochen Rueckert, Rodney Green, Joe Martin, Jaleel Shaw, Johnathan Blake, Mark Ferber, Will Vinson and Seamus Blake.

Roberts is an original member of the Nonet led by Grammy nominee Alan Ferber, and has recorded with the group for a series of critically-acclaimed releases: “Scenes from an Exit Row”, “The Compass”, “Chamber Songs” and “Roots and Transitions”. He also plays frequently with saxophonist Jon Gordon's Quartet, and bassist Chuck Israels.

In addition to his work in jazz and improvised music, Roberts has played and toured with many artists in the singer-songwriter world, including Grammy award winners Rosanne Cash, John Leventhal, Shawn Colvin, Stax records legend William Bell, and Dar Williams.