Jimmy Greene Quintet Debuts at The Village Vanguard 07/19 - 07/24

“Greene is without doubt one of the most striking young tenors of recent years..."
- Tony Hall, Jazzwise Magazine

“Greene is increasingly impressive in his construction of melodic lines that have the intimate quality of good speech..."
- Doug Ramsey, JazzTimes

Saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Jimmy Greene has emerged as a positive young presence in the creative music world. His solo recordings, Forever (Criss Cross), Brand New World (RCA Victor) and Introducing Jimmy Greene (Criss Cross) have been met with much critical acclaim. In fact, Tony Hall of Jazzwise Magazine calls Greene “. . .without doubt one of the most striking young tenors of recent years." Hall states that Forever is “. . .a peaceful but powerful record, and thoroughly enjoyable."

As a composer, Greene has received several recent honors. He won the prestigious 2005 ASCAP / IAJE Commission in honor of Ornette Coleman. The resulting composition will be premiered by Jimmy's quartet at the 2006 IAJE Conference in New York. In addition, Greene was named a 2004 Winner of Chamber Music America's New Works: Creation and Presentation grant for jazz composition, and awarded a 2005 Artist Fellowship in Music Composition by the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism. Over 30 of Greene's original compositions and arrangements have been recorded on the RCA Victor and Criss Cross labels.

In addition to his recordings and appearances as a leader, Greene appears on over 45 albums as a sideman, and has performed and/or recorded in the bands of Horace Silver, Tom Harrell, Harry Connick, Jr., Freddie Hubbard, Kenny Barron, Lewis Nash, Avishai Cohen, Jason Lindner, and the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band. As a member of Harrell's quintet, Greene appeared on CBS' 60 Minutes in 2002. As a member of Harry Connick Jr.'s Big Band, Greene is a featured soloist on 2 DVDs, Harry for the Holidays, and Only You. He was featured as a soloist on Connick's 2003 holiday special aired on NBC, in addition to NBC's Today Show, and BBC's Parkinson Show.

Jimmy was named First Runner-Up in the prestigious 1996 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition, and was named on of the “25 Young Rising Stars in Jazz" by DownBeat Magazine in 1999. Greene graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Hartt School in 1997, and studied with Jackie McLean, Dave Santoro, Kris Jensen, Steve Davis, Ken Radnofsky and Dave Liebman. He currently holds a faculty position at the Hartt School, where he also serves on the Board of Trustees. Greene performs in the music ministry of his church, Glory Chapel International Cathedral.