Don’t miss our last event of the SAXQUEST 2012 concert/clinic series. This Saturday, December 8, we will be hosting Trio Chymera, a fascinating saxophone chamber trio featuring Leo Saguiguit and Neil Ostercamp on saxes, and Rachel Aubuchon on piano. This is once again a free event, open to the public, and will be from 2pm – 4pm at the Saxquest shop.

Trio Chymera was established in 2007 at the University of Missouri and brings together three distinct personalities in a soundscape that sheds an innovative light on the classical chamber ensemble. The group has enjoyed giving performances throughout the United States and focuses on original compositions, arrangements, and commissions of new works.

Leo Saguiguit is the Associate Professor of Saxophone at the University of Missouri in Columbia. He enjoys a busy schedule teaching and performing as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States and around the world. He is active in several chamber ensembles and has appeared as a concert soloist with numerous orchestras and wind ensembles across the country. Mr. Saguiguit has earned degrees from Emory University, studying under Stutz Wimmer, and Northwestern University, where he studied under Frederick Hemke.

Neil Ostercamp is a dedicated performer and educator, and has performed throughout the country. He is an active performer with several chamber ensembles, and maintains an active private saxophone studio. Mr. Ostercamp earned his B.S. in Music Education and Master of Music in Saxophone Performace from the University of Missouri, and has studied with Leo Saguiguit, Dan Thomas, and Susan Fancher. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Saxophone Performance at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro under Steve Stusek and Chad Eby.

With concert pianist Rachel Aubuchon, Trio Chymera will perform some amazing pieces, including a brand new composition, which will see its world premiere at Saxquest. Please come out for our final event of 2012 to cap off what has been a fantastic year of concerts, clinics, and masterclasses at “the ‘Quest”.

We have another exciting event in our 2012 concert/clinic series at Saxquest. This Friday evening, November 16, we’ll welcome Dan Thomas from 7-9pm. This event is free and open to the public.

Dan Thomas is a highly acclaimed instructor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where he teaches applied jazz studies, jazz improv, jazz history, jazz pedagogy, jazz combo, and the jazz band alongside the legendary Bobby Watson. He is a dedicated performer, both in the local Kansas City scene, as well as throughout the USA and Canada. Before coming to KC, he was a regular on the west coast jazz scene. He also keeps busy as a frequent clinician and guest artist throughout the United States.

Mr. Thomas will be performing with an all-star St. Louis rhythm section. He will also be giving a clinic/masterclass so bring your sax if you want to take advantage of this opportunity to spend some on-on-one time working with a truly gifted performer/educator. We hope you can make it out for a great evening of learning and music!

This is a unique and special event for our saxophone faithful. On Sunday, November 4, we will be hosting the Oasis Sax Quartet from 1-3pm. The Oasis Saxophone Quartet has been noted as being one of the finest saxophone ensembles in the WORLD……..and they’re right here in St. Louis at Saxquest!!

Founded in 2007, the Oasis Quartet has received rave reviews of its live performances as well as for its innovative and creative clinic and concert programming. Oasis is dedicated to the exploration of important contemporary works for saxophone quartet, while retaining a strong foundation in standard repertoire. The diverse and wide-ranging interests of its members – including jazz performance and history, contemporary techniques and notation, ethnomusicology, and regular contributions to scholarly and trade journals – contribute a broad array of influences that lend a unique depth and perspective to Oasis Quartet performances.

Members include:
– Nathan Nabb, Associate Professor of Saxophone at Stephen F Austin University and frequent performer with the St Louis Symphony and Houston Symphony
– James Bunte, Associate Professor of Saxophone at College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati and regular saxophonist with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
– Dave Camwell, Associate Professor of Saxophone and Jazz Studies at Simpson College and active jazz performer and clinician
– James Romain, Associate Professor of Saxophone and Assistant Director of Jazz Studies at Drake University and frequent performer with the Minnesota Orchestra and the DesMoines Symphony Orchestra

Oasis has played across the USA as well as in Taiwan and most recently at the World Saxophone Congress in Scotland. Please come out for a wonderful clinic & performance! Check out more about them on their web site http://www.oasisquartet.com.

Its with great enthusiasm that I invite you out this weekend to Saxquest for a double-header where we have events happening on both Saturday and Sunday. These are free events, open to the public. Saturday will be a wonderful jazz venue featuring the great Terell Stafford. Sunday is a very rare opportunity to hear one of the world’s finest saxophone quartets live in concert. Don’t make any excuses, this is one NOT to miss!! Here’s the full scoop!

Saturday 11/3 (2-4pm): Terell Stafford – We last hosted Mr. Stafford in March, when he was through town with Matt Wilson’s Arts & Crafts. He’s a supremely talented trumpet player, who has performed with Benny Golson’s Sextet, McCoy Tyner’s Sextet, the Kenny Barron Sextet, the Jimmy Heath Big Band, and the Jon Faddis Orchestra. Mr. Stafford is currently a member of the GRAMMY award winning Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and the GRAMMY nominated Clayton Brothers Quintet, as well as Arts & Crafts. He has recorded 6 albums as a leader, and can be heard on over 90 albums as a sideman.

An educator as well as a performer, Terell Stafford currently holds the position of Director of Jazz Studies and Chair of Instrumental Studies at Temple University in Philadelphia. He has formerly served as faculty for the Julliard Institute of Jazz Studies in New York. He currently sits on the board of the Jazz Education Network.

At Saxquest, Terell will be backed by a St Louis all-star trio, consisting of Eric Slaughter on guitar, Marty Morrison on drums, and Jeff Anderson on bass.

I’d like to invite you out to a great event as part of the Saxquest 2012 concert/clinic series this Saturday, October 20, from 3-5pm. We are thrilled to welcome back jazz saxophonist and clarinetist Victor Goines. Mr. Goines will be presenting a small ensemble jazz performance and clinic in an informal setting. The event is free and open to the public and hosted at the Saxquest shop.

Victor Goines has been a member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and the Wynton Marsalis Septet since 1993 and he’s currently the director of jazz studies at the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University. He has collaborated with a who’s who list of superstars in the jazz scene, and is also a gifted composer, having composed more than 70 original works, including Jazz at the Lincoln Center commissions.

We last hosted Mr. Goines in 2010, and it was a memorable event. Please come by to hear some great music, and have the opportunity to rub shoulders and talk to one of the great saxophonists and multi-reed instrumentalists today.