“This all-star affair exudes a rarefied focus. Expanding upon the melodic, harmonic and rhythmic advances established by Coltrane and his spiritual brethren half a century ago, Ticonderoga is a bracingly vital reminder of the expressive potential of free music.”
— Troy Collins, All About Jazz
Jazz at Atlas is proud to present as part of its ongoing 2019 season the all-star quartet Ticonderoga, featuring Joe McPhee on saxophones, Jamie Saft on electric piano, Joe Morris on upright bass and Charles Downs on drums. Ticonderoga will perform on Saturday, June 22 at 8 PM at Atlas Studios, located at 11 Spring St. in Newburgh, NY. Ample onsite parking is available.
Inspired by a conversation between Morris and Saft regarding their mutual admiration for John Coltrane’s late-period Live at the Village Vanguard Again recording, they invited Joe McPhee to play with them, then discovering McPhee had been in the front row at the Vanguard the night the album was recorded. With the addition of Downs, a veteran of bands led by such daring jazz artists as Cecil Taylor, Jemeel Moondoc, William Parker and many others, Ticonderoga invokes the spirit of late Coltrane and the bandmembers’ own unique musical paths to forge a stirring, passionate fire sermon of a quartet.
Jamie Saft is a virtuoso pianist, keyboardist, producer, and composer from New York. His stylistic versatility, multi-instrumentalist capabilities, and production skills have been featured with Beastie Boys, Bad Brains, HR, The B-52’s, John Zorn, John Adams, Laurie Anderson, Donovan, Antony and the Johnsons, and Iggy Pop. Saft leads the New Zion Trio, Jamie Saft Trio, and Jamie Saft Quartet. Saft has collaborated with legends of music including Wadada Leo Smith, Roswell Rudd, Marshall Allen, Danny Ray Thompson, Dave Liebman, Joe Morris, Hamid Drake, Bobby Previte, Steve Swallow, Darryl Jenifer, and Cyro Baptista.
Saft has composed a number of original film scores including the Oscar nominated “Murderball” and Sundance winner “God Grew Tired Of Us.” Saft has also scored extensively for Nickelodeon, MTV, VH1, Vice TV, NFL Football, CBS, and A&E. Saft currently runs the independent record label Veal Records as well as Potterville International Sound, both based out of Kingston, NY. Jamie Saft on Bandcamp
Releases from:Beta Popes, Bunda Love with Saft, Jamie Saft, Jerry Granelli & Jamie Saft, Kalashnikov, King Krangus, New Raspberry Bandits, New Zion Trio, OV, Pramrod Sexena, Swami LatePlate, Whoopie Pie