Brooklyn-Born composer and alto-saxophonist Bobby Zankel joins J. Michael Harrison in the WRTI 90.1 Performance Studio on Tuesday, September 10th at 4 PM for a special duet performance featuring critically acclaimed drummer Chad Taylor.
This presentation serves as the unofficial kickoff to The Philadelphia Jazz Project’s Celebrate Coltrane 2019 Festival, coming up on Saturday, September 21st on four stages in Fairmount Park.
Bobby Zankel has apprenticed with the iconic pianist and poet Cecil Taylor and studied with the legendary Dennis Sandole. The forward thinking Zankel has collaborated or performed with a multitude of artists ranging from Ruth Naomi Floyd to the late Muhal Richard Abrams. Since his move to Philadelphia in 1975 he's been an important contributor to the music community at large.
This special duet stems from a quartet performance Zankel configured three years ago at the Philadelphia Jazz Project’s saxophone marathon, which was also a celebration of the legacy of Coltrane. At this year’s festival, the quartet will feature saxophonists Mark Allen, Jaleel Shaw, Ole Mathisen and leader Bobby Zankel, with the addition of drummer Chad Taylor. They will play original works that were composed with Coltrane in mind.
Bobby and Chad provide a taste of things to come with this year’s Celebrate Coltrane 2019 festival performance.