Greg Abate
Encyclopedia
Greg Abate is a Jazz
saxophonist, flautist
, composer
, and arranger
. He grew up in Woonsocket, Rhode Island
. In the fifth grade he began to play clarinet
.
After high school, he attended Berklee College of Music
in Boston
, and, after spending some years gigging in California
, returned to Berklee in 1972 to finish his education. Later, a second trip to Los Angeles
landed him an audition –and the lead alto chair –in the Ray Charles
Band from 1973 through 1974.
Soon afterwards Abate formed a sextet called Channel One. The group’s only album, Without Boundaries, was released in 1980. Living in northern Rhode Island
, Abate settled in the horn section with Tony Giorgianni’s Sax Odyssey and Duke Bellair’s Jazz Orchestra. In 1986 Abate was hired by Dick Johnson
to be the tenor in the Artie Shaw
Band.
Candid Records
, impressed by his playing, agreed to put out a live recording, “Bop City – Live at Birdland” in July 1991. More albums followed, including “Straight Ahead,” “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” “Bop Lives with Kenny Barron Trio” and “Happy Samba”.
Abate currently resides in Coventry, Rhode Island
with his sons. He teaches students at Rhode Island College
, and also plays with his quartet locally and around the world.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
saxophonist, flautist
Flautist
A flautist or flutist is a musician who plays an instrument in the flute family. See List of flautists.The choice of "flautist" versus "flutist" is the source of dispute among players of the instrument...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, and arranger
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
. He grew up in Woonsocket, Rhode Island
Woonsocket, Rhode Island
Woonsocket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 41,186 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth largest city in the state. Woonsocket lies directly south of the Massachusetts border....
. In the fifth grade he began to play clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
.
After high school, he attended Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, and, after spending some years gigging in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, returned to Berklee in 1972 to finish his education. Later, a second trip to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
landed him an audition –and the lead alto chair –in the Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
Band from 1973 through 1974.
Soon afterwards Abate formed a sextet called Channel One. The group’s only album, Without Boundaries, was released in 1980. Living in northern Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, Abate settled in the horn section with Tony Giorgianni’s Sax Odyssey and Duke Bellair’s Jazz Orchestra. In 1986 Abate was hired by Dick Johnson
Dick Johnson (clarinetist)
Dick Johnson was an American big band clarinetist, best known for his work with the Artie Shaw Band. From 1983 until his death he was the leader of the Artie Shaw Orchestra....
to be the tenor in the Artie Shaw
Artie Shaw
Arthur Jacob Arshawsky , better known as Artie Shaw, was an American jazz clarinetist, composer, and bandleader. He was also the author of both fiction and non-fiction writings....
Band.
Candid Records
Candid Records
Candid Records was founded as a subsidiary of Archie Bleyer's Cadence label in New York City in 1960. The jazz writer and civil rights activist, Nat Hentoff, worked as the label's A&R director, aiming to create a representative catalog of the jazz of the day...
, impressed by his playing, agreed to put out a live recording, “Bop City – Live at Birdland” in July 1991. More albums followed, including “Straight Ahead,” “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” “Bop Lives with Kenny Barron Trio” and “Happy Samba”.
Abate currently resides in Coventry, Rhode Island
Coventry, Rhode Island
Coventry is a town in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 35,014 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of . of it is land and of it is water...
with his sons. He teaches students at Rhode Island College
Rhode Island College
Rhode Island College is a nationally ranked, coeducational, state-supported comprehensive college founded in 1854, located in Providence, Rhode Island, USA...
, and also plays with his quartet locally and around the world.
Discography
- Bop City: Live at Birdland (1991), Candid
- Straight Ahead (1993), Candid
- It's Christmas Time (1995), Brownstone Recordings
- Dr Jeckyll & Mr Hyde (1995), Candid
- Bop Lives! (1996), Blue Chip Jazz
- Happy Samba (1998), Blue Chip Jazz
- Evolution (2002), 1201 Music
- Horace Is Here (2005), Koko Jazz
- Monsters in the Night (2006), Koko Jazz
- Birds of a Feather (2008), Woodville