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I’m very excited to release my most ambitious project yet on Calligram Records next month! Colossal Abundance is a meditation on the fabulous wealth—material, intellectual and spiritual—and abject poverty that coexist in modern society. A stellar 12-piece ensemble tackles my latest compositions and new interpretations of John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Henry Threadgill and Jaki Byard. We’ll be celebrating in September at the Jazz showcase and the Hyde Park Jazz Fest (full ensemble) and throughout the region in the fall.

Details on the Gigs page

Order the record or CD at https://geofbradfield.bandcamp.com/album/colossal-abundance.

Featuring:

GEOF BRADFIELD tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, and mbira
GREG WARD alto saxophone
ANNA WEBBER flute, bass flute, and tenor saxophone
BEN GOLDBERG clarinet and contra-alto clarinet
DERRICK GARDNER trumpet
RUSS JOHNSON trumpet
NORMAN PALM trombone
MOMO HASSELBRING SEKO French horn

SCOTT HESSE guitar
CLARK SOMMERS bass
DANA HALL drums
GREG BEYER berimbau, mbira, marimba, and percussion

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I’m a little behind posting about this, but very happy (and a little exhausted) to report that my friend Chad McCullough and I have started a record label together. The first four CDs on Calligram Records came out August 4th, including releases from my quintet (Quaver), Chad (Charm of Impossibilities), Russ Johnson (Reveal), and Arman Sangalang (Quartet). We’re really proud of these and delighted with the response from critics, radio folks, and listeners all over. You can read all about the label in Michael Jackson’s excellent feature in this month’s issue of Downbeat Magazine. Four more outstanding sessions are coming next Friday from Steve Million, Atlantic Road Trip, Dave Bayles, and Scott Hesse. Listen and pre-order on Bandcamp, the best place to support independent artists!

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I’m thrilled to bring my quintet to the legendary Jazz Showcase next week! I hope you can join me and this fantastic band as we dig into some new music of mine as well as the music of Hermeto Pascoal, Curtis Mayfield, and more.

GB-tenor saxophone

Russ Johnson-trumpet

Scott Hesse-guitar

Ethan Philion (Th-Fr)/Clark Sommers- bass

Neil Hemphill- drums

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As we come out of the isolation and worse brought on by COVID-19, I’ve been inspired by many of my fellow musicians who somehow found a path to creativity in this period. I’m grateful to to contribute to their projects. A handful of these are out or coming soon, including trumpeter Darren Jonhston’s Life in Time (out now, tour dates in April and May in Gigs) and Michael Allemana’s epic tribute to his mentor Von Freeman, Vonology (April 15 release). I’m also thrilled to have a collaboration with two of my favorite tenor players anywhere, Scott Burns and John Wojchiechowski, out on the AFAR record label. You can read the Chicago Tribune review here and come celebrate the release with us in person at Winter’s Jazz Club on April 9. More to come later this year, including a live recording of my quintet at the legendary Green Mill! Stay tuned.