The Versatile

One man – one saxophone – one world – full of musical surprises and sonic diversity.

Chris Cheek moves tirelessly through soundscapes with his unmistakable sound – so versatile that it would almost be easier to list the bands he has not yet played with. He is a wanderer between sound worlds, a saxophonist who constantly reinvents the colors of jazz.

His focal point is the vibrant New York scene, but his releases on Criss Cross Jazz and countless collaborations have made him known worldwide. One outstanding example is his album Saturday Songs (2016), which combines the art of complexity with melodic clarity. All About Jazz describes it as "complex yet melodically clear and tantalizing."

The photographic sketches from 2000 show him in the midst of a jazz musical specialty: a concert by the Bloomdaddies – a band with two tenor saxophonists (Chris Cheek and Seamus Blake), two drummers (Tony Mason and Dan Riser), and a bassist (Jesse Murphy). A lineup that feels like a cross between a jazz band and an experimental group.

The graphics from 2000 show Cheek in the concert cellar of the Orange Club in Hanover.

Next: Arthur Blythe ➜