HOW TO GO
What: Saxophonist Greg Abate
When: 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13
Where: Spinoza's, in the Mall at Fairfield Commons, Beavercreek
Cost: $5 voluntary cover
More info: (937) 426-7799 or www.spinozas.com
Jazz recording artist and composer Greg Abate will return to Ohio this month for a series of shows and educational workshops.
Whenever his teaching duties at Rhode Island College allow, Abate travels and performs throughout the United States and Europe. In the Dayton area, he has played many times with the same trio of local musicians: Randy Villars (piano), Phil Bowden (bass) and Lee McKinney (drums). The group will appear at Spinoza’s in Beavercreek on Thursday, Sept. 13.
“Not only do I love them all as people, they do a great job on the bandstand,” Abate said of his rhythm section. “They have a lot of energy and they give their best for the audience.”
Abate is primarily an alto saxophonist, but he also plays tenor, baritone and soprano sax, as well as flute. He recently collaborated with saxophonist Phil Woods on a new studio recording that has just been released by Rhombus Records.
“It was a joy to record and to have Phil Woods with me,” he said. The same musicians heard in the recording are planning to perform together in live shows during the fall and winter.
“Things are working out nicely for the band, and it’s a nice boost for my career,” Abate said.
The new recording features seven of Abate’s own original pieces, though he expressed frustration about how little time he has to compose. Besides teaching classes, giving lessons and coaching jazz combos, Abate is also kept busy serving as his own promoter.
“It takes a lot of energy to write music, and when I have a half-hour or an hour, it seems I’ve always got something else to do,” he said. “But I think about it a lot, and I really feel I’m lucky to be prolific at writing. It’s a nice gift to have.”
During his visit to the region, Abate and the trio will conduct several music clinics for elementary school students.
“We go into schools and teach kids about jazz, our American art form,” he said. “I can speak for Lee and Randy and Phil: We’re really proud of this music.”
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