Event
Steve Heckman Quartet - Modern Jazz/ Hard Bop Saxophonist
"This is a kick-ass saxophonist with finesse.... Heckman's sound on tenor [is] are world-class. I am knocked out."
- Tim Price, Saxophone Journal
Steve Heckman took up the saxophone at an early age and experienced a musical revelation when he first heard, and was swept away by, the music of John Coltrane. The fluid, warm-toned saxophonist has been letting Coltrane's style inform his own ever since.
Over the his 30-year career, Heckman has attained the kind of jazz mastery that has made him welcome on the bandstand and in recording studios with greats like Bruce Forman, Andrew Hill, Madeline Eastman and Eddie Henderson.
As Hermon Joyner of Audiophile Audition said, "Steve Heckman, an unabashed fan of John Coltrane and his music, is an accomplished and tasteful saxophonist, excelling at both tenor and soprano, with a clear love of melodic exploration and creative improvisation. When he takes his tenor sax down into its lower registers, he doesnâÂÂt just produce notes, he creates silky, soulful caresses that you feel in your gut. On the other hand, Heckman can also soar through the upper registers with equal ease and self-confidence."
Steve Heckman was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1950. He grew up at an opportune time, getting exposed to the best jazz in the world during one of jazz's most creative periods. He began clarinet at 12, then alto and tenor sax, ultimately choosing tenor as his favorite horn. Over the years he also added soprano and baritone sax, as well as flute and alto flute. He has written 75 original jazz tunes. He is self-taught in improvisation, but thanks teachers Allen Fields, Ray Musiker and Carmine Caruso for assistance in the theoretical and technical grounding necessary to blow decent jazz.
The most significant spark to set his spirit on fire with love and enthusiasm for jazz was when, at age 15, he first heard the music of John Coltrane: Worlds split open, and he was propelled into a realm of unparallelled richness and dimension which has profoundly influenced his approach to both playing, as well as composition. Listening to 'Trane's "A Love Supreme" from start to finish every day after school through 11th and 12th grade became his daily ritual; he also absorbed as much as possible, listening to everything he could find by Trane.
Since then has performed with a variety of jazz greats, ranging in styles from traditional to bebop to "avant-garde".
Jim Clark, in his review of Heckman's first CD, With John in Mind on NPR's "Jazz Nightly" program said, "I've listened repeatedly to "With John in Mind" and each time I come away greatly impressed with Heckman's mastery of the saxophone. All of the selections on the CD are remarkable for their fluidity, energy, texture and richness of melody, and interplay with the other musicians. Heckman's improvisational technique is exceptional, yet the melody and sense
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LocationJazz at Pearl's
256 Columbus Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94133
United States
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| Kid Friendly: No |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: No |
| Wheelchair Accessible: No |
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