Miguel Zenón (born December 30, 1976) is a Puerto Rican

alto saxophonist The alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments. Saxophones were invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in the 1840s and patented in 1846. The alto saxophone is pitched in E, smaller than the B tenor ...

, composer, band leader, music producer, and educator. He is a multiple

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...

nominee, and the recipient of a

Guggenheim Fellowship Guggenheim Fellowships are grants that have been awarded annually since by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to those "who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the ar ...

and a

MacArthur Fellowship The MacArthur Fellows Program, also known as the MacArthur Fellowship and commonly but unofficially known as the "Genius Grant", is a prize awarded annually by the MacArthur Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation typically to ...

. He also holds an Honorary Doctorate Degree in the Arts from Universidad del Sagrado Corazón. Zenón has released many albums as a band leader and appeared on over 100 recordings as a sideman.

Early life

Born in San Juan,

Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and Unincorporated ...

, Zenón was raised in Residencial Luis Llorens Torres, the largest housing project in the Island. Although he didn't grow up in a family of musicians, he was nevertheless exposed to various styles of music from a very early age. At age 10 he received his first lessons on music theory and solfeggio from Ernesto Vigoreaux, an elderly gentleman who traveled from the adjacent neighborhood of Villa Palmeras to Llorens Torres every day in order to work with disadvantaged youth in the community. Zenón would eventually be admitted to Escuela Libre de Música, a performing arts middle school and high school where he was trained for six years on classical saxophone by Angel Marrero. On the 11th grade he was exposed to jazz music by some of his friends at the school and became very interested in the concept of

improvisation Improvisation is the activity of making or doing something not planned beforehand, using whatever can be found. Improvisation in the performing arts is a very spontaneous performance without specific or scripted preparation. The skills of impr ...

and on the music of

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

saxophonist

Charlie Parker Charles Parker Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955), nicknamed "Bird" or "Yardbird", was an American jazz saxophonist, band leader and composer. Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading figure in the development of bebop, a form ...

. Although he had always shown interest in the natural sciences, he declined an engineering scholarship from the Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez (the foremost engineering institution in the Island) and decided to pursue a career in music. After a year and a half worth of efforts to gather enough funds in scholarships and financial aid, Zenón moved to Boston in the spring of 1996 to begin his studies at

Berklee College of Music Berklee College of Music is a private music college in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known for the study of jazz and modern American music, it also offers college-level cours ...

Education and session work

Berklee Berklee College of Music is a private music college in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known for the study of jazz and modern American music, it also offers college-level course ...

, Zenón's classmates included Antonio Sánchez,

Anat Cohen Anat Cohen ( he, ענת כהן, born 1975) is a New York City-based jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, and bandleader from Tel Aviv, Israel. Biography Cohen began playing clarinet and saxophone. In 1996, she studied at the Berklee College of Mus ...

, Avishai Cohen,

Jaleel Shaw Jaleel Shaw (born February 11, 1978) is an American jazz alto saxophonist. Biography Raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Shaw attended Greene Street Friends School, the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts and graduated ...

, and Jeremy Pelt. During his time in Boston, he was heavily influenced by Bill Pierce, Ed Tomassi, and

Hal Crook Hal Crook (born 28 July 1950 in Providence, Rhode Island) is a jazz trombonist. He has a degree from the Berklee College of Music and is considered to be a leading teacher and author in the field of jazz improvisation. Hal was a professor at Berk ...

. It was also during this time that he met Panamanian pianist

Danilo Pérez Danilo Pérez (born December 29, 1965) is a Panamanian pianist, composer, educator, and a social activist. His music is a blend of Panamanian roots with elements of Latin American folk music, jazz, European impressionism, African, and other music ...

, who would become a mentor and collaborator. After graduating from Berklee in 1996, Zenón attended

Manhattan School of Music The Manhattan School of Music (MSM) is a private music conservatory in New York City. The school offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in the areas of classical and jazz performance and composition, as well as a bachelor's in mu ...

, where he studied with

Dick Oatts Richard Dennis Oatts (born April 2, 1953) is an American jazz saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and educator. Biography While growing up in Des Moines, Iowa, Oatts gained an interest in music from his father, Jack Oatts, who was a sa ...

Nils Vigeland Nils Vigeland (born 1950 in Buffalo, New York, Buffalo, New York (state), New York) is an American composer and pianist. Career Vigeland made his professional debut as a pianist in 1969 with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. He later studied comp ...

and

Ludmila Ulehla Ludmila Ulehla (1923–2009) was an American composer and music educator. Biography Ludmila Ulehla was born in Flushing, Queens, New York. She began the study of piano and violin very early and wrote short compositions at the age of five. ...

and received a master's degree in Performance in 2001 before settling in New York City. As a sideman, he has worked with

SFJAZZ Collective The SFJAZZ Collective is an American jazz ensemble comprising nine performer/composers, launched in 2004 by SFJAZZ, a West Coast non-profit jazz institution and the presenter of the annual San Francisco Jazz Festival. Collective activities The SFJ ...

Charlie Haden Charles Edward Haden (August 6, 1937 – July 11, 2014) was an American jazz double bass player, bandleader, composer and educator whose career spanned more than 50 years. In the late 1950s, he was an original member of the ground-breaking ...

Fred Hersch Fred Hersch (born October 21, 1955) is an American jazz pianist, educator and HIV/AIDS activist. He was the first person to play weeklong engagements as a solo pianist at the Village Vanguard in New York City. He has recorded more than 70 of his ...

Kenny Werner Kenny Werner (born November 19, 1951) is an American jazz pianist, composer, and author. Early life Born in Brooklyn, New York, on November 19, 1951 and then growing up in Oceanside, Long Island, Werner began playing and performing at a young ...

Guillermo Klein Guillermo Klein (born 1969) is an Argentine pianist and composer. He graduated from Berklee College of Music in 1994, and throughout the 1990s held a residency at Smalls, a jazz club in New York City. Known for his highly original harmonic and ...

& Los Guachos, David Sánchez,

, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra,

Kurt Elling Kurt Elling (born November 2, 1967) is an American jazz singer and songwriter. Born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Rockford, Illinois, Rockford, Elling became interested in music through his father, who was Kapellmeister at a Lutheran chur ...

, The

Mingus Big Band The Mingus Big Band is a 14-piece ensemble, based in New York City, that specializes in the compositions of Charles Mingus. It was managed by his widow, Sue Mingus, along with the Mingus Orchestra and Mingus Dynasty. In addition to its weekly Monda ...

Ray Barreto Raymundo "Ray" Barretto Pagán (April 29, 1929 – February 17, 2006) was an American percussionist and bandleader of Puerto Rican descent. Throughout his career as a percussionist, he played a wide variety of Latin music styles, as well as Lati ...

Jerry González Jerry González (June 5, 1949 – October 1, 2018) was an American bandleader, trumpeter and percussionist of Puerto Rican descent. Geraldo, his father, was a singer in a band and worked for Las Villas, a chain of stores selling Latin Ameri ...

& The Fort Apache Band, Jeff Ballard Trio,

Miles Okazaki Miles Okazaki (born 1974) is an American jazz guitarist and composer. Okazaki is a lecturer of jazz guitar at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Early life Okazaki grew up in Port Townsend, Washington. When he was six, he began lessons on ...

, Dan Weiss, Dan Tepfer,

Bobby Hutcherson Robert Hutcherson (January 27, 1941 – August 15, 2016) was an American jazz vibraphone and marimba player. "Little B's Poem", from the 1966 Blue Note album '' Components'', is one of his best-known compositions.Huey, Steve. "Components – Bob ...

Steve Coleman Steve Coleman (born September 20, 1956) is an American saxophonist, composer, bandleader and music theorist. In 2014, he was named a MacArthur Fellow. Early life Steve Coleman was born and grew up in South Side, Chicago. He started playing al ...

Andy Montañez Andrés Montañez Rodríguez (born May 7, 1942), better known as Andy Montañez, is a Puerto Rican singer and songwriter. Early life Montañez is a native of the ''Tras Talleres'' area of Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico. He is known by the nic ...

, Brian Lynch, Antonio Sánchez,

Joey Calderazzo Joseph Dominick Calderazzo (February 27, 1965) is a jazz pianist and brother of musician Gene Calderazzo. He played extensively in bands led by Michael Brecker and Branford Marsalis, and has also led his own bands. Early life Calderazzo was born ...

and Paoli Mejías.

As leader

The Miguel Zenón Quartet

In 1999 Zenón started getting together with Mexican drummer Antonio Sánchez (who he met at Berklee College of Music), Austrian bassist Hans Glawischnig (Zenón's bandmate in the

David Sanchez David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...

Group) and Venezuelan pianist Luis Perdomo (a classmate of Glawischnig's at The Manhattan School of Music). They would meet for informal rehearsal sessions at Glawischnig's apartment in New York's Upper West Side and play through some of Zenón's early compositions. The group, which would eventually become the Miguel Zenón Quartet, soon started performing at various venues in the city, such as the C Note and The Jazz Gallery. In 2005 Sanchez began working regularly with The

Pat Metheny Group The Pat Metheny Group was an American jazz band founded in 1977. The core members of the group were guitarist, composer and bandleader Pat Metheny; and keyboardist and composer Lyle Mays, who was in the group at its inception. Other long-standi ...

, and was replaced in the Quartet by Puerto Rican drummer Henry Cole, for what has become the longest running version of the ensemble.

Recordings as leader

* ''Looking Forward'' (Fresh Sound New Talent, 2002): Recommended by some of his peers, Miguel Zenón reached a deal with the Spanish record label Fresh Sound New Talent, which released his first album as a leader. The recording featured his working Quartet (with Perdomo, Glawischnig and Sanchez) and included many special guests, such as saxophonist David Sanchez, guitarist

Ben Monder Ben Monder (born May 24, 1962) is an American modern jazz guitarist. Biography Monder started playing guitar when he was eleven, after two years on violin. From 1979–84, he attended the Westchester Conservatory of Music, the University of Miam ...

and percussionist

Pernell Saturnino Pernell Saturnino (born 23 May 1962) is a percussionist from the Caribbean island of Curaçao. Saturnino joined the band Nos Antias as a teenager and toured the world with them. As part of Paquito D'Rivera's band, he won the Best Latin Jazz Albu ...

. The album was selected by the

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...

as the top "Alternative" jazz recording of 2002. * ''Ceremonial'' (Marsalis Music, 2004): After Zenón's first release, he was approached by saxophonist

Branford Marsalis Branford Marsalis (born August 26, 1960) is an American saxophonist The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of brass. As with all single-reed inst ...

(whom Zenón had met while working with David Sanchez) to join his newly formed record label Marsalis Music. Zenón was signed to a multi-record deal and released his second album as a leader with the label. The album featured the Quartet performing his original compositions plus an arrangement of the Gospel Hymn "

Great is Thy Faithfulness Great Is Thy Faithfulness is a popular Christian hymn written by Thomas Chisholm (songwriter), Thomas Chisholm (1866–1960) with music composed by William M. Runyan (1870–1957) in Baldwin City, Kansas, U.S. The phrase "great is thy faithfulnes ...

". Ceremonial was described by

All About Jazz ''All About Jazz'' is a website established by Michael Ricci in 1995. A volunteer staff publishes news, album reviews, articles, videos, and listings of concerts and other events having to do with jazz. Ricci maintains a related site, ''Jazz Near ...

as a "recording (that) brings not only Latin persuasions but also a refined mix of contemporary, classic, and global influences… Highly recommended". * ''Jíbaro'' (Marsalis Music, 2005): His third recording as a leader featured original compositions inspired by elements coming from la La Música Jibara, a style of folk music from the rural areas of Puerto Rico. About Jíbaro, Jazz Times Magazine wrote: "A searing modern-jazz sound, a quartet sensibility that Zenon and his mates have spent years developing. The result is profound yet joyful, as rhythmically precise as it is lyrical and limber." * ''Awake'' (Marsalis Music, 2008): Zenón's fourth release, and the first to incorporate Henry Cole on the drum chair, incorporates a string quartet and additional horns to Zenón's core group for and outing of original compositions. * ''Esta Plena'' (Marsalis Music, 2009): His fifth album was inspired by

Plena Plena is a genre of music and dance native to Puerto Rico. Origins The plena genre originated in Barrio San Antón, Ponce, Puerto Rico, around 1900. It was influenced by the bomba style of music. Originally, sung texts were not associated wit ...

music from Puerto Rico, with original compositions supported by a fellowship from the

John Simon Guggenheim Foundation The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation was founded in 1925 by Olga and Simon Guggenheim John Simon Guggenheim (December 30, 1867 – November 2, 1941) was an American businessman, politician and philanthropist. Life Born in Philadelphi ...

. On it Zenón augmented his quartet to include three percussionist/vocalists and took on the additional roles of both lyricist and vocalist. Esta Plena received two

Grammy The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pre ...

nominations (Best Improvised Solo and Best Latin Jazz Album) and a

Latin Grammy The Latin Grammy Awards are an award by The Latin Recording Academy to recognize outstanding achievement in the Latin music industry. The Latin Grammy honors works recorded in Spanish or Portuguese from anywhere around the world that has been r ...

nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album. * ''Alma Adentro'' (Marsalis Music, 2011): A tribute to the Puerto Rican Songbook on which Zenón arranged the music of five Puerto Rican composers:

Bobby Capo Bobby or Bobbie may refer to: People * Bobby (given name), a list of names * Bobby (actress), from Bangladesh * Bobby (rapper) (born 1995), from South Korea * Bobby (screenwriter) (born 1983), Indian screenwriter * Bobby, old slang for a constabl ...

Tite Curet Alonso Catalino "Tite" Curet Alonso (February 26, 1926 – August 5, 2003) was a Puerto Rican composer of over 2,000 salsa songs. Early years Curet Alonso (birth name: Catalino Curet Alonso) was born in Guayama, a town located in the southern region ...

, Pedro Flores, Rafael Hernandez and

Sylvia Rexach Sylvia Regina Rexach González (January 22, 1922 – October 20, 1961), was a Puerto Rican comedy scriptwriter, poet, singer and composer of boleros. Early years Rexach was born and raised in Santurce, Puerto Rico. Her parents were Julio E. ...

. The recording features his Quartet plus a ten-piece woodwind ensemble orchestrated and conducted by

. Alma Adentro was chosen as the Best Jazz Recording of 2011 by iTunes and NPR, and received a Grammy nomination for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album plus a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Instrumental Album. * ''Rayuela'' (Sunnyside Records, 2012): A collaboration with French pianist/composer Laurent Coq, this album was inspired on the book of the same name by Argentinean writer

Julio Cortazar Julio is the Spanish equivalent of the month July and may refer to: *Julio (given name) *Julio (surname) *Júlio de Castilhos, a municipality of the western part of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil * ''Julio'' (album), a 1983 compilation albu ...

. The recording also features Dana Leong (on cello and trombone) and Dan Weiss (on tabla, drums and percussion). * ''Oye!!! Live in Puerto Rico'' (Miel Music, 2013): Zenón's eight recording as a leader (and first for his independent label Miel Music) features the debut recording of The Rhythm Collective, an ensemble first put together in 2003 for a month long tour of West Africa. The "all Puerto Rican" group includes Aldemar Valentín on electric bass, Tony Escapa on drums and Reinaldo de Jesus on percussion. * ''Identities Are Changeable'' (Miel Music, 2014): Inspired by the idea of national identity as experienced by the Puerto Rican community in the United States, specifically in the New York City area. The music on the album was written around a series of interviews with several individuals, all of them New Yorkers of Puerto Rican descent. The album, which is also complemented by a video installment by David Dempewolf, features his Quartet plus a twelve-piece Big Band. Identities Are Changeable received a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album. * ''Típico'' (Miel Music, 2017): Celebrates the Miguel Zenón Quartet, his working band of more than 15 years. The album features original music by Zenón, which was specifically written for the members of the Quartet and directly inspired by their individual playing and personalities. Típico received a Grammy nomination and a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album. * ''

Yo Soy La Tradición ''Yo Soy La Tradición'' is an album by Miguel Zenón, released in 2018. The album was recorded with Spektral Quartet and features jazz interpretations of folklore and traditional music from Zenón's native Puerto Rico. The second track "Cadenas" ...

'' (Miel Music, 2018): Original compositions by Zenón, inspired by various cultural and musical traditions from Puerto Rico. The music is scored for Alto Saxophone and String Quartet and features

Spektral Quartet Spektral Quartet is a string quartet based in Chicago comprising Clara Lyon (violin), Theo Espy (violin), Doyle Armbrust (viola) and Russell Rolen (cello). It is the ensemble-in-residence at the University of Chicago's Department of Music, where ...

, a string ensemble based in Chicago, IL. Yo Soy La Tradición received a Grammy nomination and a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album. * '' Sonero: The Music of Ismael Rivera'' (Miel Music, 2019): A tribute to the legendary Puerto Rican Salsa icon

Ismael Rivera Ismael Rivera a.k.a. "Maelo" (October 5, 1931 – May 13, 1987), was a Puerto Rican composer and salsa singer. Early life Rivera was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, a sector of San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was the first of five children born to ...

, with arrangements by Zenón interpreted by his Quartet. Sonero: The Music of Ismael Rivera received a Grammy nomination and a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album. * ''El Arte Del Bolero'' (Miel Music, 2021): A duo recording with Venezuelan pianist Luis Perdomo. The album was recorded live at The Jazz Gallery in NYC during the COVID-19 Pandemic and features Boleros and other songs from the Latin American Songbook. El Arte Del Bolero received a Grammy nomination and a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album. * ''Law Years: The Music Of Ornette Coleman'' (Miel Music, 2021): Recorded live in May 2019 at the Bird's Eye Jazz Club in Basel, Switzerland, along with saxophonist Ariel Bringuez, bassist Demian Cabaud and drummer Jordi Rossy. It features the music of saxophonist and composer

Ornette Coleman Randolph Denard Ornette Coleman (March 9, 1930 – June 11, 2015) was an American jazz saxophonist, violinist, trumpeter, and composer known as a principal founder of the free jazz genre, a term derived from his 1960 album '' Free Jazz: A Colle ...

. * ''Música De Las Américas'' (Miel Music, 2022): Featuring original music by Zenón, all inspired by the history of the American continent. The album showcases his longstanding quartet of pianist Luis Perdomo, bassist Hans Glawischnig, and drummer Henry Cole, with special contributions from the Puerto Rican plena ensemble Los Pleneros de La Cresta and percussionists Paoli Mejías, Daniel Díaz and Victor Emmanuelli.

Teaching and composing

Zenón has given hundreds of lectures and master classes and has taught all over the world at institutions which include:

The Banff Centre Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, formerly known as The Banff Centre (and previously The Banff Centre for Continuing Education), located in Banff, Alberta, was established in 1933 as the Banff School of Drama. It was granted full autonomy as ...

, Siena Jazz,

Conservatorium Van Amsterdam The Conservatorium van Amsterdam (CvA) is a Dutch conservatoire of music located in Amsterdam. This school is the music division of the Amsterdam University of the Arts, the city's vocational university of arts. The Conservatorium van Amsterdam ...

, Musik Akademie Basel,

Conservatoire de Paris The Conservatoire de Paris (), also known as the Paris Conservatory, is a college of music and dance founded in 1795. Officially known as the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSMDP), it is situated in the avenue ...

University of Manitoba The University of Manitoba (U of M, UManitoba, or UM) is a Canadian public research university in the province of Manitoba.Manhattan School of Music The Manhattan School of Music (MSM) is a private music conservatory in New York City. The school offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in the areas of classical and jazz performance and composition, as well as a bachelor's in mu ...

MIT The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1861, MIT has played a key role in the development of modern technology and science, and is one of the m ...

Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico The Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music ( es, Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico) is a public conservatory in San Juan, Puerto Rico.Conservatorio de Musica de Puerto RicoSOBRE EL CONSERVATORIO DE MÚSICA DE PUERTO RICO: Información General d ...

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...

Princeton University Princeton University is a private university, private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the List of Colonial Colleges, fourth-oldest ins ...

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts is a large performing arts venue at 300 South Broad Street and the corner of Spruce Street, along the stretch known as the Avenue of the Arts in Center City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is owned and ...

San Francisco Conservatory of Music The San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) is a private music conservatory in San Francisco, California. As of 2021, it had 480 students. History The San Francisco Conservatory of Music was founded in 1917 by Ada Clement and Lillian Hodgh ...

Universidad Veracruzana Universidad Veracruzana (Spanish for ''University of Veracruz'') is a public autonomous university located in the Mexican state of Veracruz. Established in 1944, the university is one of the most important in the southeast region of México. It ...

, UMass- Amherst and The Brubeck Institute. He is also a permanent faculty member at

New England Conservatory of Music The New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) is a Private college, private music school in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the oldest independent music Music school, conservatory in the United States and among the most prestigious in the world. The ...

in Boston and

in New York City. In addition he served as the 2020-2022 Jazz Artist-in-Residence at the Zuckerman Institute at

. As a composer he has been commissioned by SFJAZZ, The

New York State Council for the Arts The New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) is an arts council serving the U.S. state of New York. It was established in 1960 through a bill introduced in the New York State Legislature by New York State Senator MacNeil Mitchell (1905–1996) ...

Chamber Music America Chamber Music America (CMA) is an American non-profit organization that provides small ensemble professionals with access to a variety of professional development, networking, and funding resources. CMA's regular initiatives include grants, awards, ...

, The

, Hyde Park Jazz Festival, The Logan Center for the Arts, Jazz Reach, Peak Performances, PRISM Quartet,

, Peak Performances,

Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhatta ...

and many of his peers.

Caravana Cultural

In 2011 Zenón founded Caravana Cultural, an initiative that organizes free-of-charge jazz concerts in rural areas of Puerto Rico. Each concert focuses on the music of a distinguished jazz figure (Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and Duke Ellington, among others) and is preceded by a presentation that touches on the basic elements of jazz and improvisation. The concert also incorporates young musicians from the community, who join the band on the last piece of the concert. Caravana Cultural, which is funded and produced by Zenón, looks to make a "social investment" in the island using jazz as a vehicle to advocate for cultural accessibility.

Awards and honors

He has been featured in ''The New York Times'', ''The Wall Street Journa''l, ''The Los Angeles Times'', ''The Chicago Tribune'', ''Bloomberg Pursuits'', ''Jazz Times'', ''Jazziz'', ''Boston Globe'', ''Billboard'', ''Jazz Inside'', ''Newsday'', and ''Details''. He also topped both the Jazz Artist of the Year and Alto Saxophonist of the Year categories on the 2014 ''Jazz Times'' Critics Poll and was selected as the 2015, 2018, 2019 and 2020 Alto Saxophonist of the Year by the Jazz Journalist Association. Zenón is a nine-time Grammy nominee and a six-time Latin Grammy nominee. In 2008 he received a fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation (which resulted in his recording Esta Plena) and later that year also received a fellowship from the MacArthur Foundation. In 2022 he received an Honorary Doctorate in The Arts from Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the highest honor bestowed by the institution.

Discography

As leader

* ''Looking Forward'' (

Fresh Sound Fresh Sound, or Fresh Sound New Talent, is a jazz record label established in Barcelona, Spain, by Jordi Pujol. The label was initially founded as a reissue label. The catalog includes work by musicians both major and minor that was recorded be ...

, 2002) * ''Ceremonial'' (

Marsalis Music Marsalis Music is a jazz record label founded by Branford Marsalis in 2002. After 20 years with Columbia, saxophonist Branford Marsalis left to start his own label. Early musicians to the label included Miguel Zenón, a Puerto Rican saxophonist ...

, 2004) * ''Jíbaro'' (Marsalis, 2005) * ''Awake'' (Marsalis, 2008) – recorded in 2007 * ''Esta Plena'' (Marsalis, 2009) * ''Alma Adentro: The Puerto Rican Songbook'' (Marsalis, 2011) * ''Rayuela'' with Laurent Coq ( Sunnyside, 2012) – recorded in 2011 * ''Oye!!! Live in Puerto Rico'' with The Rhythm Collective (Miel Music, 2013) – live recorded in 2011 * ''Identities are Changeable'' (Miel Music, 2014) * ''Típico'' (Miel Music, 2017) * ''

'' (Miel Music, 2018) * '' Sonero: The Music of Ismael Rivera'' (Miel Music, 2019) * ''El Arte Del Bolero'' (Miel Music, 2021) * ''Law Years: The Music of Ornette Coleman'' (Miel Music, 2021) * ''Música De Las Américas'' (Miel Music, 2022)

As member

* ''Live at The SFJAZZ Center 2017'' (SFJAZZ, 2018) * ''Live at The SFJAZZ Center 2016'' (SFJAZZ, 2017) * ''Live at The SFJAZZ Center 2015'' (SFJAZZ, 2016) * ''Live at The SFJAZZ Center 2014'' (SFJAZZ, 2015) * ''10th anniversary'' (SFJAZZ, 2014) * ''Live at The SFJAZZ Center'' (SFJAZZ, 2013) * ''Wonder – The Songs of Stevie Wonder'' (SFJAZZ, 2013) * ''Live 2011 8th Annual Concert Tour'' (SFJAZZ, 2011) * ''Live 2010 7th Annual Concert Tour'' (SFJAZZ, 2010) * ''Live 2009 6th Annual Concert Tour'' (SFJAZZ, 2009) * ''Live 2008 5th Annual Concert Tour'' (SFJAZZ, 2008) * ''Live 2007 4th Annual Concert Tour'' (SFJAZZ, 2007) * ''Live 2006 3rd Annual Concert Tour'' (SFJAZZ, 2007) * ''SFJAZZ Collective 2'' (Nonesuch, 2006) * ''Live 2005 2nd Annual Concert Tour'' (SFJAZZ, 2006) * ''SFJAZZ Collective'' (Nonesuch, 2005) * ''Inaugural Season 2004'' (SFJAZZ, 2004)

As sideman

With César Cardoso * ''Interchange'' (Antena 2, 2018) * ''Dice of Tenors'' (self-released, 2020) With Hans Glawischnig * ''Common Ground'' (Fresh Sound, 2003) * ''Panorama'' (Sunnyside, 2008) With

* 2003: '' Land of the Sun'' (

Verve Verve may refer to: Music * The Verve, an English rock band * ''The Verve E.P.'', a 1992 EP by The Verve * ''Verve'' (R. Stevie Moore album) * Verve Records, an American jazz record label Businesses * Verve Coffee Roasters, an American coffee ho ...

, 2004) * 2004: ''

Not in Our Name Not in Our Name (NION) was a United States organization founded on March 23, 2002 to protest the U.S. government's course in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks; it disbanded on March 31, 2008. Two key documents Early in their existence ...

'' (Verve, 2005) With

* ''Los Guachos 3'' (Sunnyside, 2002) * ''Filtros'' (Sunnyside, 2008) * ''Bienestan'' (Sunnyside, 2011) * ''Carrera'' (Sunnyside, 2012) * ''Los Guachos V'' (Sunnyside, 2016) With Brian Lynch * ''24/7'' (Nagel Heyer, 2005) * ''Spheres of Influence Suite'' (Ewe, 2006) With Paoli Mejias * ''Mi Tambor'' (Paoli Mejias, 2004) * ''Transcend'' (not on label, 2006) * ''Jazzambia'' (CD Baby, 2008) * ''Abriendo Camino'' (Bandcamp, 2018) With

* ''Mirror'' (self-released, 2006) * ''Generations'' (Sunnyside, 2009) * ''Figurations'' (Sunnyside, 2012) With Luis Perdomo * ''Focus Point'' (RKM, 2004) * ''Links'' (Criss Cross, 2013) With David Sánchez * ''Melaza'' (Columbia, 2001) * ''Travesía'' (Columbia, 2002) * ''Coral'' (Sony, 2004) With others * Bobby Avey, ''Authority Melts From Me'' (Whirlwind, 2014) * Jeff Ballard, ''Time's Tales'' (Okeh, 2014) *

, ''Homage to Art Blakey'' (Sunnyside, 2003) *

Edmar Castañeda Edmar Castañeda (born 1978) is a Colombian harpist. He performs his own compositions as well as tapping into native music of Colombia and Venezuela. He leads a trio with David Silliman on drums and Marshall Gilkes on trombone. He has also been a ...

, ''Double Portion'' (2012) * Henry Cole, ''Roots Before Branches'' (2012) * Stephan Crump, ''Tuckahoe'' (Accurate, 2001) *

Adam Cruz } Adam Cruz is an American jazz drummer from New York City. Biography He is best known for his work with pianist Danilo Perez, saxophonist Steve Wilson, David Sanchez, and pianist Edward Simon. He has also toured and recorded with the Mingus ...

, ''Milestone'' (Sunnyside, 2012) * Alexis Cuadrado, ''A Lorca Soundscape'' (Sunnyside, 2013) * Fernando García, ''Guasábara Puerto Rico'' (Zoho, 2018) *

David Gilmore David Gilmore (born 5 February 1964) is an American jazz guitarist. Gilmore studied at New York University with Joe Lovano and Jim McNeely. In 1987 he began working professionally with the M-Base Collective and Ronald Shannon Jackson. In the ...

, ''Numerology – Live at The Jazz Standard'' (2012) *

Edsel Gomez Edsel Gomez (born August 9, 1962) is a Puerto Rican jazz pianist. In 2007, he was nominated for a Grammy Award for the album ''Cubist Music''. He arranged and directed Dee Dee Bridgewater's Grammy-winning recording '' Eleanora Fagan (1915-1959): T ...

, ''Cubist Music'' (Zoho, 2006) * Julien Labro, ''From This Point Forward'' (Azica, 2014) *

Jason Lindner Jason Lindner (born February 1, 1973) is an American pianist, keyboardist, synthesist, sound designer, composer, arranger and producer. Life and career Lindner was brought up in Brooklyn, New York City.Matzner, Frank A. (August 18, 2014"Jason Li ...

, ''Live at The Jazz Gallery'' (Ansic, 2007) * The

,* ''I Am Three'' (2005) * Stu Mindeman, ''Woven Threads'' (2018) *

, ''Sueño'' (November 2012) * PRISM Quartet, ''Heritage/Evolution Vol. 1'' (Innova, 2015) * Antonio Sánchez, ''

Live in New York at Jazz Standard ''Live in New York at Jazz Standard'' is a live album by drummer Antonio Sánchez which was recorded in New York in 2008 and released as a double CD on the CAM Jazz label in 2010. Reception On All About Jazz, John Kelman observed "''Live in New ...

'' (CAM Jazz, 2010) *

Anthony Tidd Anthony Tidd is a British-born bass player, composer and music producer, who has been based in the United States since 1996. A well-known name on the international jazz scene and veteran touring bass player, he has graced stages alongside many stapl ...

(Quite Sane), ''The Child of Troubled Times'' (Rykodisc, 2002) * Dan Weiss, ''Sixteen: Drummers Suite'' (Pi Recordings, 2016) *

, ''Coalition'' (Half Note, 2014)

As co-producer

With Jonathan Suazo * ''Extracts of a Desire'' With Raphael Pannier * ''Faune'' (French Paradox, 2020) With Gabriel Vicéns * ''The Way We Are Created'' (Inner Circle Music, 2021)

References

External links

Miguel Zenon's artist page

Yo Soy La Tradición on All Things Considered
NPR feature
Identities are Changeable on All Things Considered
NPR feature
Identities are Changeable on Jazz Night in America
NPR feature * *
"Miguel Zenon: Jazz Sherpa "
by Lawrence Peryer
AllAboutJazz.com
, October 10, 2011 - extensive interview {{DEFAULTSORT:Zenon, Miguel 1976 births Living people Jazz alto saxophonists Musicians from San Juan, Puerto Rico MacArthur Fellows Puerto Rican saxophonists 21st-century saxophonists Either/Orchestra members SFJAZZ Collective members Sunnyside Records artists Fresh Sounds Records artists