Chris Potter (born January 1, 1971) is an American
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. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
saxophonist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist.
Potter first came to prominence as a sideman with trumpeter
Red Rodney
Robert Roland Chudnick (September 27, 1927 – May 27, 1994), known professionally as Red Rodney, was an American jazz trumpeter.
Biography
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he became a professional musician at 15, working in the mid-1940 ...
(1992–1993), before extended stints with drummer
Paul Motian
Stephen Paul Motian (March 25, 1931 – November 22, 2011) was an American jazz drummer, percussionist, and composer of Armenian descent. He played an important role in freeing jazz drummers from strict time-keeping duties.
Motian first came t ...
(1994–2009), bassist
Dave Holland (1999–2007), trumpeter
Dave Douglas (1998–2003) and session work, while also maintaining an active solo career.
[Huey, Steve]
Chris Potter Biography
accessed 10 November 2015
Biography
Potter was born in Chicago, Illinois, but his family moved to
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of South Carolina. With a population of 136,632 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is List of municipalities in South Carolina, the second-mo ...
, where he spent his formative years. Potter showed an early interest in a wide variety of different music and learned several instruments, including the guitar and piano. He realized after hearing
Paul Desmond that the saxophone would be the vehicle that would best allow him to express himself musically.
He has been quoted by
Jazz Times as saying that, "Music has always been a vehicle for me to investigate the things that are important about life. It's been a way of figuring out what it is I need to say. Plus, I keep learning new things about it."
He took up the
alto saxophone
The alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments. Saxophones were invented by Belgians, Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in the 1840s and patented in 1846. The alto saxophone is pitched in the key of E♭ ( ...
at age 10, playing his first jazz gig at 13. He developed a devoted local following while performing with
Johnny Helms and
Terry Rosen. After leaving Columbia upon his graduation from
Dreher High School, Potter attended college in New York City, first at
The New School
The New School is a Private university, private research university in New York City. It was founded in 1919 as The New School for Social Research with an original mission dedicated to academic freedom and intellectual inquiry and a home for p ...
and later at the
Manhattan School of Music
The Manhattan School of Music (MSM) is a private music conservatory
A music school is an educational institution specialized in the study, training, and research of music. Such an institution can also be known as a school of music, music a ...
. In New York he began performing with
Red Rodney
Robert Roland Chudnick (September 27, 1927 – May 27, 1994), known professionally as Red Rodney, was an American jazz trumpeter.
Biography
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he became a professional musician at 15, working in the mid-1940 ...
. He is currently based in New York City.
Recordings
Potter has released over twenty albums as a leader and performed as a sideman on more than 150 more. Some of the artists he has played with include
Pat Metheny
Patrick Bruce Metheny ( ; born August 12, 1954) is an American jazz guitarist and composer.
He was the leader of the Pat Metheny Group (1977–2010) and continues to work in various small-combo, duet, and solo settings, as well as other side pr ...
,
Marian McPartland,
Patricia Barber
Patricia Barber (born November 8, 1955) is an American songwriter, composer, singer, and pianist.
Biography
Barber's father Floyd was a jazz saxophonist who played with Bud Freeman and Glenn Miller. She played saxophone and piano from a young a ...
,
Kenny Werner, the
Mingus Big Band,
Paul Motian
Stephen Paul Motian (March 25, 1931 – November 22, 2011) was an American jazz drummer, percussionist, and composer of Armenian descent. He played an important role in freeing jazz drummers from strict time-keeping duties.
Motian first came t ...
,
Ray Brown,
Jim Hall,
James Moody,
Dave Douglas,
Joe Lovano,
Mike Mainieri,
Nguyen Le,
Steve Swallow,
Steely Dan,
Dave Holland and
Joanne Brackeen.
His 2006 album ''Underground'', on which he recorded with an electric, "groove"-based ensemble featuring keyboardist
Craig Taborn, guitarists
Wayne Krantz or
Adam Rogers and drummer
Nate Smith, was followed by the expansive ''Follow the Red Line: Live at the Village Vanguard'' with Rogers on all six of its tracks. This group have reunited with Potter multiple times throughout his career, and recorded & toured extensively.
Awards and honors
Potter's 1998 album ''Vertigo'' was named one of the year's top ten jazz CDs by both Jazziz magazine and ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
''. The album was inspired by a bout of
Ménière's disease that caused severe dizziness and damaged his hearing in one ear.
He was nominated for a
Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo for his work on the
Joanne Brackeen album ''Pink Elephant Magic''. He was awarded the
Jazzpar Prize in 2000. His 2004 album ''Lift: Live at Village Vanguard'' was named one of the year's ten best jazz recordings by
Fred Kaplan of ''
Slate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous, metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade, regional metamorphism. It is the finest-grained foliated metamorphic ro ...
''.
Potter has appeared in the ''
Down Beat
''DownBeat'' (styled in all caps) is an American music magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond", the last word indicating its expansion beyond the jazz realm that it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1 ...
'' Critic's and Reader's Polls and named Rising Star for Best Tenor Saxophonist in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. He was honored as ''Tenor Saxophonist of the Year'' 2013 by the
Jazz Journalists Association.
Discography
As leader
* ''
Presenting Chris Potter'' (
Criss Cross Jazz, 1993)
* ''
Concentric Circles'' (
Concord Jazz, 1994)
* ''
Pure'' (Concord Jazz, 1995)
* ''
Sundiata'' (Criss Cross Jazz, 1995)
* ''
Moving In'' (Concord Jazz, 1996)
* ''
Concord Duo Series Volume Ten'' (Concord Jazz, 1996) with
Kenny Werner
* ''
Unspoken'' (Concord Jazz, 1997)
* ''
Vertigo
Vertigo is a condition in which a person has the sensation that they are moving, or that objects around them are moving, when they are not. Often it feels like a spinning or swaying movement. It may be associated with nausea, vomiting, perspira ...
'' (Concord Jazz, 1998)
* ''
This Will Be'' (
Storyville, 2001)
* ''
Gratitude
Gratitude, thankfulness, or gratefulness is a feeling of appreciation (or similar positive response) by a recipient of another's kindness. This kindness can be gifts, help, favors, or another form of generosity to another person.
The word come ...
'' (
Verve, 2001)
* ''
Traveling Mercies'' (Verve, 2002)
* ''
Lift: Live at the Village Vanguard'' (
Sunnyside, 2004)
* ''
Underground'' (Sunnyside, 2006)
* ''
Song for Anyone'' (Sunnyside, 2007)
* ''
Follow the Red Line'' (Sunnyside, 2007)
* ''
Ultrahang'' (
ArtistShare, 2009)
* ''
Transatlantic'' (Red Dot Music, 2011) with
DR Big Band
* ''
The Sirens'' (
ECM, 2013)
* ''
Imaginary Cities'' (ECM, 2015)
* ''
The Dreamer Is the Dream'' (ECM, 2017)
* ''
Circuits'' (
Edition, 2019)
* ''There Is a Tide'' (Edition, 2020)
* ''
Sunrise Reprise'' (Edition, 2021)
* ''Rituals'' (Double Moon Records, 2022) with
hr-Bigband
* ''
Got the Keys to the Kingdom: Live at the Village Vanguard'' (Edition, 2023)
* ''
Eagle's Point'' (Edition, 2024)
As sideman
With
David Binney
David Binney (born August 2, 1961) is an American alto saxophonist and composer.
Early life
Binney was born in Miami, Florida, and was raised in Carpinteria, California. From his parents, who loved music, he was exposed to albums by John Colt ...
* ''South'' (ACT, 2001)
* ''Welcome to Life'' (Mythology, 2004)
* ''Bastion of Sanity'' (Criss Cross Jazz, 2005)
* ''Graylen Epicenter'' (Mythology, 2011)
With
Scott Colley
* ''Portable Universe'' (Free Lance, 1996)
* ''
Subliminal...'' (Criss Cross Jazz, 1997)
* ''This Place'' (SteepleChase, 1998)
* ''The Magic Line'' (ArtistShare, 2008)
With
Dave Douglas
* ''
Magic Triangle'' (
Arabesque, 1998)
* ''
Leap of Faith'' (Arabesque, 1999)
* ''
The Infinite'' (
RCA, 2002)
* ''
Strange Liberation'' (
Bluebird, 2003)
With
Fleurine
* ''
San Francisco
San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...
'' (Sunnyside, 2008)
* ''Brazilian Dream'' (Sunnyside, 2018)
With
James Francies
* ''Flight'' (Blue Note, 2018)
With
Greg Gisbert
* ''Harcology'' (Criss Cross Jazz, 1994)
* ''On Second Thought'' (Criss Cross Jazz, 1994)
With
Dave Holland
* ''
Prime Directive'' (ECM, 1999)
* ''
Not for Nothin''' (ECM, 2001)
* ''
What Goes Around'' (ECM, 2002)
* ''
Extended Play: Live at Birdland'' (ECM, 2003)
* ''
Overtime
Overtime is the amount of time someone works beyond normal working hours. The term is also used for the pay received for this time. Normal hours may be determined in several ways:
*by custom (what is considered healthy or reasonable by society) ...
'' (Dare2, 2005)
* ''
Critical Mass'' (Dare2, 2006)
* ''The Monterey Quartet (Dave Holland, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Eric Harland)'' (Live at the 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival, 2007)
* ''
Pathways'' (Dare2, 2010)
* ''
Aziza'' (Dare2, 2016)
* ''Good Hope'' (Edition, 2019)
With
Ryan Kisor
* ''On the One'' (Columbia, 1993)
* ''Power Source'' (Criss Cross Jazz, 1999)
With
Susannah McCorkle
* ''Easy to Love: The Songs of Cole Porter'' (Concord Jazz, 1996)
* ''Let's Face the Music: The Songs of Irving Berlin'' (Concord Jazz, 1997)
* ''Someone to Watch Over Me: The Songs of George Gershwin'' (Concord Jazz, 1998)
With
Pat Metheny
Patrick Bruce Metheny ( ; born August 12, 1954) is an American jazz guitarist and composer.
He was the leader of the Pat Metheny Group (1977–2010) and continues to work in various small-combo, duet, and solo settings, as well as other side pr ...
* ''
Unity Band'' (
Nonesuch, 2012)
* ''
KIN (←→)'' (Nonesuch, 2014)
* ''
The Unity Sessions
''The Unity Sessions'' is an album by American jazz guitarist Pat Metheny and his Unity Band: saxophonist Chris Potter (jazz saxophonist), Chris Potter, bassist Ben Williams (musician), Ben Williams, keyboardist Giulio Carmassi and drummer Anton ...
'' (Nonesuch, 2016)
With
Mingus Big Band
* ''Mingus Big Band 93 - Nostalgia in Times Square'' (Dreyfus, 1993)
* ''!Que Viva Mingus!'' (Dreyfus, 1997)
With
Paul Motian
Stephen Paul Motian (March 25, 1931 – November 22, 2011) was an American jazz drummer, percussionist, and composer of Armenian descent. He played an important role in freeing jazz drummers from strict time-keeping duties.
Motian first came t ...
* ''
Reincarnation of a Love Bird'' (
JMT, 1994)
* ''
Flight of the Blue Jay'' (
Winter & Winter, 1997)
* ''
Trio 2000 + One'' (Winter & Winter, 1998)
* ''
Play Monk and Powell'' (Winter & Winter, 1999)
* ''
On Broadway Vol. 4 or The Paradox of Continuity'' (Winter & Winter, 2006)
* ''
Live at the Village Vanguard'' (Winter & Winter, 2006)
* ''
Live at the Village Vanguard Vol. II'' (Winter & Winter, 2007)
* ''
Live at the Village Vanguard Vol. III'' (Winter & Winter, 2008)
* ''
Lost in a Dream'' with
Jason Moran (ECM, 2010)
With
John Patitucci
* ''One More Angel'' (Concord Jazz, 1997)
* ''Now'' (Concord Jazz, 1998)
* ''Imprint'' (Concord Jazz, 2000)
* ''Line by Line'' (Concord Jazz, 2006)
* ''Live in Italy'' (Concord Jazz, 2022)
With
Adam Rogers
* ''Allegory'' (Criss Cross Jazz, 2003)
* ''Apparitions'' (Criss Cross Jazz, 2005)
With
Renee Rosnes
* ''Ancestors'' (Blue Note, 1996)
*
As We Are Now (Blue Note, 1997)
* ''Life on Earth'' (Blue Note, 2001)
* ''Beloved of the Sky'' (Smoke Sessions, 2018)
With
Alex Sipiagin
* ''Images'' (TCB, 1998)
* ''Steppin' Zone'' (Criss Cross Jazz, 2001)
* ''Equilibrium'' (Criss Cross Jazz, 2004)
* ''Prints'' (Criss Cross Jazz, 2007)
* ''Destinations Unknown'' (Criss Cross Jazz, 2011)
* ''Overlooking Moments'' (Criss Cross Jazz, 2013)
* ''Moments Captured'' (Criss Cross Jazz, 2017)
* ''Horizons'' (Blue Room Music, 2024)
With
Steely Dan
* ''
Alive in America'' (Giant, 1995)
* ''
Two Against Nature'' (Giant, 2000)
* ''
Everything Must Go'' (Reprise, 2003)
With
Steve Swallow
* ''
Deconstructed'' (Xtra Watt, 1997)
* ''
Always Pack Your Uniform on Top'' (Xtra Watt, 2000)
* ''
Damaged in Transit'' (Xtra Watt, 2003)
With
John Swana
* ''The Feeling's Mutual'' (Criss Cross Jazz, 1993)
* ''Tug of War'' (Criss Cross Jazz, 1999)
With
Joris Teepe
* ''Seven Days a Week'' (VIA Jazz, 1998)
* ''For Adults Only'' (Postcards, 2000)
With others
*
Red Rodney
Robert Roland Chudnick (September 27, 1927 – May 27, 1994), known professionally as Red Rodney, was an American jazz trumpeter.
Biography
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he became a professional musician at 15, working in the mid-1940 ...
, ''Then and Now'' (Chesky, 1992)
*
LaVerne Butler, ''No Looking Back'' (Chesky, 1993)
*
Marian McPartland, ''In My Life'' (Concord Jazz, 1993)
*
Peter Madsen, ''Snuggling Snakes'' (Minor Music, 1993)
*
James Moody, ''Live at the Blue Note'' (Telarc, 1995)
*
Randy Sandke, ''The Chase'' (Concord Jazz, 1995)
*
Billy Drummond, ''Dubai'' (Criss Cross Jazz, 1996)
*
Per Husby, ''If You Could See Me Now'' (Gemini 1996)
*
Marlena Shaw, ''Dangerous'' (Concord Jazz, 1996)
*
Ray Drummond, ''
Vignettes'' (Arabesque, 1996)
*
Karrin Allyson, Scott Hamilton, Concord Jazz Festival All-Stars, ''Fujitsu-Concord 27th Jazz Festival'' (Concord, 1996)
*
Eden Atwood, ''A Night in the Life'' (Concord Jazz, 1996)
*
Billy Hart
Billy Hart (born November 29, 1940) is an American jazz drumming, jazz drummer and educator. He is known internationally for his work with Herbie Hancock's "Mwandishi" band in the early 1970s, as well as with Shirley Horn, Stan Getz, and Quest (b ...
, ''
Oceans of Time'' (Arabesque, 1997)
*
Ed Palermo Big Band, ''Plays the Music of Frank Zappa'' (Astor Place, 1997)
*
The Seatbelts, ''Cowboy Bebop: Vitaminless'' (Victor, 1998)
*
Jochen Rueckert, ''Introduction'' (Jazzline, 1998)
*
Jim Hall, ''Jazzpar Quartet + 4'' (Storyville, 1998)
*
Allen Farnham, ''Meets the RIAS Big Band'' (Concord, 1998)
*
Joanne Brackeen, ''
Pink Elephant Magic'' (Arkadia Jazz, 1999)
*
Sarah Jane Cion, ''Moon Song'' (Naxos, 2000)
*
Antonio Farao, ''Thorn'' (Enja, 2000)
*
John Fedchock, ''Hit the Bricks'' (Reservoir, 2000)
*
Nnenna Freelon, ''Soulcall'' (Concord Jazz, 2000)
*
Nguyen Le, ''Bakida'' (ACT, 2000)
* Michael Gibbs (composer), Mike Gibbs, ''Nonsequence'' (Provocateur, 2001)
* Larry Carlton, ''Deep Into It'' (Warner Bros., 2001)
* Rene Marie, ''Vertigo'' (MAXJAZZ, 2001)
* Joachim Kuhn, ''Universal Time'' (EmArcy, 2002)
* Kenny Rankin, ''A Song for You'' (Verve, 2002)
* Chuck Loeb, ''eBop'' (Shanachie, 2003)
* Josh Roseman, ''Treats for the Nightwalker'' (Enja, 2003)
* Lizz Wright, ''Salt'' (Verve, 2003)
* Wayne Shorter, ''Alegria'' (Verve, 2003)
* Mike Clark (jazz musician), Mike Clark with Billy Childs and Chris Potter, ''Summertime'' (JazzKey, 2003)
* Jim Rotondi, ''New Vistas'' (Criss Cross Jazz, 2004)
* Enrico Pieranunzi, Paul Motian, with Chris Potter, ''Doorways'' (CAM Jazz, 2004)
* Kenny Wheeler, ''What Now? (Kenny Wheeler album), What Now?'' (CAM Jazz, 2005)
* Malene Mortensen, ''Malene'' (Stunt, 2006)
* Miles Okazaki, ''Mirror'' (2006)
* Mark Sholtez, ''Real Street'' (Verve, 2006)
*
Kenny Werner, ''Lawn Chair Society'' (Blue Note, 2007)
* Luciana Souza, ''The New Bossa Nova'' (Verve, 2007)
* Mark Soskin, ''One Hopeful Day'' (Kind of Blue, 2007)
* Antonio Sánchez (drummer), Antonio Sánchez, ''Migration (Antonio Sánchez album), Migration'' (CAM Jazz, 2007)
*
Patricia Barber
Patricia Barber (born November 8, 1955) is an American songwriter, composer, singer, and pianist.
Biography
Barber's father Floyd was a jazz saxophonist who played with Bud Freeman and Glenn Miller. She played saxophone and piano from a young a ...
, ''The Cole Porter Mix'' (Blue Note 2008)
* Walter Becker, ''Circus Money'' (Mailboat, 2008)
* Ari Hoenig, ''Bert's Playground'' (Dreyfus, 2008)
* Joe Martin (bassist), Joe Martin, ''Not by Chance'' (Anzic, 2009)
* Tim Ries, ''Live at Smalls'' (SmallsLIVE, 2010)
* Sophie Milman, ''In the Moonlight'' (eOne, 2011)
* Adam Cruz, ''Milestone'' (Sunnyside, 2011)
* Mike Stern, ''All Over the Place (Mike Stern album), All Over the Place'' (Heads Up International, Heads Up, 2012)
* Burak Bedikyan, ''Circle of Life'' (SteepleChase, 2013)
* Monika Borzym, ''My Place'' (Sony 2013)
* Eldar Djangirov, ''Breakthrough'' (Motema, 2013)
* John Escreet, ''Sabotage and Celebration'' (Whirlwind, 2013)
* Monika Borzym, ''My Place'' (Sony 2013)
* Dave Stryker, ''Messin' with Mister T'' (Strikezone 2015)
* Scott Tixier, ''Cosmic Adventure'' (Sunnyside, 2016)
* Ben Patterson Jazz Orchestra Featuring Chris Potter, ''Vital Frequencies'' (Bonecat 2016)
* Mihaly Dresch with Chris Potter, ''Zea'' (Budapest Music Center, 2016)
* Joey Alexander, ''Countdown'' (Motema, 2016)
* Marek Napiorkowski, ''WAW-NYC'' (Wydawnictwo Agora, 2017)
*
Nate Smith, ''Kinfolk: Postcards from Everywhere'' (Ropeadope, 2017)
* Randy Waldman, ''Super Heroes'' (BFM, 2018)
* Jon Cowherd, Pride & Joy (Le Coq, 2022)
References
External links
Official website"Twelve Essential Chris Potter Performances"by Jacob Teichroew,
Jazz.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Potter, Chris
1971 births
Jazz musicians from Chicago
21st-century American saxophonists
American jazz composers
American jazz saxophonists
American male saxophonists
Criss Cross Jazz artists
DR Big Band members
Living people
American male jazz composers
Manhattan School of Music alumni
Mingus Big Band members
21st-century American male musicians
Edition Records artists
Concord Records artists
ECM Records artists
Verve Records artists
Sunnyside Records artists
Universal Music Group artists
ArtistShare artists
People with Ménière's disease
Steely Dan members
SFJAZZ Collective members