The Greg Abate Quartet will be in concert at 7:00 pm on Friday, January 19 at the Lyndon South Auditorium in the Jay S. Stroud Academic Center on the campus of Tabor Academy, 85 Spring Street, Marion. The concert is open to the public and admission is free.
Greg Abate – jazz saxophonist, flutist, and composer – continues as an International Jazz/Recording Artist. He will be joined by Matt Richard, piano; Todd Baker, bass; and Gary Johnson, drums for this concert.
In the mid-70s after finishing a four-year program at Berklee College Of Music, Greg played lead alto for the Ray Charles Orchestra for two years. In 1978, Greg formed his group Channel One which was a favorite in the New England area and from there had the opportunity to play tenor sax with the revived Artie Shaw Orchestra under leadership of Dick Johnson from 1986-87. Following this experience, Greg ventured out as post hard bop soloist playing Jazz Festivals, Jazz Societies and Jazz Clubs throughout the U.S., Canada and abroad, including most of Europe, UK, and Moscow and Georgia Russia. Greg recorded his first CD Live At Birdland NYC in 1991 on the Candid Jazz Label with the trio of James Williams, Rufus Reid and Kenny Washington. To this date, Greg has recorded over 17 other recordings as leader. Greg is also an adjunct professor of Jazz Studies at Rhode Island College and is also a very active jazz clinician with co. sponsorship from the Conn-Selmer Instrument Co., conducting workshops and master classes through the U.S. and abroad. Greg was inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame in 2016.