Jason Yarde (born 1970) is an English jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger, producer and music director. He has worked with a wide range of artists and music ensembles, including Denys Baptiste, The Blind Boys Of Alabama, McCoy Tyner, Andrew Hill, Jack DeJohnette, Hugh Masekela and the London Symphony Orchestra.[1][2]
Jason Yarde | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1970 (age 53–54) Beckenham, England |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, arranger, producer, music director |
| Instrument | Saxophones |
| Formerly of | Jazz Warriors; Tomorrow's Warriors |
Early life and education
editYarde was born in 1970 in Beckenham, England, to Guyanese parents.[3] While still a teenager at school,[4] he began playing alto and soprano saxophone with the Jazz Warriors, and went on to become their music director.[5]
He studied at Middlesex University, obtaining a BA (Hons) in Performance Arts; the degree incorporated a year at William Paterson College, New Jersey, studying orchestration, studio engineering, jazz performance and saxophone under Joe Lovano, Gary Smulyan and Steve Wilson. [5]
Music career
editYarde was member of Anthony Tidd's Quite Sane band, which won the Capital Radio band of the year award in 1992.[6] He has also been associated with Tomorrow's Warriors since it was started,[7] including leading the J-Life quintet, featuring vocalist Julie Dexter.[8][9]
In 2007, his work All Souls Seek Joy was premiered by Hugh Masekela and the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre.[10]
Yarde's BBC Proms composition Rhythm and Other Fascinations, for piano trio and the BBC Concert Orchestra, won the inaugural BASCA award for Contemporary Jazz Composition in 2009,[11][12] with the judges describing his work as "innovative, accomplished and entertaining. It achieves that difficult double act of looking back in homage to a bye-gone era and at the same time, achieving a very contemporary vision."[13]
In 2010, Yarde was a recipient of a Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award, "the most generous arts prize in the UK".[14]
References
edit- ^ "Jason Yarde". Hyperion. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ "JASON YARDE alto/baritone saxophones". Hexagonal. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ Le Gendre, Kevin (23 November 2007). "Instruments of change: Black performers are still a rarity on the classical stage in Britain, but the LSO's new collaboration with Hugh Masekela is a welcome sign of progress". The Guardian.
- ^ Fordham, John (1 June 2005). "Review | Jason Yarde | Queen Elizabeth Hall, London". The Guardian.
- ^ a b "Jason Yarde". AllAboutJazz. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ "About Quite Sane", quitesane.com.
- ^ "Andrew McCormack and Jason Yarde… new album". Tomorrow's Warriors. 6 October 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ "Julie Dexter/J-life Never Will I Marry .mov". 1998. Retrieved 1 January 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Awards & Recognition". Tomorrow's Warriors. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "Hugh Masekela Concert With LSO And Jason Yarde". Jazzwise. 2 November 2007.
- ^ "Jason Yarde | Jazz Adjudicator". BBC Young Musician 2022. BBC Four.
- ^ Ferguson, Tom (2 December 2009). "Jazzer Jason Yarde Honored At British Composer Awards". Billboard. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
- ^ "Jazz breaking news: Jason Yarde Scoops Composer Award". Jazzwise. 2 December 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
- ^ Flynn, Mike (11 October 2010). "Jazz breaking news: Jason Yarde Wins Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award". Retrieved 6 November 2024.
External links
edit- Jason Yarde at Serious.org.