By Jen Aks-Neuman
GiG
1808 2nd St, Santa Fe, NM 87505
7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
$20 tickets can be purchased at the door
Saxophonist Stan Killian comes to Santa Fe for his New Mexico debut at GiG on Saturday July 30, 7:30 p.m. He’s performing with local two outstanding local Santa Fe jazz artists: John Rangel, piano and Asher Barreras, acoustic bass. They’ll be performing music from Killian’s two critically acclaimed Sunnyside Records releases “Unified” and “Evoke” as well as unveiling new compositions from his forthcoming album due out later this year.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Live at GiG, Sat, July 30 7:30 p.m.
Stan Killian’s New Mexico debut at GiG
An Intimate Evening of Original Jazz Music, Sax, piano and bass
New York–based tenor saxophonist and composer Stan Killian was born and raised in Texas. He began performing professionally at the age of 16 with his father, Joe Killian, a jazz pianist and Hammond organist who worked in bands led by sax legends Sonny Stitt, Jimmy Ford, and Don Wilkerson. Stan received a BA in Jazz Performance from Texas State University and soon began gigging in all the major cities of Texas. Motivated by a personal desire to form his own band, Killian teamed up with his father and began performing a weekly gig at the Caucus Club in Austin. He soon recorded his first album, Straight Ahead, which featured his father as well as mentors pianist Dr. James Polk and trumpeter Martin Banks. In 2006, he moved to the east coast, landing first in Baltimore and then in Washington, D.C., where he studied with Gary Thomas and Larry Willis. It was in D.C. that he first met the musicians who later formed the core of his quartet when he moved to New York City in 2008.
Killian performs “Beekman33” live in Denver
With a musical spirit reminiscent of Illinois Jacquet, Arnett Cobb, and James Clay, this twenty-first-century Texas Tenor seeks to modernize this rich lineage by developing a highly personalized saxophone sound and a distinct compositional approach. Killian’s live performances explore rich ensemble interplay steeped in simpatico and striking energy. In 2011, he released Unified, his first album for Sunnyside Records featuring contemporary jazz giants Roy Hargrove, David Binney and Jeremy Pelt. Each of the guest stars played an influential role in Killian’s development as an artist. The album received great reviews in JazzTimes, Downbeat, All About Jazz, The New York City Jazz Record, and many other publications. Soon after, he released Evoke, which focused on his 55 Bar working quintet featuring guitarist Mike Moreno. Evoke also garnered great reviews by critics, further solidifying Killian’s reputation in New York and beyond. Both albums were well received in Japan and prompted tours of Asia with concerts in Korea, Japan and China.
“Hindu” live at the 55 Bar in NYC
Now Killian performs his music regularly in Los Angeles, Denver, Mexico City, and all across the East Coast. His band holds a steady gig every 2nd Tuesday of the month at the legendary 55 Bar in New York City. Currently, Killian is working on the production of his third album due out later in 2016.
Killian plays John Coltrane’s “Naima” in Denver
Stan Killian, tenor sax and compositions
John Rangel, piano
Asher Barreras, acoustic bass
Killian performs “Kirby” in Mexico City
Killian performs “Evoke” live in Tokyo
Critical Praise
“The title track [Evoke] is a ballad that allows for more room, Killian’s full throated tenor less aggressive and more contemplative.” -John Ephland, Downbeat
“Stan Killian is reminiscent of Jimmy Heath in that his compositions and tenor saxophone work make each other better.” -Brit Robson, Jazztimes
“The ability to make the rigorous seem casual and the unexpected seem logical- as well as Killian’s winning musicianship- are what separate this disc from other merely solid mainstream recordings.”
-John Frederick Moore Jazziz
“Killian commands attention.” -Jon Ross, Downbeat Magazine August 2011
“His playing is smart but unpretentious, logical yet unrestrained. That kind of balance is hard to achieve in jazz…”
-Brian Zimmerman, Jazz Times May 3, 2011
Saturday, July 30,
GiG
1808 2nd St, Santa Fe, NM 87505
7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
$20 tickets can be purchased at the door
For information: bruce@brucedunlap.com