Chris Cheek
Encyclopedia
Chris Cheek is an American jazz
saxophonist. He has worked as a sideman
on more than sixty albums in his career, and has been bandleader
of four critically acclaimed solo albums.
, Missouri
. His early love of music was encouraged; his father was the director of a Junior high school
band, and Cheek began learning to play the alto saxophone
at age twelve. Upon graduation from high school, Cheek attended Webster University
. Upon receiving a scholarship
to the Berklee College of Music
, he studied there under Joe Viola, Hal Crook
, and Herb Pomeroy
, and earned his bachelor's degree
. He moved to New York
in 1992, where he has played with Paul Motian
, Guillermo Klein
, Seamus Blake
, Stephan Crump, Mika Pohjola
, David Berkman
, and Jen Chapin
.
His debut release as a leader, I Wish I Knew appeared in 1997 and featured Kurt Rosenwinkel
, and by 2010, three more solo albums with Cheek as bandleader
on the Fresh Sound
label followed; A Girl Named Joe (1997), Vine (1999), and Blues Cruise, in 2005. Cheek has appeared on more than sixty albums as a session musician
.
and the Electric Bebop Band
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
saxophonist. He has worked as a sideman
Sideman
A sideman is a professional musician who is hired to perform or record with a group of which he or she is not a regular member. They often tour with solo acts as well as bands and jazz ensembles. Sidemen are generally required to be adaptable to many different styles of music, and so able to fit...
on more than sixty albums in his career, and has been bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
of four critically acclaimed solo albums.
Biography
Cheek was born and raised in St. LouisSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. His early love of music was encouraged; his father was the director of a Junior high school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
band, and Cheek began learning to play the alto saxophone
Alto saxophone
The alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in 1841. It is smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and is the type most used in classical compositions...
at age twelve. Upon graduation from high school, Cheek attended Webster University
Webster University
Webster University is an American non-profit private university with its main campus in Webster Groves, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. Webster University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools...
. Upon receiving a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
to the Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
, he studied there under Joe Viola, Hal Crook
Hal Crook
Hal Crook 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.- Discography :* Hello Heaven * Only Human...
, and Herb Pomeroy
Herb Pomeroy
Irving Herbert "Herb" Pomeroy, III was an influential swing and bebop jazz trumpeter and educator...
, and earned his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
. He moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1992, where he has played with Paul Motian
Paul Motian
Stephen Paul Motian was an American jazz drummer, percussionist and composer of Armenian extraction.He first came to prominence in the late 1950s in the piano trio of Bill Evans, and later led several groups...
, Guillermo Klein
Guillermo Klein
Guillermo Klein 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 stylistic concepts, Klein has garnered much respect from the jazz...
, Seamus Blake
Seamus Blake
-Life and career:Born in London, England, Blake was brought up in Vancouver, Canada. His mother introduced him to jazz when he was a child and he later attended Berklee School of Music in Boston. Upon graduation moved to New York. In February 2002 he won the Thelonious Monk International Saxophone...
, Stephan Crump, Mika Pohjola
Mika Pohjola
Mika Pohjola is a Finnish-born jazz pianist and composer, who resides in New York City. He is one of the most prolific Scandinavian jazz musicians in his generation.-Childhood in Helsinki, Finland 1971-87:...
, David Berkman
David Berkman
David Berkman, born December 28, 1958 is a jazz pianist, composer, arranger and educator. Berkman came of age in Cleveland, Ohio playing in house bands for visiting jazz greats Sonny Stitt, Hank Crawford and Carter Jefferson and local heroes Joe Lovano, Jamey Haddad and Greg Bandy...
, and Jen Chapin
Jen Chapin
Jen Chapin is an American vocalist. She is the daughter of singer-songwriter Harry Chapin and his wife, Sandra Chapin. She also chairs the Board of Directors of World Hunger Year, a charity organization founded by Harry Chapin. She has been compared at times with Laura Nyro, Tori Amos, and Alanis...
.
His debut release as a leader, I Wish I Knew appeared in 1997 and featured Kurt Rosenwinkel
Kurt Rosenwinkel
Kurt Rosenwinkel is an American jazz guitarist and keyboardist who came to prominence in the 1990s.-Biography:He attended the Berklee School of Music for two and a half years before leaving in his junior year to tour with Gary Burton, the dean of the school at the time...
, and by 2010, three more solo albums with Cheek as bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
on the Fresh Sound
Fresh Sound
Fresh Sound, or Fresh Sound New Talent, is a Spanish jazz label based in Barcelona, specializing in American jazz music.Fresh Sound was founded in 1983 as a reissue label for 1950s jazz...
label followed; A Girl Named Joe (1997), Vine (1999), and Blues Cruise, in 2005. Cheek has appeared on more than sixty albums as a session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
.
As leader
- I Wish I Knew with Kurt RosenwinkelKurt RosenwinkelKurt Rosenwinkel is an American jazz guitarist and keyboardist who came to prominence in the 1990s.-Biography:He attended the Berklee School of Music for two and a half years before leaving in his junior year to tour with Gary Burton, the dean of the school at the time...
, Chris HigginsChris HigginsChris Higgins may refer to:*Christopher Higgins , ice hockey player*Chris Higgins , vice-chancellor of Durham University...
, Jordi RossyJorge RossyJorge Rossy is a jazz drummer. He started playing drums at age 11.Between 1980 and 1989, he toured and recorded extensively with several musicians in the Spanish jazz scene, as well as with internationally acclaimed artists such as Woody Shaw, Kenny Wheeler, Jack Walrath, Dave Schinitter, Sal...
(Fresh SoundFresh SoundFresh Sound, or Fresh Sound New Talent, is a Spanish jazz label based in Barcelona, specializing in American jazz music.Fresh Sound was founded in 1983 as a reissue label for 1950s jazz...
, 1997) - FSNT 022 (1997) - The Secret of the Castle with Mika PohjolaMika PohjolaMika Pohjola is a Finnish-born jazz pianist and composer, who resides in New York City. He is one of the most prolific Scandinavian jazz musicians in his generation.-Childhood in Helsinki, Finland 1971-87:...
, Matt Penman, Roberto Dani (Blue Music Group), 1997) - Announcement with Mika PohjolaMika PohjolaMika Pohjola is a Finnish-born jazz pianist and composer, who resides in New York City. He is one of the most prolific Scandinavian jazz musicians in his generation.-Childhood in Helsinki, Finland 1971-87:...
, Matt Penman, Roberto Dani (Blue Music Group), 1997) - A Girl Named Joe with Mark TurnerMark Turner (musician)Mark Turner is a jazz saxophonist and clarinetist with several recordings to his credit.-Biographical information:Born in Fairborn, Ohio, and raised in Southern California, Turner originally intended to become a commercial artist. In elementary school he played the clarinet, followed by the alto...
, Jorge Rossy, Dan Rieser, Ben MonderBen Monder-Biography:Monder attended the University of Miami. He has worked with a wide variety of musicians including Lee Konitz, Toots Thielmans, Paul Motian and Maria Schneider....
, Marc Johnson (Fresh Sound, 1997) - Vine with Brad MehldauBrad MehldauBrad Mehldau is an American jazz pianist. Besides leading his own group, the Brad Mehldau Trio, he has performed with many renowned artists, including Pat Metheny, Wayne Shorter, Larry Grenadier, Peter Bernstein, Jeff Ballard, Joshua Redman, Christian McBride, Michael Brecker, Chris Potter, Kurt...
, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Matt Penman, Jordi Rossy (Fresh Sound, 1999) - Live at Jamboree: Guilty with Ethan IversonEthan IversonEthan Iverson is a pianist, composer, and critic best known for his work in the postmodern jazz trio The Bad Plus, with bassist Reid Anderson and drummer Dave King....
, Ben StreetBen StreetBen Street is a New York-area jazz double bassist. He has played with many great jazz artists, notably Kurt Rosenwinkel on the album Next Step, Ben Monder on the album Dust and Sam Rivers on the album Violet Violets...
, Jorge Rossy (Fresh Sound, 2000) - Live at Jamboree: Lazy Afternoon with Ethan Iverson, Ben Street, and Jorge Rossy (Fresh Sound, 2002)
- Blues Cruise (Fresh Sound, 2005)
- Little Things (Animal Music, 2009) with Jaromír Honzák Quintet
As sideman
With Paul MotianPaul Motian
Stephen Paul Motian was an American jazz drummer, percussionist and composer of Armenian extraction.He first came to prominence in the late 1950s in the piano trio of Bill Evans, and later led several groups...
and the Electric Bebop Band
- Reincarnation of a Love Bird (JMT, 1994)
- Flight of the Blue JayFlight of the Blue JayFlight of the Blue Jay is an album by Paul Motian released on the German Winter & Winter label in 1997 and featuring performances of bebop jazz standards by Motian with the Electric Bebop Band...
(Winter & Winter 1996) - Play Monk and PowellPlay Monk and PowellPlay Monk and Powell is an album by Paul Motian and the Electric Bebop Band released on the German Winter & Winter label in 1999 and featuring performances of tunes by Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell...
(Winter & Winter, 1998) - EuropeEurope (Paul Motian album)Europe is an album by Paul Motian and the Electric Bebop Band released on the German Winter & Winter label in 2000. The album is the group's fifth release following Paul Motian and the Electric Bebop Band , Reincarnation of a Love Bird , Flight of the Blue Jay and Play Monk and Powell...
(Winter & Winter, 2000) - Holiday for StringsHoliday for Strings (Paul Motian album)Holiday for Strings is an album by Paul Motian and the Electric Bebop Band released on the German Winter & Winter label in 2002. The album is the group's sixth release.-Reception:...
(Winter & Winter, 2001) - Garden of EdenGarden of Eden (album)Garden of Eden is an album by jazz drummer Paul Motian recorded in 2004 and released on the ECM label in 2005.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 4 stars stating "Motian has been on a creative and compositional tear, and has been since the mid-'80s...
(ECM, 2004)
External links
- Chris Cheek.net/
- [ Chris Cheek discography] at Allmusic