Miguel Zenón

Miguel Zenón (born December 30, 1976) is an alto saxophonist, composer and bandleader.

Biography
“This young musician and composer is at once reestablishing the artistic, cultural, and social tradition of jazz while creating an entirely new jazz language for the 21st century.”—MacArthur Foundation,2008. Multiple Grammy Nominee and Guggenheim and MacArthur Fellow Miguel Zenón represents a select group of musicians who have masterfully balanced and blended the often-contradictory poles of innovation and tradition. Widely considered as one of the most groundbreaking and influential saxophonists of his generation, he has also developed a unique voice as a composer and as a conceptualist, concentrating his efforts on perfecting a fine mix between Latin American Folkloric Music and Jazz. His latest recording is Rayuela (Sunnyside Records 2012), a colaboration with french pianist/composer Laurent Coq. It was inspired by the literary masterpiece of the same name by argentinean writer Julio Cortázar (Hopscotch in english) and the compositions on the recording look to translate some of the most memorable characters and passages from the book into musical terms. They are joined by Dana Leong (cello and trombone) and Dan Weiss (tabla, drums and percussion), masterful musicians who help create the unique ensemble sound that distinguishes this very special project. Alma Adentro (Marsalis Music, 2011), is a tribute to The Puerto Rican Songbook. On it he arranges and explores the music of five legendary Puerto Rican composers: Bobby Capó, Tite Curet Alonso, Pedro Flores, Rafael Hernández, and Sylvia Rexach (whom he considers “the George Gershwins, Cole Porters and Jerome Kerns of Puerto Rican song”). The recording features his longtime working quartet of pianist Luis Perdomo, bassist Hans Glawischnig and drummer Henry Cole, plus a ten piece woodwind ensemble orchestrated and conducted by close friend and collaborator Guillermo Klein. This groundbreaking project both honors the music of these masters while at the same time exposing their music to new audiences. Alma Adentro was chosen as the Best Jazz Recording of 2011 by iTunes and NPR, and was Nominated for a 2012 Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Zenón studied classical saxophone at the Escuela Libre de Música in Puerto Rico before receiving a bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies from Berklee College of Music, and a master’s degree in Jazz Performance at Manhattan School of Music. Zenón’s more formal studies, however, are supplemented and enhanced by his vast and diverse experience as a sideman and collaborator. Throughout his career he has divided his time equally between working with older jazz masters and  working with the music’s younger innovators—irrespective of styles and genres. The list of musicians Zenón has toured and/or recorded with includes: The SFJAZZ Collective, Charlie Haden, Fred Hersh, Kenny Werner, David Sánchez, The Village Vanguard Orchestra, The Mingus Big Band, Bobby Hutcherson and Steve Coleman. He is a founding member of the groundbreaking SFJAZZ Collective, a group whose past and current members include Bobby Hutcherson, Joe Lovano, Joshua Redman, Brian Blade, Nicholas Payton, Dave Douglas, and Eric Harland. In 2012, Zenón’s association with SFJAZZ will further expand to include his new role as resident artistic director along with Bill Frisell, Jason Moran, Regina Carter and John Santos. Zenón’s seven recordings as a leader (including the above mentioned Rayuela and Alma Adentro) represent not only his growth as a musician, but also his ability to constantly evolve and reinvent himself as a conceptualist and producer. His debut CD, Looking Forward (Fresh Sound New Talent, 2002), represents a snapshot of the very eclectic musical interests of the then 24 year old musician, and was selected by the New York Times as the number one “alternative” jazz recording of 2002. His second recording as a leader, Ceremonial (Marsalis Music, 2004), was described by All About Jazz as a “ head on crash of Latin, Jazz and Classical traditions--modern Jazz at it’s very best, ”  and  garnered unanimous critical praise and recognition both within and outside the jazz world. Jíbaro (Marsalis Music, 2005), his third recording, was further proof that all the critical praise he had been receiving was well deserved. The recording is an exploration of a  style of popular Puerto Rican folk music known as La Música Jíbara. The Chicago Tribune summed it up best when they wrote:  “The instrumental prowess of Zenon's playing, the vigor of his compositions and the sensitivity of his band to Puerto Rican song forms point to new possibilities in jazz.” Like his previous recordings, Jíbaro was uniformly well received and appeared on many top ten lists including The New York Times, Latin Beat, El Nuevo Día, and the Chicago Tribune. Decidedly more personal and introspective, Awake (Marsalis Music, 2008) incorporates a string quartet and additional horns to Zenón's core group and brings to the forefront his formidable skills as a writer and arranger. As was admirably put in Audiophile Audition: “ This is an album far beyond the usual sax & string outing,  revealing a unique statement that communicates passion, intellect and spirit to the listener." Awake also caught the attention of  the international  press, garnering  it 5 star reviews and top honors in publications like Jazzwise (UK), Jazz Man (France) and Jazz Magazine (France). Zenón returned to his Puerto Rican roots for inspiration in his next outing, Esta Plena (Marsalis Music, 2009), which draws from the traditional Plena music style of his home country and was supported by a fellowship from the prestigious John Simon Guggenheim Foundation. On it  Zenón augmented his quartet  to include three percussionists/vocalists and took on the additional roles of both lyricist and vocalist. Jazz Times wrote  that Esta Plena is  “…music with integrity, energy, poise and a fresh vision of how the Afro-Caribbean jazz aesthetic can evolve without losing its deep roots." In addition to being hailed by critics (New York Times, Village Voice, El Nuevo Día, Downbeat, The Chicago Tribune ) as one of the best recordings of 2009,  the recording earned Zenón two Grammy nominations (one for Best Improvised solo and  one for Best Latin Jazz Recording of the year) as well as a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Latin Jazz Recording of the year. His eight recording as a leader, Oye!!! Live in Puerto Rico, will be released in May 2013 under his own Miel Music label. It features The Rhythm Collective, with Tony Escapa on drums, Aldemar Valentin on electric bass and Reinaldo de Jesus on percussion. As a composer he has been commissioned by SFJAZZ, The New York State Council for the Arts, Chamber Music America, The John Simon Guggenheim Foundation, Jazz Reach, Montclair University, and many of his peers. He has been featured in articles on publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune, Jazz Times, Jazziz, Boston Globe, Billboard, Newsday, Details, as well as gracing the cover of Downbeat Magazine and the Swiss jazz magazine, Jazz N More. He has also topped the Rising Star Alto Sax category of the Downbeat Critic's Poll on four different occasions and was chosen by both the 2012 Jazz Times Reader's and Critic's Poll as the top Alto Saxophonis of the year. Zenon’s biography would not be complete without discussing his role as an educator. In 2003, he was chosen by the Kennedy Center to teach and perform in West Africa as part of their Jazz Ambassador program. Since then, he has  given hundreds of lectures and master classes and  has taught all over the world at institutions which include:  The  Banff Centre,  Berklee College of Music, Siena Jazz, Conservatorium Van Amsterdam,  Conservatoire de Paris, Barnard College, University of Manitoba, Manhattan School of Music, University of Massachusetts Amherst and the Brubeck Institute. He is also a permanent faculty member at New England Conservatory of Music. But perhaps what best reflects his commitment to education and cements his growing reputation as a "cultural ambassador", is a program that he founded in 2011, called Caravana Cultural. The main purpose of Caravana Cultural is to present free Jazz concerts in rural areas of Puerto Rico. The program makes a "cultural investment" in the Island by giving these communities a chance to listen to jazz of the highest caliber (Zenón invites some of the best musicians in the New York jazz scene to perform as guests), while at the same time getting young Puerto Rican musicians actively involved in the concert activities. Starting in February 2011,  Zenón will present a concert every four months. Each concert focuses on the music of a specific jazz legend (Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, among others) and is preceded by a pre-concert presentation which touches on the basic elements of jazz and improvisation. Over the last six years Zenón has also personally organized "Jazz Jam Sessions" in the area of San Juan, as a way of creating a platform for younger jazz musicians to grow and interact with one another. In 2008 he was selected as one of 25 distinguished individuals to receive the prestigious and coveted MacArthur Fellowship, more commonly known as the "Genius Grant”. Zenón lives in New York City with his wife Elga and their daughter.

Discography
AS LEADER: AS SIDEMAN:
 * Rayuela w/ Laurent Coq - Sunnyside Records (2012)
 * Alma Adentro: The Puerto Rican Songbook - Marsalis Music (2011)
 * Esta Plena – Marsalis Music (2009)
 * Awake – Marsalis Music (2008)
 * Jibaro - Marsalis Music (2005)
 * Ceremonial – Marsalis Music (2004)
 * Looking Forward – Fresh Sound New Talent (2002)
 * Andy Montañez, Sueño (November 2012)
 * David Gilmore, Numerology - Live at The Jazz Standard (September 2012)
 * Guillermo Klein, Carrera (May 2012)/Sunnyside Records
 * Miles Okazaki,Figurations (May 2012)/ Sunnyside Records
 * Edmar Castaneda, Double Portion (March 2012)
 * Henry Cole & The Afrobeat Collective, Roots Before Branches (March 2012)
 * SFJAZZ Collective, Live 2011 8th Annual Concert Tour (September 2011) SFJAZZ Records
 * Aaron Goldberg & Guillermo Klein, Bienestan (June 2011)/ Sunnyside Records
 * Adam Cruz, Milestone (April 2011)/ Sunnyside Records
 * SFJAZZ Collective, Live 2010 7th Annual Concert Tour (October 2010) SFJAZZ Records
 * Antonio Sanchez, Live In New York At The Jazz Standard (August 2010) CAM Jazz
 * SFJAZZ Collective, Live 2009 6th Annual Concert Tour (October 2009) SFJAZZ Records
 * Miles Okazaki,Generations (2009)/ Sunnyside Records
 * Paoli Mejias, Jazzambia (2008)
 * SFJAZZ Collective, Live 2008 5th Annual Concert Tour (October 2008) SFJAZZ Records
 * Guillermo Klein, Filtros (2008)/Sunnyside Records
 * Hans Glawischnig, Panorama (January 2008) Sunnyside Records
 * SFJAZZ Collective, Live 2007 4th Annual Concert Tour (July 2007) SFJAZZ Records
 * The Jason Lindner Big Band,Live at The Jazz Gallery (May 2007) Ansic Records
 * SFJAZZ Collective, Live 2006 3rd Annual Concert Tour (January 2007) SFJAZZ Records
 * Brian Lynch, Spheres of Influence Suite (2006)Ewe Records
 * Miles Okazaki,Mirror (2006)
 * Paoli Mejias, Transcend (2006)
 * SFJAZZ Collective,SFJAZZ Collective 2, (March 2006) Nonesuch Records
 * SFJAZZ Collective, Live 2005 2nd Annual Concert Tour (January 2006) SFJAZZ Records
 * Edsel Gomez, Cubist Music (January 2006) Zoho Music
 * Charlie Haden & The Liberation Music Orchestra, Not In Our Name (September 2005) Verve
 * Mingus Big Band, I Am Three (June 2005)
 * SFJAZZ Collective, SFJAZZ Collective (May 2005) Nonesuch Records
 * Brian Lynch, 24/7 (April 2005) Nagel Heyer
 * Gilson Schachnik, Lampiao (2004) Candid
 * The Sound of New York Jazz Underground (December 2004) Fresh Sound New Talent
 * Chiara Civello, Last Quarter Moon (February 2005),Verve
 * SFJAZZ Collective, Inaugural Season 2004(August 2004)
 * Charlie Haden, The Land of the Sun(August 2004),Verve
 * David Sanchez, Coral(August 2004)/Sony
 * Luis Perdomo, Focus Point(September 2004)/RKM
 * Paoli Mejias, Mi Tambor(2004)
 * Kendrick Oliver & The New Life Jazz Orchestra, Welcome to New Life(2003)/Sphere
 * Hans Glawischnig, Common Ground(2003)/Fresh Sound New Talent
 * The Jinga Quintet, A Day Gone By (2003)/Fresh Sound World Jazz
 * Ray Barretto, Hommage to Art Blakey (2003)/Sunnyside
 * Quite Sane, The Child of Trouble Times (2002)/Rykodisc
 * Edu Tancredi y el Bandon 33, Ongoing Dreams (2002)/Fresh Sound
 * Guillermo Klein, Los Guachos 3 (2002)/Sunnyside
 * Mika Pohjola, Landmark (2002)/Blue Music Group
 * Sebastian Weiss, Momentum (2001)/Fresh Sound New Talent
 * William Cepeda, Branching Out (2001)/Blue Jackel Entertainment
 * David Sanchez, Travesia (2001)/Columbia
 * Greg Tardy, Abundance (2001)/Palmetto Jazz
 * Stephan Crump, Tuckahoe (2001)/Accurate
 * David Sanchez, Melaza (2001)/Columbia
 * Either/Orchestra,More Beautiful Than Death (2000)/Accurate
 * Gilson Schachnik, Raw (2000)/Brownstone
 * Gabriel Rodriguez, Beginning (1999)
 * Edu Tancredi & Bandon 33, (1998)/Brownstone

Album Reviews

 * http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=42707 Rayuela Review @All About Jazz.com
 * http://www.npr.org/2012/09/03/160380164/miguel-zenon-and-laurent-coq-play-hopscotch Rayuela Review @NPR
 * http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/30/arts/music/new-music-from-miguel-zenon-and-red-hot-chili-peppers.html Alma Adentro Review @New York Times
 * http://ejazznews.com/2011/09/28/miguel-zenon-alma-adentro-the-puerto-rican-songbook/ Alma Adentro Review @EJazz News
 * http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=40187 Alma Adentro Review @ All About Jazz.com
 * http://jazztimes.com/articles/25198-esta-plena-miguel-zenon Esta Plena Review @ Jazz Times
 * http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=34932 Esta Plena Review @ All About Jazz.com
 * http://www.allmusic.com/album/esta-plena-r1657480/review Esta Plena Review @ AllMusic.com