Frank Catalano's Miles and Coltrane Centennial Celebration

Tenor saxophonist Frank Catalano brings his Miles and Coltrane Centennial Celebration to Black Cat as part of a special four-night residency. Catalano's fierce, robust tone channels both Coltrane and his mentor, Chicago legend Von Freeman, with whom he first played when he was just eleven years old. The saxophonist has evolved from a teenage prodigy into a commanding presence who, as one critic noted, "thunders" with "ample melodic information, rhythmic complexity and musical development."

This special celebration honors the 100th birthdays of jazz titans John Coltrane and Miles Davis with classics from both legends, alongside tracks from Catalano's own #1 Billboard charting album Set Me Free. He'll also perform selections from his anniversary release Love Supreme Collective, which topped the iTunes Jazz Charts, plus beloved tunes from his collaborations with Tony Bennett and "a few surprises."

Catalano's live performances are known for their "exuberant, elbows-out" energy and impressive versatility. At venues like New York's Birdland, where he's a regular, he seamlessly moves from driving modal jazz to funk to unexpected covers like Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart," always with what reviewers describe as "blowzy overblowing" that gets into "the crevices between notes." His stage presence combines technical mastery with raw emotion — performances that "bristle with excitement" and build to powerful group shout choruses.

Despite losing his right middle finger in a 1994 accident, Catalano has become one of the most in-demand saxophonists working today, averaging 150 concerts annually across the USA, Europe, and Asia. His collaborations span from jazz legends like Randy Brecker to pop stars like Beyoncé and John Legend to rock acts like The Smashing Pumpkins. His documentary Sugar Jazz, directed by Colin Donner, premieres at the Tokyo Liftoff Film Festival.

Expect an evening that bridges jazz traditions with contemporary fire, led by a saxophonist who has matured from youthful prodigy into an artist on the verge of forging his own musical language.