Greg Abate Quartet
Jazz saxophonist and flutist Greg Abate brings his fiery bebop mastery to Black Cat for a weekend residency, showcasing why he ranks in the top 5 alto saxophonists in DownBeat's Readers Poll. A Berklee-trained musician who performed early in his career with Ray Charles and later with the Artie Shaw Orchestra, Abate has earned recognition as one of the leading modern interpreters of the bebop tradition.
Abate's performances are high-energy affairs that capture the authentic spirit of Charlie Parker and hard bop giants. As legendary saxophonist Phil Woods noted: "Greg Abate is one of the most exciting saxophonists around today... a hard-driving player who swings like mad." Reviews describe him as "a bundle of irrepressible energy" who "instantly exudes a warm feeling" and connects with audiences from the moment he steps on stage.
Expect passionate, in-the-moment improvisation with no music stands between the musicians and audience — just pure bebop energy that builds throughout the evening as the quartet finds its collective groove. Abate seamlessly switches between alto sax and flute, creating both driving, adrenaline-fueled numbers and gentler, mellower moments. His fluid, rapid-fire solos bounce effortlessly between bebop standards like "Yardbird Suite" and "Ornithology" and his own compositions, often weaving quotes from other tunes into his improvisations — hearing bits of "Let's Fall in Love" emerge during "Crazeology" or "Summertime" float through Joe Henderson's "Recorda-Me."
The quartet features Bay Area pianist Ben Stolorow, known for his introspective, lyrical trio work that blends classical influences with modern jazz sensibilities. A UC Berkeley graduate and Jazzschool faculty member, he has performed at major venues including Yoshi's and the Kuumbwa Jazz Center. Anchoring the rhythm section is premier bassist Essiet Okon Essiet, who served as Art Blakey's last bassist with the Jazz Messengers and has collaborated with everyone from Bobby Watson's post-hard bop group Horizon to Abdullah Ibrahim and the Blue Note All-Stars. Austin Harris completes the lineup on drums for this Saturday night show.
Abate's original compositions like the 6/4 minor blues "On the Road" showcase his skills as both player and composer, while his interpretations of Parker classics and contrafacts — compositions built on the chord changes of another piece but with new melodies — reaffirm the enduring vitality of the bebop tradition. With an impressive discography including collaborations with Phil Woods, Kenny Barron, Claudio Roditi, Billy Hart, and many other jazz luminaries, this Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame inductee continues touring internationally approximately 225 days per year.
