Jason Yarde Explained

Jason Yarde
Genre:Jazz
Birth Place:Beckenham, England
Occupation:Musician, composer, arranger, producer, music director
Instrument:Saxophones
Past Member Of:Jazz Warriors
Tomorrow's Warriors

Jason Yarde (born 1970) is an English jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger, producer and music director. He has worked with a wide range of artists and music ensembles, including Denys Baptiste, The Blind Boys Of Alabama, McCoy Tyner, Andrew Hill, Jack DeJohnette, Hugh Masekela and the London Symphony Orchestra.[1] [2]

Biography

Yarde was born in 1970 in Beckenham, England, to Guyanese parents.[3] While still a teenager at school,[4] he began playing alto and soprano saxophone with the Jazz Warriors, and went on to become their music director.[5] He was member of Anthony Tidd’s Quite Sane band, which won the Capital Radio band of the year award at in 1992.[6]

Yarde has also been associated with Tomorrow's Warriors since it was started,[7] including leading the award-winning J-Life quintet, featuring vocalist Julie Dexter.[8] [9]

Yarde studied at Middlesex University, obtaining a BA (Hons) in Performance Arts; the degree incorporated a year at William Paterson College, New Jersey, studying orchestration, studio engineering, jazz performance and saxophone under Joe Lovano, Gary Smulyan and Steve Wilson.

In 2007, Yarde's work All Souls Seek Joy was premiered by Hugh Masekela and the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre.[10] His BBC Proms composition Rhythm and Other Fascinations, for piano trio and the BBC Concert Orchestra, won the inaugural BASCA award for contemporary Jazz Composition in 2009.[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jason Yarde. Hyperion. 27 October 2022.
  2. Web site: JASON YARDE alto/baritone saxophones. Hexagonal. 27 October 2022.
  3. News: Instruments of change: Black performers are still a rarity on the classical stage in Britain, but the LSO's new collaboration with Hugh Masekela is a welcome sign of progress. The Guardian. Kevin. Le Gendre. Kevin Le Gendre. 23 November 2007.
  4. News: Review Jason Yarde Queen Elizabeth Hall, London. John. Fordham. John Fordham (jazz critic). The Guardian. 1 June 2005.
  5. Web site: Jason Yarde. AllAboutJazz. 27 October 2022.
  6. https://quitesane.com/about-quite-sane/ "About Quite Sane"
  7. Web site: Andrew McCormack and Jason Yarde… new album. Tomorrow's Warriors. 6 October 2011. 27 October 2022.
  8. Web site: Julie Dexter/J-life Never Will I Marry .mov. YouTube. 1 January 2024.
  9. Web site: Awards & Recognition. Tomorrow's Warriors. 1 January 2024.
  10. Web site: Hugh Masekela Concert With LSO And Jason Yarde. Jazzwise. 2 November 2007.
  11. Web site: Jason Yarde Jazz Adjudicator. BBC Young Musician 2022. BBC Four.