Kris Jensen - EKLEKTIK Productions

About Me

Having established himself as one of the premier voices on his instrument today, saxophonist/composer Kris Jensen has forged a career that spans close to 20 years in nearly as many musical settings.A native of Binghamton, NY, Jensen received excellent training as a young student in both the Binghamton Public Schools and at The State University of New York at Binghamton. Upon graduating Binghamton High School, Jensen enrolled at the Hartt School of Music in Hartford, CT where he began what would turn out to be a 15-year apprenticeship with the late great jazz saxophonist Jackie McLean. While working as an associate professor alongside McLean, Jensen helped to develop some of the finest young talents on the scene today including Hartford area saxophonists Jimmy Greene, Kris Allen, Lummie Spann, Ray McMorrin and Andy Breskin. Jensen also worked as a teacher at The Artists' Collective Inc. teaching woodwinds and jazz studies in Hartford's inner city.As a performer, Jensen's first major professional experience was as lead alto saxophonist for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines' Division of Entertainment. Jensen had the opportunity to play the lead alto saxophone chair for Ben Vereen, Red Buttons, Patti Page (w/ musical director Bob Florence), Frank Gorshin, Al Martino and many other famous entertainers. Since then, Jensen has recorded or performed with a plethora of well established or emerging artists, notably: percussionists Pete Escovedo, Jesse "Cheese" Hameen, Giovanni Hidalgo, Leon Parker and Jaimoe; trumpeters Eddie Henderson, Valery Ponamarev, Tony Kadleck, Kenny Rampton and Richard Boulger; saxophonists Jackie McLean, George Coleman and Phil Woods; trombonists Eddie Bert and Steve Davis; pianists John Hicks, Hotep Idris Galeta, Brad Mehldau, David Hazeltine, Mark Templeton and Anthony Wonsey; guitarists Randy Johnston, Rohn Lawrence, Dan Toler and Tom Dempsey; bassists Nat Reeves, Dennis Irwin, Dwayne Burno and Paul Brown; pianists/vocalists Dena DeRose, Michael Feinstein; vocalists Kevin Mahogany, Anika Noni Rose; fiddle master Vassar Clements.In 1996, Jensen received a great honor, being selected as a finalist in the Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition in Washington, D.C. Kris played alongside 12 of the world's best young saxophonist before a panel of some of jazz's greatest saxophone legends.From 1999-2004 Kris logged many road miles with both Dickey Betts and Great Southern and Maynard Ferguson and Big Bop Nouveau. Betts, the classic-rock guitar legend and composer of such hits as Ramblin' Man and In Memory of Elizabeth Reed, recorded the albums Let's Get Together and The Collector's Vol. I which prominently feature Kris's sax. While with Betts, Jensen also had the opportunity to perform with the Charlie Daniels Band and in August 2003 with the Dave Matthews Band. With the blazing trumpet virtouso Maynard Ferguson, Kris was a prominently featured soloist. In January 2004, Kris joined the trumpet legend on a tour which included a week in Bangkok, Thailand performing the compostions of the king of Thailand, His Majesty Bhumipol Adulyadej.These days Kris is taking a break from full time road duties, working as a freelance musician and woodwinds instructor in Connecticut. He is a charter member of the recently formed New Haven Jazz Orchestra and can be seen often with The Kendrick Oliver New Life Jazz Orchestra, Reggie Watkins Septet, and his own group EKLEKTIK.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 11/3/2006
Band Members: Personnel on Departures/Arrivals includes Richard Boulger - trumpet. Steve Davis - trombone. Randy Johnston or Tom Dempsey - guitar. David Hazeltine or Rick Germanson - piano. Nat Reeves or Dwayne Burno - bass. Tony Jefferson - drums.
Influences: Traditional church hymns, '70's AM radio, '70's/early 80's FM radio, rock n' roll, classic jazz, soul, r&b, folk and blues roots, Afro-Caribbean/Latin diasporic, and classical elements --------Louis Armstrong, Johnny Cash, Nat King Cole, Leroy "Slam" Stewart, My brother Pete's (trumpeter) progressive rock albums and 8 tracks (Yes, Jethro Tull, Frank Zappa) my sister Karla's (violinist, guitarist) albums (James Taylor, Chicago pre '80, Wings, Charlie Daniels Band), Erik's (violinist) cassettes that I appreheded (Prez, Jug, Stanley Turrentine) The Beatles, Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, Dexter Gordon, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Billy Eckstein, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Dinah Washington, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Sonny Stitt, Hank, Thad, Elvin Jones, Papa Joe, Philly Joe Jones, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Ben Webster, Don Byas, Gene Ammons, Frank Wess, Johnny Hodges, Miles Davis, Jackie McLean, James Moody, Jimmy Heath (Percy, Tootie) Benny Golson, Art Farmer, Art Pepper, Lee Konitz, Cannonball & Nat Adderly, Nancy Wilson, Phil Woods, Johnny Griffin, Hank Mobley, Junior Cook, George Coleman, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, Clifford Jordan, Booker Earvin, Warne Marsh, Stanley Turrentine, Pharoah Sanders, Lee Morgan, Blue Mitchell, Kenny Dorham, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, Maynard Ferguson, Clifford Brown, Horace Silver/Art Blakey Jazz Messengers, Max Roach, Roy Haynes, Charlie Persip, "Tootsie" Bean, Tito Puente, Pete Escovedo, Bud Powell, Wynton Kelly, McCoy Tyner, Jaki Byard, Walter Bishop Jr., Barry Harris, Herbie Hancock, Hotep Galeta (Cecil Barnard), Nat Reeves, Brad Mehldau, J.J. Johnson, Curtis Fuller, Eddie Bert, Steve Turre, Steve Davis (trombonist), Don Menza, Michael & Randy Brecker, Bob Berg, Bob Mintzer, Joe Lovano, Dick Oatts, Kenny Garrett, Rene McLean, Wallace & Antoine Roney, Branford & Wynton Marsalis, Victor Jones, Vincent Herring, Bill Saxton, David Schnitter, Ralph Lalama, Paul Brown, Sue Terry, Dave Hazeltine, Brian Lynch, Sam Newsome, Gil Brown, Javon Jackson, Kenny Rampton, Andy Gravish, Joe Magnarelli, Jim Rotondi, Tony Kadleck, Mike Holober, Mike LeDonne, Peter Washington, Bob Mover, Stephen Hall, Jesse Davis, Jerry Weldon, Doug Lawrence, Marshall McDonald, Tony Jefferson, Rudy Petschauer, Ugonna Okegwo, Mark Turner, Mike Karn, Ron Sutton Jr., Saadi Zane, Abe Burton, E MAC Eric MacPherson, Ahmed Alan Palmer, James, John, Joe Farnsworth, John Webber, Eric Alexander, Grant Stewart, Joel Frahm, Sascha Perry, Mike "Spike" Wilner, Mike Bank, Mike Mulllins, Kelly Friesen, Mike Amendola, Jimmy Greene, Richard Boulger, Tom Dempsey, John Hollenbeck, Rick Germanson, Joe Strasser, Ian "spliff" Smith, Dave Gibson, Tom Pietrycha, Tony Leone, Mike DiRubbo, Wayne Escoffery, Julius Tolentino, Grant Langford, Kris Allen, Dezron Douglas, Josh Evans, Mike Rodriguez, Zaccai & Luques Curtis, FELIX SWING, Chicago (pre 1980) Blood Sweat & Tears, Grover Washington, Chuck Mangione, The Crusaders, David Sanborn, Gato Barbieri, Hugh Masakela, Ray Charles, BB King, Jimi Hendrix, Bill Withers, Stevie Wonder, Isley Bros., Temptations, Bob Marley & the Wailers, King Curtis, The Allman Brothers Band (Dickey Betts, Jaimoe) Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, The Meters, STONES, WHO, DOORS, Doobie Brothers, Eric Clapton, STING, Springsteen/Clarence Clemons, Sam Clemons/Mark Twain, Rod Serling, Joseph Campbell, George Micheal Evika, Bill Moyers and many, many, many more........................................................ ...............................................MORE V.I.P.s BINGHAMTON: My parents, Pete & Nancy Jensen, Granny (Mary Runkle) my siblings Pete, Karla and Erik, "The Tribe" Peter IV, Meg, Paul, Keith, Erika Jensen, The Husts, The Farrells, The Blakeslees, The Skubans, Don Maiolo, Gary & Louise Wohlafka, Billy Fuster, Doug Beardsley, April Lucas, Al Hamme, "PI" Dick Pisani, Richard Depofi Jr. & Sr., Mark Buselli, Nate Sinander & family, "Reese" Tayor, Jeff & Syd Davis & family, Dr. David & Martha Kissinger, Mark Kissinger, Jerry & Patty Lynch, Tim Lynch, The Kadlecks, The Kresges, Dennis & Mary Martin, Al Thompson & fam. Tom Mann & fam., Dr. Stephen Porter, Tim Donlin, Tim Shumacher, Jim Pipa, Aliki Nicholas Arbach, Michelle Hickman Silver, Kara Maria, BARBADOS: Dad & mum Wilfred & Pauline Beckles Jeanne, Adrian, Beckles and Blackman families. HARTFORD (U of H/ARTISTS' COLLECTIVE): Jackie & Dollie McLean & family, Alexander Lepak & family, Ken Radnofsky, Greg Banaszak, Mariane Nielsen, John & Lisa Hasselback, Mary DiPaola-Davis, Saadi Zane, Tony Lee, Chris & Jen Casey, Chris & Jen Fischer, Brian Jenkins, Craig Ebner, Mike DiRubbo, Tony Leone, Tom Pietrycha, Bheki Koza, Ra Atam, Sheila & Michael Scott, Alvin Carter Sr. & Jr., Maurice Robertson, Les Shaw, Kevin Dannenberg, Jimmy & Nelba Greene, Kris & Jen Allen, Wayne Escoffery, Julius Tolentino, Aya Beckles Jensen, Ben Groppe, Matt & Dan Voss, Steph & Scott Wattel, Pete Greenfogel, Lummie Spann, Rashim Campbell, Rashad Glass, Dave Davis, Ray McMorrin, Andy Breskin, Nick Biello, Evan Schmidtz, Jen Hartswick, Stephanie Long. HARTFORD: Bob & Don DePalma, ESPADA Bill Fluker, Ramon Santiago, Harold Seargent, LITTLE AX/TACKHEAD Skip McDonald, Doug Wimbush, Tia McDonald, JAEBE, John Peckman, Jr. Ortiz, Ivan Santiago, Jeff Pitchell & TEXAS FLOOD, TIERRA MESTIZA Carlos Hernandez-Chavez, VAL RAMOS FLAMENCO, Ray Gonzalez, Junior "Timbalon" Perez, Warren Byrd, Richard Goldstein, Johnathon Chatfield, Charles Flores, Ed Fast, Jon Ball, THE HORN SHOP Tom Griswold, Frank Kozyra, INSIGHT Damian/Zaccai/Luques Curtis, Dezron Douglas, Stephen Porter, Ben Bilello, Rob Zapulla, THE BIPOLAR JUKEBOX Andre Balazs, Dave Shuman, Marc Balling, MONSTER LAB, Matt Zeiner, Ramon Morant, Dave Stoltz, Chip Fenney, PIMP THE CAT Mark Greenberg, Jay Wiggin, Steve Elliot, Billy Megofna, Kevin Barry. WATERBURY: MAJOR MOTION LG Mackenzie, Timmy Maia, Tom Devino, Carnegie Clapp, THE FAMILY CONNECTION, MASTERPIECE, Mike & Carmen Fisher, Mickey DeMichael, Richie Volza THIRD SHIFT Dan Donofrio, Nadina Perry, Chris Geith, Bobby Ranaudo, Johnny Durso, Tony Aiardo. NEW HAVEN: Eddie Cercone, Jesse Hameen, Arti Dixson, The Libro family, Henry Lugo, Craig Hartley, Rohn Lawrence, Dave Livolsi, J Rowe, Trever Somerville, Billy Co, Doug Schlink, Nicole Pasternak, Greg Sherrod, Scott & Binnie, Christian Sands & family. Jerry Prince & family. NEW HAVEN JAZZ ORCH. (The Drakes) THE BREAKFAST Tim Palmieri, HORIZON STUDIOS Vic Steffens. WESTCHESTER/GREENWICH: Maydie Myles, Chris Lemp. BOSTON: KENDRICK OLIVER & NEW LIFE
Sounds Like: Good music!..........Check this fun article from New Haven Register..........http://entertainment.ctcentral.com/html/mo dules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid= 1796.......... Live audio w/ Dave Matthews Band feat. Dickey Betts and KJ.......... http://www.liog.org/content/view/112/30/..........Must be a member to access but registration is free and easy! Takes about 3 minutes.
Type of Label: None

My Blog

Influences

..> Influences Traditional church hymns, '70's AM radio, '70's/early 80's FM radio, rock n' roll, classic jazz, soul, r&b, folk and blues roots, Afro-Caribbean/Latin diasporic, and classical ele...
Posted by Kris Jensen - EKLEKTIK Productions on Fri, 04 Jan 2008 06:55:00 PST