About Me
Jonathan Lorentz was raised in the Green Mountains of Vermont. Originally inspired by his father, a rock saxophonist from Jersey, Jonathan grew to appreciate the sounds John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Sonny Rollins and Joe Lovano. Getting his start as a professional saxophonist in the mid-1990s, Lorentz collaborated with friends to record a set of jazz originals in 1998. This recording, released as Connect (2002), lead to a series of club gigs, New England tours, and a move to New York City.As a New Yorker, Lorentz performed at Radio City Music Hall, CBGB's, The Mercury Lounge, The Bitter End, Blue Note, Smalls, and the Cutting Room. In NYC, Lorentz played with grammy-winning gospel artist Hezekiah Walker, rap icon P’diddy, and with jazz artists Frank Foster, Lenny Pickett, Kenyata Beasley and Matt Schulman. A recording of one of his NYC sessions One Night in Brooklyn (2003) features his quartet with Gabe Jarrett, Noah Jarrett, and Johannes Wallmann.In 2004 Jon toured Costa Rica with his trio. There he performed at the Teatro Eugene O'Neil, Hotel Tirol, Ullacit University and the San Jose Jazz Cafe. His latest recording Coming Home (2006) includes sessions with Noah Jarrett, Greg Loughman, Tim Gilmore, and Joe Deleault and was called “great music by great players†by Albany jazz critic J. Hunter.In 2008 Jon completed a PhD in music performance from NYU and began transcribing and arranging big band music for Jazzlines Publications. Now a resident of Round Lake, NY, Lorentz continues to perform in NY and New England and has recently enjoyed musical collaborations with Francesca Tanksley, John Menegon, Terri Roiger, Jeff Siegel, Tani Tabbal, Gabe Jarrett, George Muscatello, Bob Meyer, George Kaye and David Calarco. Jon’s music combines elements of jazz, blues, and the avant-garde and has been greatly influenced in recent years by his mentor George Garzone. Lorentz has served on faculties at NYU and in the Vermont State College system.
