Born and raised in Waco, Texas, Mace Hibbard is one of the most exciting and versatile saxophonists on the scene today. Continuing in the tradition of Cannonball Adderley, Charlie Parker, and Stan Getz, Mace also draws inspiration from the more contemporary players such as Kenny Garrett, Chris Potter, and Branford Marsalis.Coming from a musical family, early music lessons included piano and voice until settling on the saxophone at age ten. Mace’s firm grasp of the history of jazz and its standard repertoire comes from the gigs he played with his father - Dave Hibbard, a great trumpet player who has been a staple in the Texas jazz scene for years - throughout his teen years.From there, he attended the University of Texas in Austin, where he earned a Bachelors degree in Musical Performance and a Masters degree in Jazz Studies. While in Austin, Mace developed as a composer and formed Odd Man Out, who released their self-titled debut on Viewpoint Records in 2000.After 10 years of being one of the most sought after woodwind players in Austin, Mace relocated to Atlanta, Georgia in the summer of 2003 where he is continuing his reputation as a gifted soloist, and solid performer on all saxophones, flute, and clarinet.Mace has performed throughout the United States and Europe, sharing the stage with Wynton Marsalis, The Derek Trucks Band, Wessel Anderson, Marcus Printup, Michael Brecker, Phil Woods, Travis Sullivan's Bjorkestra (see Youtube clip below) Bobby Shew, Arturo Sandoval, James Moody, the Austin Symphony, The Four Tops, The Temptations, The O’Jays, and many others.Mace is also an accomplished classical saxophonist. Having studied with master saxophonist Harvey Pittel, Mace has been a featured soloist with the Austin Symphony and in many chamber ensembles. In 1999, Mace played the premier performance of "Canciones del Zocalo," a piece for saxophone and piano written for him by Aaron Bramwell.As a composer, Mace has written many original compositions, as well as hundreds of arrangements for horn sections, small groups, and big bands.As an educator, Mace is currently an Adjunct Professor of Jazz Studies and Saxophone at both Jacksonville State University and Georgia State University, and is an active freelance musician and clinician based out of Atlanta, Georgia.In 2004, He published the first in a series of technical studies for the saxophone entitled “Scales and Patterns For Saxophone,Volume I, Major Scales and Intervals.â€In 2007, he released his debut album as a leader, "When Last We Met," featuring all original material and a lineup of Atlanta's finest musicians.
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