I play all the saxophones, flute, clarinet, recorder, pennywhistles, keyboards, EWI (electronic wind instrument) and various hand percussion. In addition, I am a composer and arranger as well as a studio recording and mix engineer with experience in Digital Performer, Pro-Tools, Logic Audio and good old analog technologies.
Originally from North Carolina, I moved to New York City in 1986 to pursue my undergraduate degree at the New School University, studying with some of the greatest saxophonists and jazz musicians in the world. In 1996 I graduated with my master's degree from Queens College, where I had the very distinct pleasure of studying with two of the great jazz masters, Jimmy Heath and Sir Roland Hanna.
In 1997 I cofounded the acclaimed New York Horns with my trumpet-playing friend and business partner, Chris Anderson. Our EP Tunnel Vision and one single from it, Miles From Chicago, went on to be two of MP3.coms most popular downloads (#1 Acid Jazz single), and the single ranked 18th in total plays for 1999. Over 3 million copies of NYH tracks went into circulation as a result of exposure on MP3.com. Our writing, performing, and recording skills have been used by Sony Music, J Records, Skin Tight, the Hudson River Rats, Bernard Purdies All-Stars, Music Playground, Nia Monet, Matt Marshak, the Todd Wolfe Blues Projekt, the Kevin Kline Band, and many others. Our exposure on MP3.com led to NYH being asked to join the writing team at Beach Street Music. Through that relationship, I have seen my original music placed on national television shows such as Sally Jesse Raphael, The Maury Povich Show, The Montel Williams Show, and Crossing Over with John Edwards, as well as ABC Sports," ABC News, and "CBS Sports.
Throughout my career, I have been fortunate enough to perform with some truly talented, inspiring artists and musicians. I have been a featured performer with They Might Be Giants; drummer Bernard "Pretty" Purdies Jazz All-Stars; blues guitarists Matt "Guitar" Murphy and Todd Wolfe; vocalists Mary Wilson, Cuba Gooding and the Main Ingredient, The Four Tops, The Temptations, The OJays, The Spinners, Sister Sledge, Little Anthony & the Imperials, and Franki Valli; percussionist Ray Mantilla; bassist Reggie Workman; the bands Professor Crewcut, Iguazu, Joe Gallant & the Illuminati, the Tony Trischka band, the Marc Elliot Band, The Stingers, the Kevin Kline Band and Skin Tight; and composer Jose Halac. I presented the world premier of the composition for saxophone and percussion ensemble "Superball."
My recording credits include New York Horns (Tunnel Vision), Joe Gallant & Illuminati ("Live," volumes 1 & 2, and "Terrapin"), The Kevin Kline Band ("Live From West Street"), Claire & Rusty Cloud ("Dream Come True"), Quinn Lemley ("Cocktails With a Twist" and Dance or Die), Penelope Tobin ("When"), Urban Survival ("Urban Survival" and Storry Hill), The Jim Donica Band, Mystic Pilgrims (Mystic Pilgrims"), The ODB ("The ODB"), Billy Eric ("Of Near & Distant Lands"), and Group Therapy ("Music of Multiple Minds"). I also recorded the hit house-dance single and instrumental remix, "Inspiration," with Arnold Jarvis and Kerry Chandler for Freetown Records (London).
Other credits include recording for the Bill Cosby cartoon series "Little Bill" and the films "Moanin' For Momma" (with Isaac Hayes) and "BYOB" (Kevin Shinall), as well as writing and arranging for J Records, Sony Music, the Liberty Baptist Church, Joe Gallant & the Illuminati, Group Therapy, MD Blessing, Bob Duncan, Skin Tight, New York Horns, and the Razin' Cane Saxophone Quartet. I also scored the independent short film "BYOB" (no relation to above) for filmmaker Ken Threet and Stygian Hour Productions in New York. My saxophone playing has also been heard on dozens of local and national radio and television jingles.
In 1992 I toured the United States and Canada with Richard OBrien's Rocky Horror Picture Show, and in 1996 I did the U.S. and Canadian tour of Five Guys Named Mo. I became a regular sub on the hit Broadway musical Movin Out in 2003, which led to my being asked to perform with the first national tour of that show beginning in January 2004.
Currently I am still on tour and working on a CD of my material, as well as a variety of other musical projects. When not touring, I also teach privately in New York. I am currently sponsored by and endorse Rico Reeds, JodyJazz saxophone mouthpieces, and Cannonball saxophones. For more information on any of these, feel free to contact me or visit my website at www.johnisley.com.