John Handy

Description

John Handy

"John Handy is living jazz history" - San Francisco Chronicle

Sunday, Aug 31

7pm $20 adv, $22 day of show

John Handy has written a number of highly acclaimed, original compositions. "Spanish Lady" and "If Only We Knew both earned Grammy nominations for performance and composition. The popular jazz/blues/funk vocal crossover hit, "Hard Work", brought him fame in another realm; while "Blues for Louis Jordan" displayed his talents in rhythm and blues. He has written many compositions of various sizes for both instrumental and vocal groups. His more extensive works include "Concerto for Jazz Soloist and Orchestra" which was premiered by the Parnassus Symphony Orchestra; and "Scheme Number One" which was lauded as a fine example of fixed and improvised music by the great composer, Igor Stravinsky. 


Jazz encyclopedias list John Handy as an alto saxophonist who plays the tenor, saxello, baritone, clarinet, oboe and vocals. He is actually a consummate world musician and teacher who has devoted his life to using music to elevate the human spirit. His soulful and fiery saxophone style is instantly recognizable to generations of jazz fans world-wide.

As a performer and composer he continues to sweep audiences into ecstasy with his vast range of creative, emotional, and technical inventiveness. With a superb knowledge and practical experience with music of several cultures, he fuses, with each selection, a musical genre that is coherent, provocative, logical, and enjoyable.

As a singer, he brings a kind of storytelling narrative to the blues that is entertaining, educational, and moving; while his "up tempo" scat vocals could be compared to the best scat singers anywhere. He sings ballads with inventiveness that is rare among singers.

This is John Handy — an elegant music man for all seasons, a musician of timeless quality and always ahead of the times!

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415.655.5600 (Box Office)