Jason Yarde (born 1970) is an English jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger, producer and music director. He has worked with a wide range of artists and music ensembles, including Denys Baptiste, The Blind Boys Of Alabama, McCoy Tyner, Andrew Hill, Jack DeJohnette, Hugh Masekela and the London Symphony Orchestra.[1][2]

Jason Yarde
Born1970 (age 53–54)
Beckenham, England
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, arranger, producer, music director
InstrumentSaxophones
Formerly ofJazz Warriors; Tomorrow's Warriors

Biography

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Yarde was born in 1970 in Beckenham, England, to Guyanese parents.[3] While still a teenager at school,[4] he began playing alto and soprano saxophone with the Jazz Warriors, and went on to become their music director.[5] He was member of Anthony Tidd’s Quite Sane band, which won the Capital Radio band of the year award at in 1992.[6]

Yarde has also been associated with Tomorrow's Warriors since it was started,[7] including leading the award-winning J-Life quintet, featuring vocalist Julie Dexter.[8][9]

Yarde studied at Middlesex University, obtaining a BA (Hons) in Performance Arts; the degree incorporated a year at William Paterson College, New Jersey, studying orchestration, studio engineering, jazz performance and saxophone under Joe Lovano, Gary Smulyan and Steve Wilson. [5]

In 2007, Yarde's work All Souls Seek Joy was premiered by Hugh Masekela and the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre.[10] His BBC Proms composition Rhythm and Other Fascinations, for piano trio and the BBC Concert Orchestra, won the inaugural BASCA award for contemporary Jazz Composition in 2009.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Jason Yarde". Hyperion. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  2. ^ "JASON YARDE alto/baritone saxophones". Hexagonal. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  3. ^ Le Gendre, Kevin (23 November 2007). "Instruments of change: Black performers are still a rarity on the classical stage in Britain, but the LSO's new collaboration with Hugh Masekela is a welcome sign of progress". The Guardian.
  4. ^ Fordham, John (1 June 2005). "Review | Jason Yarde | Queen Elizabeth Hall, London". The Guardian.
  5. ^ a b "Jason Yarde". AllAboutJazz. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  6. ^ "About Quite Sane", quitesane.com.
  7. ^ "Andrew McCormack and Jason Yarde… new album". Tomorrow's Warriors. 6 October 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  8. ^ "Julie Dexter/J-life Never Will I Marry .mov". Retrieved 1 January 2024 – via YouTube.
  9. ^ "Awards & Recognition". Tomorrow's Warriors. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Hugh Masekela Concert With LSO And Jason Yarde". Jazzwise. 2 November 2007.
  11. ^ "Jason Yarde | Jazz Adjudicator". BBC Young Musician 2022. BBC Four.