Greg Abate, a jazz saxophonist, flautist, composer and arranger, has signed to appear in Clarksburg on Saturday, October 8, and Sunday, October 9, in Washington Square.
Performing with Abate’s trio on Saturday night will be Washington, Pennsylvania guitarist Dan Baker, and on Sunday night with West Virginia jazz notables, Dr. James Moore, a trumpeter from Morgantown, and Ryan Kennedy, a guitarist from Charleston.
Abate began his career playing alto sax for Ray Charles, and in bands with other jazz greats like Artie Shaw and legendary saxophonist Phil Woods.
Sunday’s night show will be a tribute to Woods, an artist with whom Abate and Moore have an emotional connection. Abate played with Woods on his last recording, and Moore joined Abate for his last live performance in Pittsburgh’s Manchester Craftsman Guild.
“When there is an emotional connection to the music, you’ll hear it in the performance,” explained Bob Workman, a board member for the West Virginia Jazz Society, a co-producer of the event. “This should be a real treat for music fans.”
Abate has been studying and playing music since fifth grade and is a graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. He is known as a “road warrior” of jazz, performing hundreds of times a year nationally and internationally.
He is instantly recognized in the world of jazz music as a master of his instrument, the alto saxophone, according to the WVJS.
Moore, an educator currently on sabbatical from his position directing the award-winning jazz program at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, is also a “high demand” player in clubs throughout the eastern US.
Kennedy,too, is Berklee-trained and the guitarist for the Mountain Stage Band, as well as a member of the adjunct faculty at West Virginia Wesleyan.
The rhythm section for both nights is Columbus, Ohio’s Lee McKinney on drums and Morgantown’s Greg Thurmon playing bass.
Washington Square is located at 216 Washington Avenue. Starting time on Saturday, Oct 8, is 8 pm. On Sunday, the music starts an hour earlier at 7 pm.
Reservations are $20 per person and are available via email to: TIX@WVJazzSociety.com or by phone to 304-517-9813. You can also reserve seats by calling 304-622-7100.
