Woodshedr

Jazz Play-alongs for the Modern Musician

Justin Vasquez — Alto Saxophone

© Dwayne Hills

Evolution and a fiercely open-minded approach to composition are the hallmarks of alto and soprano saxophonist Justin Vasquez. Performing for years as a sideman with artists like Randy Brecker, Mike Stern, Sam Rivers, Dave Liebman, Tom Harrell, Jojo Mayer and Janek Gwizdala before embarking on his first solo project Triptych, he has honed a boundary defying style as fluid and organic as it is impressive. His writing, filled with surprises and twists, crosses boundaries of jazz, contemporary, country, classical, and singer/songwriter aesthetics. His sound, aggressive and muscular, bears the lineage of greats like Coltrane, Joe Henderson, Kenny Garrett and Michael Brecker yet is immediately identifiable.