Michael Jenner

Biography

Michael Jenner is a tenor saxophonist and composer originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who relocated to New Orleans in 1997, drawn by the city's unparalleled jazz and roots music culture. He began playing alto saxophone in the sixth grade but pivoted to the tenor at age fifteen after a formative encounter with Joe Henderson's album So Near, So Far, an experience that crystallized his deep commitment to the instrument and to the broader lineage of jazz improvisation. He holds a Bachelor of Music from Loyola University New Orleans and a Master of Arts from Middle Tennessee State University, and has taught at the University of Louisiana Lafayette, the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, and Middle Tennessee State University.

In New Orleans, Jenner was mentored by two pillars of the local saxophone community, Tony Dagradi and the late Eric Traub, and he developed cross-generational collaborative bonds with veteran musicians including Don Aliquo, Michael Pellera, and drummer Johnny Vidacovich. His musical sensibility draws on a wide arc — from the swinging bebop of Art Blakey and the cool counterpoint of Lennie Tristano to the deep-pocket funk of The Meters and the New Orleans roots mysticism of Dr. John. He has performed and recorded with Dr. John, Frankie Valli, Kermit Ruffins, Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes, Eric Lindell, and the John Mahoney Big Band. His band Feed the Kitty serves as a community celebration of New Orleans saxophonists, while his ongoing duo project with Brooklyn guitarist and oud master Brian Prunka — the Prunka-Jenner Continuum — explores original jazz and the repertoire of the Tristano school.

Jenner's recorded output includes three releases: a debut album with Feed the Kitty, an intimate duo album with Brian Prunka, and the vinyl LP Sparkle On!, released through Louisiana Music Factory. His artistic philosophy prizes honest, grounded connection over virtuosic display — a direct inheritance from his New Orleans mentors — and his reputation rests on what critics have called his "fantastic saxophone skills" deployed in service of lyrical, deeply felt storytelling. He remains an active presence in the New Orleans jazz scene as both a performer and educator.

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Fun Facts

• Jenner switched from alto to tenor saxophone at age 15 solely because of hearing Joe Henderson's album 'So Near, So Far' — a single record changed his entire instrumental focus.
• He is described as a voracious listener with meticulously organized, wall-to-wall shelves filled with thousands of CDs and vinyl records.
• His band Feed the Kitty was conceived as a community celebration featuring many of his favorite New Orleans saxophonists — essentially a saxophone summit in band form.
• He organized a tribute concert for his late mentor Eric Traub at the iconic Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro after Traub's death in 2019, honoring the veteran saxophonist's legacy.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Tony Dagradi - New Orleans saxophonist and Astral Project founder who mentored Jenner after his move to NOLA [Late 1990s–2000s]
• Eric Traub - Veteran New Orleans saxophonist and jazz-funk crossover leader; Jenner later organized a tribute concert for him at Snug Harbor after Traub's passing in 2019 [Late 1990s–2010s]
• Joe Henderson - Stylistic inspiration; hearing Henderson's album 'So Near, So Far' at age 15 prompted Jenner to switch from alto to tenor saxophone (So Near, So Far)

Key Collaborators

• Brian Prunka - Brooklyn guitarist and oud master; ongoing duo project Prunka-Jenner Continuum focusing on original jazz and Tristano-school repertoire
• Don Aliquo - New Orleans veteran musician; cross-generational collaborator
• Michael Pellera - New Orleans musician; cross-generational collaborator
• Johnny Vidacovich - Legendary New Orleans drummer; cross-generational collaborator
• Kermit Ruffins - New Orleans trumpeter and vocalist; performed and recorded together
• Eric Lindell - New Orleans singer-songwriter; performed and recorded together

External Links

• Spotify