Biography
George Garzone, born September 23, 1950, in Boston, Massachusetts, began playing tenor saxophone at age six in a family band and attended Berklee College of Music, laying the foundation for his career as a jazz innovator and educator. In 1972, he co-founded the influential jazz trio The Fringe with bassist John Lockwood and drummer Bob Gullotti (later replaced by Francisco Mela after Gullotti's passing in 2020), a group known for its adventurous free jazz explorations that has performed regularly in Boston and New York while touring internationally and releasing multiple albums, including a 50th anniversary project in 2024. Garzone's style blends powerful tenor improvisation with a pioneering triadic chromatic approach, evident in his leadership albums like Alone (1995, a Stan Getz tribute), Four’s and Two’s (1996 with Joe Lovano), Moodiology (1999), and collaborations such as Three Nights in L.A. (2019) with Peter Erskine, Alan Pasqua, and Darek Oles.
As a veteran performer, Garzone has guested on over 20 recordings and shared stages with luminaries including Jack DeJohnette, Joe Lovano, John Patitucci, Danilo Pérez, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Rachel Z, and the Grammy-winning Joe Lovano Nonet, recording live at the Village Vanguard in 2002. His dual role as musician and educator has defined his legacy; he has taught at Berklee College of Music, New England Conservatory, New York University, Manhattan School of Music, and The New School, shaping generations of saxophonists through workshops like Jazz in Laurino in Italy (2008-2009). Garzone maintains a long-running Monday residency at The Lily Pad in Cambridge with The Fringe, solidifying his status as a Boston jazz legend.
Fun Facts
- Garzone started playing tenor saxophone at age six and performed in a family band before formal training at Berklee.
- He pioneered the triadic chromatic approach, a teaching method that has influenced countless jazz saxophonists.
- The Fringe holds one of jazz's longest residencies, performing every Monday at The Lily Pad in Cambridge for decades.
- Garzone uses a vintage Selmer Mark VI tenor saxophone with a Jody Jazz GIANT 10* mouthpiece and Rico Jazz Select #4 Hard reeds.
Musical Connections
Key Collaborators
- John Lockwood - longtime bassist in The Fringe trio (multiple Fringe albums since 1972) [1972-present]
- Bob Gullotti - original drummer in The Fringe trio (multiple Fringe albums) [1972-2020]
- Francisco Mela - current drummer in The Fringe trio (recent Fringe performances and 2024 album) [2020-present]
- Joe Lovano - frequent collaborator and member of Grammy-winning Nonet (Four’s and Two’s (1996), On This Day… Live At The Vanguard (2002)) [1990s-2000s]
- Jack DeJohnette - performance collaborator (various tours and recordings) [various]
- John Patitucci - performance collaborator (various recordings) [various]
- Danilo Pérez - performance collaborator and student (various performances) [various]
Artists Influenced
- Joshua Redman - former student at Berklee and other institutions (not specified) [1990s-2000s]
- Branford Marsalis - former student (not specified) [various]
- Donny McCaslin - former student (not specified) [various]
- Mark Turner - former student (not specified) [various]
- Luciana Souza - former student (not specified) [various]
- Mindi Abair - former student (not specified) [various]
Connection Network
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
The Flying Horse Big Band, George Garzone, Jeff Rupert has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.