Artist:Chris Potter
Song:Migrations
Album:Traveling Mercies
Chris Potter is one of today's top jazz sax players. He was born Jan. 1, 1971 in Chicago and grew up in Columbia, SC. His mother taught psychology at the University Of South Carolina. His interest in the saxophone began when he heard Paul Desmond performing Take Five with Dave Brubeck. He started playing locally as a teen and was spotted in 1985 by legendary pianist Marian McPartland. She told his dad that Chris was ready to tour with a band but dad wisely insisted that Chris finish high school. His big break came in 1989 at a local jazz festival. Legendary sax player Red Rodney was asked to play a couple of songs with the local phenom. Red said that normally they just send the kid away after a couple of songs. But he was so impressed with the 18 year old Potter that he asked him to stay for the whole set. So Potter joined Rodney's band when he went to New York. By 1994, Marian McPartland got him a contract with Concord Jazz and Potter has recorded as a leader ever since. Migrations is from the excellent 2002 Verve CD Traveling Mercies and features John Scofield on guitar along with Kevin Hays on piano, Scott Colley on bass and Bill Stewart on drums. Potter suffers from Meniere's Disease which has eroded the hearing in one ear. But he worked through it and continues to lead his own band also played in Dave Holland's group. He currently records for Sunnyside Records and his latest CD Follow The Red Line was released in Oct. 2007. Here's Chris Potter performing with Craig Taborn on electric piano, Adam Rogers on guitar & Nate Smith on drums.
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