Jean Toussaint

TOUSSAINT Jean-Baptist Nazaire, b.27 July 1960, Aruba Netherlands Antilles. Jazz
Musician/ Composer/ Educator, Tenor & Soprano Saxophones

In 2001, US tenor saxophonist Jean Toussaint won the prestigious ‘Best CD’ in the BBC Jazz Awards for The street above the underground featuring his electric band, Nazaire. An extension of the deeply melodic, swinging surging jazz he has become known for, this recording harnesses the rhythms of jazz, funk and soul Toussaint grew up with in New York, to contemporary British street sounds.
 ‘…The pleasures of this substantial LP are too numerous to absorb at first hearing: recommendation enough to buy a copy.’ Jack Massarik, The London Standard
 ‘…This record by an experienced band of professionals contains brilliance, wit, verve and memorable, elegant sax lines...’ Mike Bradley, The Times
 ‘…a language that gracefully spans the gap between straight jazz and funk – and it makes for some of his best solo playing on disc to date…’ John Fordham, The Guardian

Produced by Tony Remy, it features Jason Rebello, Byron Wallen, Noel McKoy, Frank Tontoh and many others.

Background

The stage posts along Toussaint’s career have all made their mark – the Caribbean, New York, and London. From a calypso band in his teens in St Thomas, then his musical education on saxophone at Charlotte Amalie High School, USVI with Charles Cox; Toussaint moved to Boston to attend Berklee College of Music where fellow students included Branford Marsalis, Greg Osby, and Jeff Watts… and got an Associate Diploma Berklee College of Music, Boston, USA with Bill Pierce

In 1982, he joined Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. ‘I learned more in four years with Art than I’d have learned in ten had I not got through that audition,’ says Toussaint, who played alongside Mulgrew Miller, Terence Blanchard, Donald Harrison and Lonnie Plaxico. While in New York, Toussaint also worked with Wynton Marsalis, McCoy Tyner and Gil Evans, and regularly led the jam session at New York’s Blue Note club. Touring with the Messengers, he always looked forward to London where he made friends amongst the capital’s young musicians. ‘I met Cleveland and Trevor Watkiss, Steve Williamson and Julian Joseph. Being of Caribbean descent myself, I saw similarities in the blend of musical influences – jazz, African, calypso and reggae.

“At Berklee we learned the principles of jazz improvisation and composition – critical to understanding the tradition and dynamics of the music – but it can make you complacent. Here, they had to work it out for themselves, so the approach is very personal”

In 1987, Toussaint accepted an invitation from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama to teach improvisation for three months. He’s still here. From London, Toussaint works extensively in Europe and the US with his bands: Nazaire and the Jean Toussaint Quartet. In the last few years he has toured Europe with Max Roach, headlined at the world-famous Sweet Basil in New York, joined Cedar Walton in London and worked with Horace Silver. With a commission for composition from the Arts Council he has toured the UK with old friends Mulgrew Miller, Terence Blanchard and Reginald Veal.

Jean Toussaint also leads occasional workshops at Trinity College of Music London, Birmingham Conservatoire, Royal College of Music, Manchester, ETC. Performance: From London base, tours worldwide with The Jean Toussaint Trio/Quartet, Nazaire (8 Piece Jazz Funk Unit), and a 15 Piece Large Ensemble (Yet to be titled). Also performs as guest with, to name a few, Cedar Walton 1991 (Ronnie Scott’s London), Max Roach 1992 (Europe/Middle East), Jason Rebello, Julian Joseph, Bheki Mseleku 1990-98 (Europe/USA), Lenny White 1993 (London), David Murray, Chico Freeman, Steve Williamson 1998 (London), Donald Brown 98-Present (Europe), Abdulah Ibrahim 2000 (UK/South Africa);

His latest CD, “Blue Black” has been recorded in New York with his old friends Mulgrew Miller, Bob Hurst and Jeff Tain Watts.

Teaching

Toussaint is passing on what he knows at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Trinity College of Music where he teaches jazz theory and improvisation part-time. He also leads workshops at arts centres, schools and colleges in conjunction with live performances.

For more information: jtoussaint@bigfoot.com www.altone.co.uk