** This event is postponed until further notice.
Join us in The Green Room at Crosstown Arts for a performance by The Adam Larson Band, featuring tenor saxophonist Adam Larson with Michael Shults (alto sax), Joe Restivo (guitar), Carl Caspersen (bass), and James Sexton (drums).
Tickets: General Admission $10 | Student Admission $5 (with Student ID)
Doors at 7pm | Performance at 7:30pm
Originally from Normal, Illinois, Adam Larson is an American saxophonist, composer, and author. Larson has been described by critic Howard Reich of The Chicago-Tribune as “a player for whom the word ‘prodigious’ was coined.” Peter Hum of the Ottawa Citizen called him “a saxophonist who brings Donny McCaslin and Mark Turner to mind,” and Nate Chinen of The New York Times said he is “the sort of jazz musician who gets flagged early on as a promising talent and then hustles to meet every requirement for success.” Larson has garnered numerous awards that distinguish him as one of the most promising artists of his generation.
As a student, Larson was a member of virtually every national program dedicated to showcasing excellence in young jazz talent, including The Grammy Band, Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, Betty Carter Jazz Ahead, YoungArts Jazz Fellows, Telluride Student All-Stars, and Jazz Band of America, among others. Upon graduating from University High School in 2008, Adam moved to New York City to pursue his BM and MM in Jazz Performance on full scholarship from The Manhattan School, where he graduated with honors as a Master’s student and the recipient of the William H. Borden Award for Outstanding Performance in Jazz in 2014.
Larson has released five albums: one for Ropeadope Records, two under the Inner Circle Music label, and two produced independently. Larson’s most recent recording “Second City” received a four-star rating from Downbeat magazine, was listed as one of the best releases of 2017 in both Downbeat and Jazziz Magazine, and was prominently featured in several publications. Larson’s fifth record, “Listen With Your Eyes,” was released on Ropeadope Records on September 6th, 2019.
Larson keeps an active schedule with his own groups and as a sideman, having performed at several venues across the U.S., including The Jazz Standard, Birdland, The 55 Bar, The Jazz Gallery, The Blue Note, The Village Vanguard, Smalls, Jazz at The Bistro, The Jazz Estate, The Jazz Showcase, and several others.
Beyond maintaining an active touring and recording schedule, Larson continues to be a sought-after clinician and master class presenter at several high schools and universities across the country and beyond, including appearances at HKU Conservatory-Utrecht, University of Iowa, Drake University, University of Northern Iowa, Temple University, Yale, Manhattan School of Music, and University of North Texas among many others. Adam is currently on faculty at University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory, where he teaches saxophone, jazz pedagogy, and music business.
