Greg Abate with the Gaz Hughes trio

US-based musician of international standing, saxophonist Greg Abate is considered to be amongst the finest jazz players of his generation. After studying at Berklee in the mid 70’s Greg went on tour with the Ray Charles band for two years before once again going on the road in the late 80’s with the revived Artie Shaw Orchestra. Following that experience he established himself as an international soloist, something he has now been successfully doing for the last 25 years working throughout the US, Canada, UK, Western and Eastern Europe and Russia.

As well as his touring work, Greg is also a composer, arranger, a Grammy-nominated recording artist and educator of some considerable note, serving as an adjunct professor of Jazz Studies at Rhode Island College. His fluent and muscular playing is best described as “post hard bop”, encompassing a classic approach to the material in the style of Charlie Parker, Sonny Stitt, Cannonball Adderley and Phil Woods. Greg Abate ventured out as post hard bop soloist following his role within Ray Charles’ Orchestra, forming his group “Channel One”. Greg was voted in the top five for alto sax in the Downbeat Readers poll and inducted into the Music Hall of Fame in 2016.

He is accompanied at Seven Arts by the Gaz Hughes Trio featuring Gaz on drums Andrzej Baranek piano and Ed Harrison bass. Iaving toured extensively across the UK, they are recognized as one of the most in-demand jazz groups in the British Isles.