Brand new CD -Christian Winther Quintet "Soul House" - features
Christian Winther, saxophone
Marcus Printup, trumpet
Richard Doron Johnson, piano
Carlos Henriquez, bass
Ali Jackson, drums
Influences
John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Paul Gonzalves, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Charlie Parker, Ben Webster, Johnny Hodges, Joe Henderson, Billie Holiday, Billy Strayhorn, Charlie Rouse, Lester Young, Nat Perilliat, James Black, Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Marcus Roberts, Todd Williams, Wess Anderson, Milt Hinton, Swang, Papa Joe Jones, Zoot Sims, Stan Getz, Mahalia Jackson, Sidney Bechet.
Sounds Like
"The band succeeds in creating convincing and inspiring examples of new music, a destilation of impressions from their influences".
JAZZSPECIAL -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"It marks his rise as another promising tenor saxophonist among the ranks of well-schooled young jazz musicians".
JAZZTIMES
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"While swinging is often at the forefront, a refreshing element is the ease of Winther's moves both to more free ranging realms and while he glances back to the music's tradition".
OFFBEAT
Saxophonist, clarinetist and composer Christian Winther was introduced to jazz by his fathers albums of jazz masters such as Louis Armstrong, Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane. At the age of 11 Winther began playing the clarinet, among his first influences were Louis Armstrong and old blues recordings. By the time he was 13 local traditional bands began calling him for gigs. Then Winther heard the music of Charlie Parker, which really grabbed him and the saxophone seemed the logical next step, he began studying with saxophonist Darryl Barber. Winther attended the Skidmore Jazz Institute program and was encouraged to continue his studies in jazz by the late legend Milt Hinton.<
Christian Winther studied at the University of New Orleans, with Jazz Studies Program director Ellis Marsalis and faculty Ed Petersen, Victor Goines and Harold Battiste. While attending University of New Orleans he performed with notable jazz names such as Frank Morgan, Ellis Marsalis and Alvin Red Tyler.
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Christian Winther has toured Europe and the U.S. as a sideman and as the leader of his own group the Christian Winther Quartet. Some of Winthers influences are the writing of Monk and Ellington, but it does not stop there, “being a musician in New Orleans, you are privileged to experience so much different music as part of everyday life, and you start to realize how you can draw from all those sources”. Winther received a nomination for best upcoming musician in contemporary jazz in the yearly poll by Offbeat Magazine, 2003 and have had his music reviewed in publications such as: Allaboutjazz, Cadence, Jazz Special, Offbeat, Jazz Times and Jazz Journal. Some of the musicians Winther has performed/recorded with include: Fredrick Sanders, Roland Guerin, David Torkanowsky, Richard Doron Johnson, Neal Caine, Ali Jackson, Marcus Printup, Herlin Riley Quartet, Shannon Powell Group, Thais Clark and Topsy Chapman Band among others.
Christian Winther released his debut CD “Perspectives” in 2001. It received much praise from critics and fans alike. Winther has to date released 3 CD’s on the SteepleChase label. His label debut, “Blue Function” (2004), “The Only Plan” January (2006). His latest effort entitled Christian Winther Quintet “Soul House” featuring Marcus Printup, Richard Johnson, Carlos Henriquez and Ali Jackson was released 2008.
