I
play all the saxophones, flute, clarinet, recorder, pennywhistles, keyboards,
EWI (electronic wind instrument) and various hand percussion. In addition,
I am a composer and arranger as well as a studio recording and mix engineer
with experience in Digital Performer, Pro-Tools, Logic Audio and good
old analog technologies.
Originally from North Carolina, I moved to New York City in 1986 to pursue
my undergraduate degree at the New School University, studying with some
of the greatest saxophonists and jazz musicians in the world. In 1996
I graduated with my master's degree from Queens College, where I had the
very distinct pleasure of studying with two of the great jazz masters,
Jimmy Heath and Sir Roland Hanna.
In 1997 I cofounded the acclaimed New York Horns with my trumpet-playing
friend and business partner, Chris Anderson. Our EP Tunnel Vision and
one single from it, Miles From Chicago, went on to be two of MP3.coms
most popular downloads (1 Acid Jazz single), and the single ranked 18th
in total plays for 1999. Over 3 million copies of NYH tracks went into
circulation as a result of exposure on MP3.com. Our writing, performing,
and recording skills have been used by Sony Music, J Records, Skin Tight,
the Hudson River Rats, Bernard Purdies All-Stars, Music Playground, Nia
Monet, Matt Marshak, the Todd Wolfe Blues Projekt, the Kevin Kline Band,
and many others. Our exposure on MP3.com led to NYH being asked to join
the writing team at Beach Street Music. Through that relationship, I have
seen my original music placed on national television shows such as Sally
Jesse Raphael, The Maury Povich Show, The Montel Williams Show, and Crossing
Over with John Edwards, as well as ABC Sports," ABC News, and "CBS Sports.
Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to perform with some truly
talented, inspiring artists and musicians. I have been a featured performer
with They Might Be Giants; drummer Bernard "Pretty" Purdies Jazz All-Stars;
blues guitarists Matt "Guitar" Murphy and Todd Wolfe; vocalists Mary Wilson,
Cuba Gooding and the Main Ingredient, The Four Tops, The Temptations,
The OJays, The Spinners, Sister Sledge, Little Anthony & the Imperials,
and Franki Valli; percussionist Ray Mantilla; bassist Reggie Workman;
the bands Professor Crewcut, Iguazu, Joe Gallant & the Illuminati, the
Tony Trischka band, the Marc Elliot Band, The Stingers, the Kevin Kline
Band and Skin Tight; and composer Jose Halac. I presented the world premier
of the composition for saxophone and percussion ensemble "Superball."
My recording credits include New York Horns (Tunnel Vision), Joe Gallant
& Illuminati ("Live," volumes 1 & 2, and "Terrapin"), The Kevin Kline
Band ("Live From West Street"), Claire & Rusty Cloud ("Dream Come True"),
Quinn Lemley ("Cocktails With a Twist" and Dance or Die), Penelope Tobin
("When"), Urban Survival ("Urban Survival" and Storry Hill), The Jim Donica
Band, Mystic Pilgrims (Mystic Pilgrims"), The ODB ("The ODB"), Billy Eric
("Of Near & Distant Lands"), and Group Therapy ("Music of Multiple Minds").
I also recorded the hit house-dance single and instrumental remix, "Inspiration,"
with Arnold Jarvis and Kerry Chandler for Freetown Records (London).
Other credits include recording for the Bill Cosby cartoon series "Little
Bill" and the films "Moanin' For Momma" (with Isaac Hayes) and "BYOB"
(Kevin Shinall), as well as writing and arranging for J Records, Sony
Music, the Liberty Baptist Church, Joe Gallant & the Illuminati, Group
Therapy, MD Blessing, Bob Duncan, Skin Tight, New York Horns, and the
Razin' Cane Saxophone Quartet. I also scored the independent short film
"BYOB" (no relation to above) for filmmaker Ken Threet and Stygian Hour
Productions in New York. My saxophone playing has also been heard on dozens
of local and national radio and television jingles.
In 1992 I toured the United States and Canada with Richard OBrien's Rocky
Horror Picture Show, and in 1996 I did the U.S. and Canadian tour of Five
Guys Named Mo. I became a regular sub on the hit Broadway musical Movin
Out in 2003, which led to my being asked to perform with the first national
tour of that show beginning in January 2004.
Currently I am still on tour and working on a CD of my material, as well
as a variety of other musical projects. When not touring, I also teach
privately in New York. I am currently sponsored by and endorse Rico Reeds,
JodyJazz saxophone mouthpieces, and Cannonball saxophones. For more information
on any of these, feel free to contact me or visit my website at www.johnisley.com.
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