Lauren Sevian's "LSQ"
Lauren Sevian, baritone saxophone
George Colligan, piano
Boris Kozlov or Brad Jones, bass
Johnathan Blake, drums
"Gesture of No Fear" with special guest Mike DiRubbo, alto saxophone
John Coltrane, Hank Mobley, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Art Blakey, George Coleman, Pepper Adams, Cecil Payne, Donald Byrd, Johnny Griffin, McCoy Tyner, Pharoah Sanders, Wayne Shorter, Dexter Gordon, Stanley Turrentine, Woody Shaw, Horace Silver, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Sonny Rollins, Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder, Jamiroquai, Herbie Hancock, Mark Turner, Eddie Harris, Mike DiRubbo, hatha yoga
Podcast interview with Ken Laster from jazzandbeyond.com (interview portion starts at 14:30)
***2009 Downbeat Critics Poll nominee for "rising star" Baritone Saxophonist***
***2008 Downbeat Critics Poll nominee for "rising star" Baritone Saxophonist***
***30th Annual Jazz Poll - Clube de jazz "revelacao" (new talent)***
Lauren Sevian has been performing professionally since the age of 12, first on the piano, then on the saxophone. At the age of 16 she won the Count Basie Invitational soloing competition, which led to a feature performance with the Basie Band. By the age of 17 she had already performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, & the Village Vanguard.
In the fall of 1997, Lauren came to NYC to attend the prestigious Manhattan School of Music where she studied with Mark Turner, Donny McCaslin, Steve Slagle, Joe Temperley, and Mike Abene.
Upon graduating, Lauren became a regular member of groups such as: the grammy nominated Mingus Big Band, Mingus Epitaph Orchestra, the Black Rock Coalition Orchestra, the Artie Shaw Orchestra, Howard Johnson's "Bear-tones", the grammy nominated JC Hopkins Biggish Band, Ada Rovatti's Elephunk, the Big "O" Orchestra, grammy nominated Travis Sullivan's Bjorkestra, & the Todd Londagin Big Band.
Lauren has performed with a variety of different groups including: Denis Leary's Rescue Me Comedy tour featuring the Enablers, the Mingus Orchestra, Mario Pavone's Septet, the Westchester Jazz Orchestra, Frank Lacy's Vibe Tribe, Benny Rietveld & the Matching Ensemble, Valery Ponomarov's Big Band, Jack Jeffers Big Band, the Harlem Renaissance Orchestra, Charli Persip's Supersound, Travis Sullivan's Identity Crisis, Mike Hashim's Billy Strayhorn Orchestra, Kendrick Oliver and the New Life Jazz Orchestra, David Cassidy & "the Rat Pack is Back", Mike Smith's Supper Club Orchestra, the Sweet Divines, the Stan Rubin Orchestra, Earl McIntyre's Big Band, Diva, the Van Dells, the Benny Goodman Tribute Orchestra, the Harry James Orchestra, Steve Slagle's Sax Quartet, Blue 9, the Howard Williams Jazz Orchestra, the Ryles Jazz Orchestra, Gary Wofsey Jazz Orchestra, Istanbul Orchestra, Super 7, George Gee Orchestra, John Malino Big Band, singers David Cassidy, Justine "Baby" Washington, Maxine Brown, Howard Tate, Quinn Lemley, Deian McBride, Josh Weinstein and Liz Winick.
Some clubs & concert halls she has performed throughout NYC include: Weill Recital Hall, Smoke, Blue Note, Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, Dizzy's Club Coca cola, Rose Hall @ Lincoln Center, Iridium, Jazz Gallery, Village Vanguard, Sweet Rhythm, Jazz Standard, Mintons Playhouse, BB King's, Joe's Pub, Big Apple Jazz, Carnegie Club, Supper Club, Tilles Center, Westbury Music Fair, Fez, 55 Bar, Bowery Ballroom, the Highline Ballroom, Mercury Lounge, Rockwood Music Hall, Lion's Den, Makor, Swing 46, Metropolitan Cafe, Tribeca Blues, the Knitting Factory, Bitter End, Izzy Bar, Five Spot, Europa Club, BAM cafe, Brooklyn Conservatory, Decade, C-note, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, Cornelia Street Cafe, the Garage, Shelly's, Triad, Groove, the Oak Room, Mo Pitkins, The Slipper Room; and toured throughout Europe and South America playing clubs & jazz festivals.
Over the past several years, she has been featured in publications such as Saxophone Journal, Hothouse, the Boston Globe, and Newsday. She also appeared in the hollywood movie production of Mona Lisa Smile which starred actress Julia Roberts.
She has done numerous recording projects & jingles with artists such as Travis Sullivan's Bjorkestra, Ada Rovatti & Elephunk, Liz Winick, Blue Man Group, Greg Osby, Joan Osbourne, and Lucy Woodward.
In addition to performing, Lauren also teaches on a regular basis. In the summer of 2007, she joined the Litchfield Jazz Camp faculty as a teaching artist. In April 2008 she was invited to adjudicate & perform at the Monterey Jazz Festival's "Next Generation" Festival, where she performed alongside Christian McBride, Terry-Lynn Carrington, George Duke, Corey Christiansen, Billy Harper, Ron Westray, Sal Cracchiolo, & many others.
Lauren's quartet the "LSQ", which includes George Colligan (piano), Boris Kozlov (bass) , & Johnathan Blake (drums), released "Blueprint" in December 2008 on Greg Osby's new label Inner Circle Music. There is much more to come from the baritone saxophonist!
Lauren endorses Buffet-Crampon saxophones.
Selected discography:
As a leader:
Blueprint - Inner Circle Music (2008)
As a sideman:
Thomas Barber's Janus Bloc - Snow Road - DClef Records (2008)
Lucy Woodward - Lucy Woodward is Hot & Bothered - I love Desi Music (2008)
Joan Osbourne - Breakfast in Bed - Time Life Records (2007)
Travis Sullivan's Bjorkestra - Enjoy! - Koch Records (2007)
Heather Edwards - Eclectic Energy (2007)
Ada Rovatti & the Elephunk Band - For Rent - Apria Records (2003)
Liz Winick - Sunlights Path (2001)
WHAT SOME HAVE SAID...
"In 2009 there aren’t too many jobs that can’t be held down by a woman. One that comes to mind might be the baritone saxophone chair in the Mingus Big Band. But that’s exactly where Lauren Sevian cut her teeth and earned the accolades that led to Blueprint, her debut recording on Greg Osby’s label. Sevian’s tone is full and authoritative on the big horn. Her straightahead compositions (ten originals; one cowritten with guest altoist Mike DiRubbo) are rendered with graceful precision by her working quartet (particularly pianist George Colligan). Sevian’s long, fluid lines run counter to most contemporary baritone styles, which tend to lean toward the avant garde, supplementing and sometimes replacing lyricism with overblowing or other flashy effects. On Blueprint Sevian is no-nonsense and establishes herself as a fresh and important new voice on an underappreciated
often intimidating instrument."--Jeff Stockton, All About Jazz, review of "Blueprint"
"...The title track opens the album and from the git-go one realizes Sevian can get around on the large horn with style. Her sound is full and rich, evoking memories of Nick Brignola. The baritone is a gas in capable hands and that ability to 'get around' on the horn and explore its registers is an element of the instrument's appeal. Sevian displays a convincing and exhilarating capacity to both tell a lively story through her solos and explore the range of her instrument without hesitation..."--Rick Erben, amazon.com, review of "Blueprint".Visit the "news" section of laurensevian.com for a link to the full review.
"For the past few years Lauren Sevian has been a "rising star" on the New York jazz scene, particularly in her role as the baritone saxophonist in the Mingus Big Band. Lauren's debut CD, filled with original compositions performed by a stellar quartet, is further proof that she is becoming an important voice on her instrument."--Bob Bernotas, host of "Just Jazz" WNTI 91.9 FM/wnti.org (review of "Blueprint")
"...One of the nights high points in Baritone saxophonist Lauren Sevian’s “Moanin’” that really left folks staring in amazement."--Glen Creason, Cerritos Ink
"Baritone saxophonist Lauren Sevian improvised over the fast section, issuing rhythmically robust lines that had a Coltrane-like angularity here, a Bird-like warmth there."--Zan Stewart, The Star-Ledger (review of Mingus Big Band)
"From the first unaccompanied notes of Lauren Sevian’s baritone saxophone it was clear that the Mingus Big Band was in powerful, energetic form, both as the highlight of this year’s Jazz Weekend at the Bath International Music Festival and at the midpoint of their current British tour." --Alyn Shipton, Times Online
"Mingus Big Band gave a tyically rollicking show for a sold out audience on the Saturday night with baritone saxophonist Lauren Sevian setting the tone with her barnstorming solo on the opener, 'Moanin'." --Stephen Graham, Jazzwise Magazine
"Then the band...ripped into Mingus's rapid-fire blues ''Boogie Stop Shuffle."...Lauren Sevian soloed fluidly on the unwieldy baritone saxophone, building to a honking finish as the trumpets shrieked." --Kevin Lowenthal, Boston Globe correspondent (review of Mingus Big Band @ Regatta Bar, September 2nd 2005)
"Opening with a rousing version of "E's Flat, Ah's Flat Too" we wasted no time in launching into some serious and extended solos. First up was Lauren Sevian giving us a blistering baritone sax solo taking time to dip into the delicious lower register of this instrument." --Dave Barnes "The Live Music Report" (review of Mingus Big Band @ Toronto Jazz Festival)
"The basement's acoustics, coupled with the band's tremendous sound, helped enhance the warmth and softness of baritonist Lauren Sevian's tone during her solo on "Diane." The band's personnel are known to shift from time to time, so let's hope Sevian finds her way to town with the rest of the group." --Minnesota Spokesman/Recorder (review of Mingus Big Band)
"This New York-based band is full of young fiery musicians who understand the spatial qualities of Bjork’s music and who delve into Sullivan’s terrific arrangements with commitment and energy. The band is rich with soloists, including ... the fiery playing of Lauren Sevian on baritone sax..."-Alan Chase, The Wire
"Lauren Sevian and Randy Brecker began the second piece with mournful, soulful refrains, as the deep baritone sax played the slower theme and imbued it with energy and even a danceable melody."--Dr. Roberta E. Zlokower, Roberta on the Arts (review of Mingus Big Band @ Iridium)
"Between the soloists emerge Lauren Sevian, perfectly comfortable on her
heavy instrument....."-AllAboutJazz Italy (review of Elephunk CD "For Rent")
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