Greg Abate life and biography

Greg Abate is a Jazz saxophonist, flautist, composer, and arranger. He grew up in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. In the fifth grade he began to play clarinet.

A superior bop player who finally emerged on records as a leader in the 1990s, Greg Abate had picked up experience playing with the Ray Charles Orchestra (starting in 1973 when he succeeded David "Fathead" Newman) and the Artie Shaw band when it was headed by clarinetist Dick Johnson during 1985-1987. Based in Rhode Island, Abate has played at many festivals and club dates, mostly on the East Coast and in Europe. Although he also plays tenor, flute, and soprano, alto is his main ax. Abate, who considers Charlie Parker, Paul Desmond, and Phil Woods to be among his most important influences, has recorded as a leader for Seaside, Candid, and Blue Chip Jazz (Bop Lives!).

Discography:

Bop City: Live at Birdland (1991), Candid
Straight Ahead (1993), Candid
It's Christmas Time (1995), Brownstone Recordings
Dr Jeckyll & Mr Hyde (1995), Candid
Bop Lives! (1996), Blue Chip Jazz
Happy Samba (1998), Blue Chip Jazz
Evolution (2002), 1201 Music
Horace Is Here (2005), Koko Jazz
Monsters in the Night (2006), Kok Jazz
Birds of a Feather (2008), Woodville

Abate currently resides in Coventry, Rhode Island with his sons. He teaches students at Rhode Island College, and also plays with his quartet locally and around the world.

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