Lenard Simpson Quartet

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

TIME: 1:30-2:30PM

VENUE: WAGNER STAGE. MIDWAY PLAISANCE AT South WOODLAWN AVE.

LENARD SIMPSON

Lenard Simpson is a saxophonist, composer, and educator from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While he was still in high school, Simpson was selected to participate in the Grammy Camp Jazz Session and was awarded Outstanding Soloist at the Mingus Jazz Competition in New York City. He completed his undergraduate degree in jazz performance at Northern Illinois University and, while there, was awarded first place in Chicago’s esteemed Luminarts Jazz Competition.

Upon graduation, Simpson moved to Chicago and quickly became one of the city’s top-call saxophonists, playing sideman to legendary local drummers George Fludas and Charles Heath. He has had the opportunity to play and travel with artists such as Billy Childs, Kurt Elling, Marquis Hill, Sara Gazarek, and Clayton Cameron. His trio has appeared at premier clubs and jazz festivals throughout the Chicago and Milwaukee areas.

Simpson has taught at the Herbie Hancock Institute, the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music’s Jazz Institute, Northern Illinois University’s Jazz Camp, and Birch Creek Jazz Camp. Additionally, he has taught master classes for international Jazz Day in Melbourne, Australia and at the Sitka Jazz Festival in Sitka, Alaska, and has served as an adjunct saxophone professor at Northern Illinois University. Recently graduated from the Thelonious Monk Institute Fellowship (now called the Herbie Hancock Institute), Simpson has been awarded a fellowship to teach and perform through the Jazz Institute of Chicago.

The musicians:

Lenard Simpson - alto saxophone

Runere Brooks - bass

Julius Tucker - piano

Samuel Jewell - drums