Bridges Saxophone Quartet
Saturday, March 29, Recital Hall MB1, 10:30am - 11:30am
String Quartet No. 1 – Calvary Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson (1932-2004)
Orchestrated by Jason Kush (b. 1981)
I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Allegro vivace
Movement for String Trio Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson (1932-2004)
Orchestrated by Jason Kush (b. 1981)
Pause, Reset Bob Reynolds (b. 1977)
Clemente Miguel Zenon (b. 1976)
Figurine Troy Roberts (b. 1981)
The Bridges Saxophone Quartet seeks to present genre-bending music recently composed or arranged for the saxophone quartet (and specifically written for Bridges). Bridges’ goal is to expand the repertoire of the saxophone quartet idiom by commissioning saxophonists to write for the ensemble. Three world-renown saxophonists have done such for Bridges. Additionally, Jason Kush has orchestrated two masterworks by Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, a Black American composer who make a significant contribution to classical composition, Black orchestras, and the jazz idiom (as a pianist with drummer Max Roach) during his 20th century lifetime.
Bob Reynolds, longtime member of Snarky Puppy, wrote Pause, Reset, an introspective piece that reflects on the state of our country following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. Grammy winning Puerto Rican saxophonist Miguel Zenon wrote Clemente in 2022. This piece, written to honor Puerto Rican humanitarian and baseball hall of famer Roberto Clement, explores various intricate juxtapositions of the subdivision in a fast, high-intensity piece. Also in 2022, Australian saxophonists Troy Roberts wrote Figurine, a piece that laments the tragic issue of gun violence in the U.S.
Jason Kush (he/him), soprano saxophone
James Flowers (he/him), alto saxophone
Joe Scheller (he/him), tenor saxophone
Benjamin Morris (he/him), baritone saxophone
The Bridges Saxophone Quartet is a fresh new chamber ensemble comprised of four versatile saxophone artists. The members of the Bridges Saxophone Quartet are Jason Kush (soprano saxophone), Jim Flowers (alto saxophone), Joe Scheller (tenor saxophone), and Ben Morris (baritone saxophone). Bridges seeks to honor the classic repertoire of the idiom while surging forward into new compositions. The group explores myriad genres, from medieval works to modern classical and jazz pieces. The inspiration of new works for saxophone quartet is also a goal of the group. The Bridges Saxophone Quartet has commissioned and premiered works by Bob Reynolds (2020 – Pause, Reset), Miguel Zenon (2022 – Clemente), Troy Roberts (2022 - Figuirine), and Jason Kush’s orchestrations of Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson’s 1956 String Quartet No. 1 – Calvary, and 2004 piece, Movement for String Trio.
Dr. Jason Kush is an active saxophonist, educator, and scholar. He is a Professor of Music at Slippery Rock University and an Artist-Lecturer at Carnegie Mellon University, as well as a Conn-Selmer and Selmer Paris artist. Kush has performed as a soloist and ensemble member in wide variety of genres in the United States, Europe, and Central and South America. He has completed 200+ services and a European tour with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and is a member of the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra. As a freelance artist, Kush has appeared with the Woody Herman Orchestra, Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, New World Symphony (European tour), Maceo Parker, Arturo Sandoval, Eddie Daniels, Paquito D’Rivera, Benny Golson, Sean Jones, Andrea Bocelli, Hugh Jackman, and many others. Kush’s solo discography includes Finally Friday (MCG Jazz), Intersecting Lines (New Focus Records/Naxos), and Sonate (Armazi Productions).
Dr. Kush’s principal saxophone teachers include Agnes McConaughy, Terry Steele, Gary Keller, and Dale Underwood. He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Saxophone Performance from the University of Miami after obtaining his Master of Music degree in Jazz Pedagogy from the University of Miami and his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Slippery Rock University.
Dr. James Flowers is Assistant Professor of Music at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and adjunct professor of saxophone at Westminster College. James holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in saxophone performance and literature with a minor in Jazz from the Eastman School of Music in addition to a Masters in Music Performance from Bowling Green State University and a Bachelor’s in Music Education from Youngstown State University. James has won first prize at The Music Teacher's National Association Chamber Music Competition, The Coleman National Chamber Music Competition, and was a finalist at the North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) National Conference Solo Competition.
Dr. Flowers has presented various programs at the North American Saxophone Alliance national and regional conferences, the World Saxophone Congress, the Navy Band Saxophone Symposium, the Heidelberg New Music Festival, and the International Villa-Lobos Festival. He has toured with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and performed with The Cleveland Duo, Wayne Newton, Marie Osmond, Bobby Vinton, Ben Vereen, Mary Wilson from the Supremes, Martha and the Vandellas, The Fifth Dimension, Al Martino, Deana Martin, Cleveland Fats, The Carmen Mico Orchestra, North Side Jazz, and the jazz trio Stretch. He also is currently a member of the Greenville Symphony and Bridges Saxophone Quartet
James’ principal saxophone teachers include Fred Boles, James Umble, Marco Albonetti, John Sampen, Ramon Ricker, Charles Pillow, and Chien-Kwan Lin. James has also studied clarinet with Debbie Alexander, Robert Fitzer, and Kent Engelhardt, and flute with Jacqueline Arrington.
Joe Scheller currently works as a saxophonist, arranger, and educator in and around the greater Pittsburgh area. He is an alumnus of both the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University (BS in Music Education, 2011) and Carnegie Mellon University (MM in Saxophone, 2017). While in school, Joe performed alongside artists such as Slide Hampton, Rufus Reid, Ralph Lalama, Allen Vizzutti, Sean Jones, and Carter Pann. Joe has studied saxophone with Dr. James Umble, Alex Costanza, Eric Defade, Jason May, and Greg Lutz.
Professional experiences include performances with the national tour of Disney’s Aladdin, The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, The Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra, The Temptations, Maceo Parker, Sal Valentinetti, Lou Christie, Monica Mancini, Anne Runolfsson, The Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, The Johnstown Symphony Orchestra, The Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra, The Lettermen, and Azúcar. In the past, a passion for educating young musicians has led him to previous faculty positions with South Side Area High School, Elizabeth Forward High School, and the Carnegie Mellon University Music Extensions program.
Joe currently serves on the faculty at Kiski Area School District, while also maintaining a large private studio of woodwind students. He can be heard performing regularly with No Bad Juju, The Bridges Saxophone Quartet, Check Your Bucket, Yacht Rocket, and the Balcony Big Band.
Dr. Benjamin Morris is an active saxophonist and chamber musician who brings his love of cross-genre performance to the stage. Benjamin’s study of jazz, classical, and commercial music has led to myriad performance opportunities with a wide range of ensembles and artists. In 2017, Morris became one of three saxophonists for the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, FL and has performed with the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Orchestra, and the Nu Deco Ensemble. His multi-faceted musicianship has also led to performance opportunities with the Balcony Big Band, Frost School of Music Concert Jazz Band, and the South Florida Wind Symphony Jazz Orchestra. Dr. Morris has been a featured soloist with the Miami Sousa Band, the MSU Jazz Ensemble, and the Carnegie Mellon Wind Ensemble among other local ensembles.
Chamber music has remained a focus in Morris’s musical career and has led him to co-found two professional saxophone quartets. The Deco Saxophone Quartet, winners of the inaugural Artist Launch Competition at the Frost School of Music and the Bridges Saxophone Quartet, an active ensemble with genre bending commissions from the likes of Bob Reynolds, Troy Roberts, and Miguel Zenón. An accomplished performer, Morris is also deeply invested in educating the next generation of saxophonists and continuing to evolve saxophone pedagogy to better meet the needs of his students.
Dr. Morris received his D.M.A. from the Frost School of Music where he studied with saxophone legend Dale Underwood. Before Miami, he obtained undergraduate and graduate degrees from Morehead State University and Carnegie Mellon, respectively.
Benjamin is currently the Assistant Professor of Saxophone at Morehead State University where he is excited to give back to the school and community that helped to shape the beginnings of his musical career nearly ten years ago.