Stuart and Nat

Since today is the birthday of my first cousin Stuart Slagle, who died in 2007, it is a good time to share this photo of him and his nephew, my first cousin once removed Nathaniel "Nat" Shultz, who died in 2006. This photo was taken at my parents' house in 2005.

Saxophone Day

November 6 is Saxophone Day. The date was chosen because it is the birthday of Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone. He was born on 6 November 1814 in Dinant, Belgium.

My first cousin Steve Slagle is a professional jazz saxophonist. His latest album is Power of Two, with pianist Bill O'Connell.

Celebrate Saxophone Day by listening to saxophone music! 

52 Ancestors: Week 29 "Musical": Steve Slagle

Unlike all of my other 52 Ancestors posts, this one is about a living person: my first cousin Steve Slagle, who is a professional jazz musician. Steve studied at Berklee College of Music, and also has a Masters degree from Manhattan School of Music, where he is a member of the Jazz Arts faculty. He is a saxophonist, flautist, and composer. He has worked with numerous artists, including the Steve Kuhn Quartet, the Charles Mingus Big Band, the Carla Bley Band, Milton Nascimento, Joe Lovano, Lionel Hampton, Ray Barretto, Olivier Hutman, Charlie Haden, Jaco Pastorius, Dave Stryker, Dr. John and Eddie Blackwell, and the Beastie Boys.

He received a Grammy award for his work with Joe Lovano's Nonet on the album 52nd Street Themes (Blue Note, 2000).

Two of the Charles Mingus Big Band albums that he played on, Gunslinging Birds (Dreyfus, 1995) and Live In Time (Dreyfus, 1996), were also nominated for Grammy awards.

He has also released albums with his own groups, including the Stryker/Slagle Band.

His latest album is The Power of Two (Panorama Records, 2015), recorded with pianist Bill O'Connell.

 For a more complete discography, see http://steveslagle.com/Recordings/.

In 2011, he  published a book, Scenes, Songs & Solos: A Composition and Improvisation Workbook for the Creative Musician (Schaffner Press).

Links
Steve Slagle (official Web site)
Steve Slagle (Manhattan School of Music faculty bio)
Steve Slagle (Wikipedia)
Schaffner Press: Scenes, Songs & Solos: A Composition and Improvisation Workbook for the Creative Musician

Talented Tuesday: Cousin Steve

April is Jazz Appreciation Month, so it is a good time to write about my first cousin Steve Slagle. Steve is a jazz saxophonist and has been recording since 1977. He has played with the Steve Kuhn Quartet, the Charles Mingus Big Band, the Carla Bley Band, Milton Nascimento, Joe Lovano, Lionel Hampton, Ray Barretto, Olivier Hutman, Charlie Haden, Jaco Pastorius, Dave Stryker, Dr. John and Eddie Blackwell, the Beastie Boys, and his own groups, including the Stryker/Slagle Band. More information about his recordings can be found on his Web site at http://steveslagle.com/Recordings/.

Steve has also published a book, Scenes, Songs & Solos: A Composition and Improvisation Workbook for the Creative Musician (Schaffner Press, 2011).