Friday, July 27, 2018, 8pm | Free. Rain or shine.
Location: MOCA Courtyard
Saxophonist, composer, orchestrator, producer, scholar, professor, and leader Ed Calle is known for his extraordinary ability to sight-read, interpret, and perform vitally any musical style. Throughout the globe, his peers and colleagues often laud his versatility. For example, while outside the Blue Note in New York City sharing some time with his mentor and friend Michael Brecker, fans asked Michael about being the most recorded saxophonist in history. Becker smiled, look at his pupil, and stated, “thanks, but Ed’s probably on as many or more records. He records a lot for American artists and we don’t see a lot of those credits. Regardless, in my estimation, Ed is likely the most versatile saxophonist on the planet.” Longtime mentor and collaborator Arturo Sandoval more succinctly affirms, “we call Calle – the monster.”
Born in Caracas, Venezuela to Spanish parents, Calle can be heard on more than 1,200 albums, almost 9,000 singles, and countless movie and television soundtracks both as a soloist, sideman, composer, arranger, conductor, and producer. He appears on Grammy – award – winning albums by Frank Sinatra, Juan Luis Guerra, Arturo Sandoval, Juanes, Vicky Carr, Gloria Estefan, and Jon Secada. Calle has also recorded and performed around the world with music royalty including Phil Ramone, Tom Dowd, Carlos Santana, Eddie Money, Greg Allman , Emilio Estefan, Chick Corea, Michael and Randy Brecker, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, John Patitucci, Donna Summer, the Bee Gees, Natalie Cole, Smokey Robinson, Shakira, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Dave Valentin, Lenny Kravitz, K.C. & the Sunshine Band, Placid Domingo, JLo, and Vanessa Williams just to name a few. Calle’s television work includes an almost decade-long stint as saxophonist in the Sabado Giante orchestra and appearances as a soloist with various artist on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and Jay Leno, Late Night with David Letterman, The Grammy Awards, and a host of international, national and regional television programs and specials.
Dr. Ed Calle is a Latin Grammy Award winner for Best Instrumental Album (2015) with Dr. Ed Calle Presents Mumble and a five- time Grammy nominee. The first studio record by the World Music 5, America, features chamber jazz orchestrations of original and classic music from the Americas with an all-star quintet that includes Negroni’s Trio and violinist Federico Britos.
Dr. Calle was awarded the 2015 Miami-Dade County Mayor’s Medal, named www.facultyawards.org 2014 Outstanding Professor at Miami Dade College (college wide), and 2014 United Teachers of Dade Champion Of Education for Arts and Entertainment.
Quotes:
“Likely the most versatile saxophonist on the planet.” – Michael Brecker (with fans @Blue Note Jazz Club NYC)
“We call Calle – the Monster.” – Arturo Sandoval
“One of the very few keeping the flame alive.” – Randy Brecker | “You’re that kid playing against the wall. Kid, you still sound great.” – Dizzy Gillespie (NYC-Flight to Freedom rec.)
“They tell me you’re studying math. Very few people play the saxophone like you do. Do us all a favor and play the saxophone.”- Chick Corea (NYC at Flight to Freedom session)
“Ed Calle has virtually flawless technique, outstanding control, and a bottomless bag of tricks in the studio.” – Skip Spratt (The Saxophone Journal July/August 2001, Vol. 25, No. 6)
Open 7 – 10pm, pay as you wish for admission to the museum during Jazz at MOCA.
Upcoming Musicians
August 31, 2018: Elsten Torres
September 28, 2018: Nestro Torres
