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Brandon Wozniak (2013) |
© Andrea Canter
In the seven or eight years since saxophonist Brandon
Wozniak returned to his native Twin Cities, he's gone from reliable sideman to break-out
soloist and bandleader, one of the most exciting artists on the local jazz
scene if also one of the most circumspect. In the past few years it seems he averaged at
least one night per week at the Artists Quarter, with the Atlantis Quartet,
Dave King Trucking Company, Bryan Nichols Quintet, Chris Bates' Red Five, Eric
Gravatt's Source Code or, most recently on Tuesdays, with "Brandon Wozniak and
Friends." And we're all eagerly awaiting
the release of his first recording as leader, due out sometime in 2014.
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Brandon (2012) |
Each of Brandon's
projects takes jazz in a somewhat different direction, yet a constant across
all of his work is his full-bodied sound and stunning reverence for melody,
even within the most Coltranish squealing soundscape, dueling with Mike Lewis or
Zacc Harris, or trading with Dave King.
He might seem like the straight man (especially when Dave
has the mic) - but just wait til he starts to blow that horn.