Chris Ward

Tenor saxophonist Chris Ward was born in Connecticut in 1982, and began studying music at the age of 9. At 15, Chris was inspired after hearing then saxophonist now film director Nick Ordway play a concert with the high school jazz band, Chris was inspired by his performance and sought him out after the show. After getting together with Ordway, he passed Chris the Charlie Parker Omnibook. Over the next few years Chris immersed himself in the history of jazz ranging from Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, Cannonball Adderley, Miles Davis, Jaco Pastorius to Michael Brecker. He then went on to study Performance and Jazz Composition at the prestigious Berklee College of Music and New York University. Chris studied privately with George Garzone and Frank Tiberi and was a member of many of Berklee’s top ensembles directed by jazz legends Hal Crook and Joe Lovano. At NYU he studied with Chris Potter, Wayne Krantz, Gil Goldstein, Lenny Pickett and Jean-Michel Pilc. He has extensive experience as a performer and composer throughout the Boston-NYC area including live performances on Boston’s WGBH and at the famed Blue Note Jazz Club with Kenny Werner, John Scofield and Joe Lovano. Ward has also performed on XM Radio and the Tri-C Jazz Festival in Cleveland. He brings a unique fusion of classical, rock, jazz and electronica to his songs heavily influenced by Bjork, Radiohead and Portishead. In his search for creativity and to help portray his unique sound and ideas, Ward gathered a group of talented musicians together and recorded his debut album, “Bridging the Gap.” Ward is a member of few up and coming projects on the scene, Felix Pastorius' Hipster Assassins, The worlds only J-pop big band Morning Musuko! and his new project Maschinenmensch, inspired by the film Metropolis. Quotes: 'There is a newer vision of a worldly, more hard-hitting yet notably listenable modern jazz that’s resting well among the newer names, especially that of Chris Ward, that will surely bring jazz to a greater level than its already at, in the years to come.' -Cicily Janus (Author, New Face of Jazz) 'With his wide spectrum of influences ranging from jazz to classical, rock and electronica, Chris Ward certainly became one of the most original woodwind players of the scene today.' - Linus Wyrsch, breakthruradio.com "Impeccable virtuosity & timing, a sound which goes straight to your heart, a magnificent flow of ideas entirely his own... Chris Ward is a rare find who will rock your world."-Jean-Michel Pilc "Chris Ward and his music cover a new rhythmic roads that not to many people have traveled, his sound is big and the band is strong, check out this album" - George Garzone "Chris Ward's "voice" on the saxophone is the one I'm betting everyone has been yearning to hear...Chris is a compelling, innovative artist that brings something truly different to the artistic "table" with this album...the sensitivity, emotionality, ideas, textures and heartfelt interaction have this CD rising above the rest to my ears...Powerful and intriguing from first note to last, this "bridge" will without any doubt be well traveled and timeless!"-Harry Skoler “Chris Ward has the ability to subject himself and his music under the most stringent creative scrutiny. He continually tests his own artistry in honest ways. Chris is always looking for something new” -Aki Ishiguro His Musicianship and his work ethics put Chris Ward in the most promising artists of this generation. -Alex Terrier The Saxophone Warrior