Advisory Board
Greg Tardy
Composer, Jazz Reedman, and Associate Professor of Jazz Saxophone at UTK
Saxophonist, multi-reedist, and composer Gregory Tardy is one of the most versatile jazz musicians of his generation, equally comfortable in a variety of musical and improvisational situations. Born into a musical family, he began his musical career studying classical clarinet. In his early twenties, while preparing for a symphony career, he discovered jazz saxophone and hasn’t looked back.
In 1992, he started playing with legendary drummer Elvin Jones and recorded his first CD, Crazy Love. As a sought-after sideman, he has played with prominent jazz artists including Andrew Hill, Tom Harrell, Dave Douglas, Wynton Marsalis, Jay McShann, Nicholas Payton, Roy Hargrove, Steve Coleman, Betty Carter, Don Byron, Bill Frisell, Rashied Ali, Ellis Marsalis, Brian Lynch, John Patitucci, and many more. He has also performed or recorded with saxophonists including Joe Lovano, Mark Turner, Chris Potter, Dewey Redman, and Ravi Coltrane.
His performance schedule has taken him around the world to major jazz festivals and stages. As a sideman, he has appeared on several DownBeat Albums of the Year and Grammy-nominated recordings, including a Grammy-winning CD with Brian Lynch in 2006. He has recorded fourteen CDs under his own name, featuring compositions that blend traditional jazz with a modern-seeking style.