Jaleel Shaw
with special guest Camille Thurman
Praised by PostGenre as “one of the best saxophonists of his generation,” artist and composer Jaleel Shaw has become a master of his instrument and a role model for improvisers across every creative discipline. He composes, in real time, with abandon and precision. His devotion to melody — sweet & lyrical, raw & unyielding — informs his explorations on stage and in the studio. And his tone distills and sanctifies the challenging beauty of his instrument.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Shaw came up on the city’s iconic music scene, playing alto with its artists at an early age. After attending Berklee College of Music on full scholarship and graduating with a dual degree in Music Education and Performance, in 2000 he moved to New York where he earned his Master of Music in Performance from Manhattan School of Music. He issued his debut release Perspective in 2005 to wide critical acclaim; the following year, he joined the Roy Haynes Quartet, launching a pivotal apprenticeship-turned-lifelong friendship that would transform his playing and change the course of his career.
Traveling the world as a leader and a highly sought collaborator, Shaw has headlined storied venues across the country and throughout the world, from Newport Jazz Festival in Rhode Island to Beijing Jazz Festival in China. He has appeared at Newport, North Sea Jazz Festival, Pori Jazz Festival, Umbria Jazz Festival, The Village Vanguard, Jazz Showcase, Birdland, Blue Note Tokyo, Blue Note Milano, Blue Note Nagoya, Motion Blue, and Duc Des Lombards, among other domestic and international venues.
Camille Thurman is an acclaimed composer, saxophonist, vocalist, and bandleader whose dynamic artistry has established her as one of jazz’s leading voices. Known for her seamless blend of tradition and innovation, the New York City native has earned widespread recognition, including an NAACP Image Award nomination, multiple ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Awards, and repeated DownBeat Critics Poll nominations.
Thurman made history as the first woman in more than 30 years to tour and perform full-time with the world-renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra as a saxophonist and woodwind doubler. She has headlined major venues and festivals around the world, including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and has served as a U.S. Cultural Ambassador through the Fulbright Program and the U.S. State Department.
A dedicated educator and mentor, Thurman founded The Haven Hang, a mentorship initiative supporting young women pursuing careers in music. She currently serves as Assistant Professor of Jazz Performance at McGill University. Her latest recording, Confluence: Vol. 1, showcases her continued commitment to expanding the boundaries of contemporary jazz.