Jean Toussaint
Jazz Saxophone Tutor Associate Diploma (Berklee College of Music)
email Jean Toussaint
Tel: c/o 0121 331 5901
www.jeantoussaint.com
www.myspace.com/jeantoussaint
Since saxophonist Jean Toussaint left Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, he hasn’t looked back. Nor has he spent a career trying to repeat the past. The experiences gained in that world-class hothouse have enable him to push forward and embrace challenging and often high profile musical collaborations in many different jazz styles. Today he works out of London as a band leader/composer, and educator.
Born in the Caribbean, Toussaint studied at Berklee with peers Branford Marsalis, Greg Osby, Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts and others. He joined Blakey in 1982 and toured and recorded with him for four years with fellow band members Lonnie Plaxico, Terence Blanchard, Mulgrew Miller and Donald Harrison. Based in New York with the Messengers, Toussaint regularly led the jam sessions at the famous Blue Note club.
Initially invited to teach at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Toussaint came to London in 1987 and still uses the city as his base. He has released 10 CDs as a Leader and guested on many more. Collaborations with musicians based in the UK have included Bheki Mseleku, Julian Joseph, Jason Rebello, Cleveland Watkiss, Steve Williamson, Orphy Robinson and others. Toussaint is also invited to join tours with US musicians visiting Europe. In the last couple of years, he has played North Sea Festival (Den Haag), The New Morning (Paris), Montreux Festival (Switzerland), Clemont Ferrand Festival (France), Cork Festival (Ireland) as well as many clubs and theatres.
Research & Teaching Specialisms
- Jazz improvisation
- Instrumental technique
- Guiding students to explore and develop an inner musical personality, leading to a personal and uniquely individual style
Currently Performing / Working with
- The Jean Toussaint Quartet/Trio
- The Kirk Lightsey Jean Toussaint Quartet
- The Lionel Loueke Jean Toussaint Duo
- Recreation of John Coltrane’s Africa Brass directed by Scott Stroman with players from the LPO and the London jazz community. Live at the QEH on 11 November 2007
Recent Recordings
- 2001: Blue Black (Space Time Records)
- 2000: The Street Above The Underground (Alltone Records)
- 2001: BBC Jazz Awards, Best CD for The Street Above The Underground (Alltone Records)
- Annual, August: Jamey Aebersold Jazz Summer School, London
- Annual, July: GSMD Jazz and Studio Music Summer School, London
- Annual, July: Escuela de Musica Seminario de Jazz en La Coruna, Spain
- 2006, 2005: National Youth Jazz, Wales
- 2006: Improvisation workshop for players of the LPO
- 2005: 1 day workshop - Bedales School, Hampshire
- 2005: 1 day workshop – London Weekend Arts College
- Mediterranean Jazz Summer School, France