Saxophonist and composer Geof Bradfield blends modern jazz, African rhythms and the roots music of his native South into a style that is “explicitly adventurous and forward-looking” (AllAboutJazz.com).
Born in Houston and based in Chicago, Bradfield has performed throughout North America, Europe, Russia, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, sharing the stage and recording studio with artists such as Randy Weston, Carl Allen, Brian Blade, Rodney Whitaker, Etienne Charles, Joe Locke and Orrin Evans. He also performs and records regularly with Chicago artists Dana Hall, Clark Sommers, Jeff Parker, Matt Ulery, Marquis Hill and Ryan Cohan.
His work is featured on 50-plus CDs, including seven albums as a leader that have garnered critical accolades from the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune and NPR. Bradfield has been recognized in DownBeat Critics’ Polls as a rising star tenor saxophonist and arranger, and his 2017 release “Birdhoused” received 4.5 stars from the magazine.
His nonet recording “Yes, and...Music for Nine Improvisers” (2018, Delmark Records) was commissioned by Chamber Music Amerca’s New Jazz Works program with the generous support of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
A committed educator, Bradfield is professor of jazz studies at Northern Illinois University. He has given masterclasses and lectures at the Brubeck Institute, the Manhattan School of Music, the Jazz Education Network conference and numerous other national and international venues.
Please note: Biographies are based on information provided to the CSOA by the artists or their representatives. More current information may be available on websites of the artists or their management.
