Miguel Zenón Quartet

There have been few new voices in the jazz world that have caused as much of a stir and possessed as much individuality as saxophonist, Miguel Zenón. A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Zenón studied at the famed Escuela Libre de Musica, and later at the Berklee School of Music where he received numerous awards and honors. He became active in the Boston jazz scene and gained professional experience with drummer Bob Moses’ Mozamba Ensemble and the Either/Orchestra. After graduating from Berklee, Zenón received a Masters Degree from the Manhattan School of Music. In his relatively short career he has performed and/or recorded with a diverse array of artists including David Sanchez, Danilo Perez, Charlie Haden, The Village Vanguard Orchestra, Bobby Hutcherson, The Mingus Big Band, Steve Coleman and Branford Marsalis. In 2004, Zenón became one of the founding members of the SFJAZZ Collective with whom he has toured the US, Canada, Asia, and Europe. The SFJAZZ Collective garnered a coveted spot in the Downbeat Critic’s Poll Rising Star Small Group category in both 2006 and 2007 — an honor which they shared with Zenón’s own quartet. As a leader, he has released four CDs including Jíbaro, which features a bold reinterpretation of the rural music of his native Puerto Rico and which helped earn him the overall Best New Artist award in the 2006 JazzTimes poll. He has been on the top of the Downbeat Critic’s Poll in the Rising Star Alto Sax category for four years, including most recently in 2008. This year, Zenón recieved a fellowship from the prestigious John Simon Guggenheim Foundation to work on his next project, which will focus on the Plena music of Puerto Rico also releasing Awake, which features Luis Perdomo, piano; Hans Glawischnig, bass and Henry Cole; drums, all of whom will be performing with him tonight.

$22/$17 Members & Students. Available in advance, by phone or in person, at the Outpost Performance Space (268-0044)