Jazz encyclopedias list John Handy as an alto saxophonist who plays the tenor, saxello, baritone, clarinet, oboe and vocals. He is actually a consummate world musician and teacher who has devoted his life to using music to elevate the human spirit.

His soulful and fiery saxophone style is instantly recognizable to generations of jazz fans world-wide.

As a performer and composer he continues to sweep audiences into ecstasy with his vast range of creative, emotional, and technical inventiveness. With a superb knowledge and practical experience with music of several cultures, he fuses, with each selection, a musical genre that is coherent, provocative, logical, and enjoyable.

As a singer, he brings a kind of storytelling narrative to the blues that is entertaining, educational, and moving; while his "up tempo" scat vocals could be compared to the best scat singers anywhere. He sings ballads with inventiveness that is rare among singers.          

                  Oil Painting, "Playing" by Bruni, The Jazz Masters Series, www.brunijazzart.com

=======================================================================

Special Announcements 

Mosaic Records New Release:  For information about the forthcoming release of Mosaic Records' 3-CD Select set of John Handy's mid-1960s Columbia recordings, including previously unreleased material from a 1967 concert performance, visit www.mosaicrecords.com.

John Handy Scholarship in Jazz Studies:  For information about the John Handy Scholarship in Jazz Studies at San Francisco State University, visit the Events Page of our website.