Sean Nowell
Tenor saxophonist and composer Sean Nowell hails from Birmingham, Alabama, where he absorbed the rich southern traditions of blues, gospel, jazz, and funk—fused with the complex harmonic and global rhythmic influences that define the New York City music scene.
Nowell’s latest release, Stockholm Swingin’ (Posi-Tone, 2011), captures a live session featuring himself, longtime collaborator drummer Joe Abba, and a talented ensemble of Swedish jazz musicians delivering spirited, straight-ahead jazz. The album highlights Nowell’s wide-ranging musical palette and brings him back to the roots of his jazz journey.
From a young age, Nowell thrived on musical diversity, singing in cathedrals as part of a national touring a cappella choir and exploring vocal traditions from Germany, Eastern Europe, and Africa. He earned a BA in Jazz Composition from Berklee College of Music and an MA in Performance from the Manhattan School of Music. Over his career, he has composed and improvised for film, ballet, theater, classical and jazz ensembles, while pushing saxophone boundaries with electronic effects pedals.
As Musical Director for Bond Street Theatre, Nowell has toured globally, collaborating with dancers, actors, painters, stilt walkers, and acrobats, and using music to unite religious and ethnic groups, notably in Kosovo. He has served as an Official Artistic Ambassador for the U.S. State Department in Turkey.
Nowell has performed with notable artists such as Dave Douglas, Rachael Z, Reeves Gabrels, Tim Lefebvre, Donny McCaslin, and Anton Fig. He recorded with Stanley Clarke and George Duke for the film Soul Men and co-wrote the score for the Nick Nolte movie Off the Black.
A driving force in the NYC jazz community, Nowell hosts weekly jazz composers’ forums in Manhattan and Brooklyn, spotlighting cutting-edge new jazz. His debut album Firewerks (Posi-Tone, 2007) emerged from these sessions, receiving acclaim for its interactive, rhythmically adventurous approach. His sophomore release, The Seeker (Posi-Tone, 2009), reflects his global explorations and personal journey toward self-realization.
Nowell’s electric project, The Kung-Fu Masters, has captivated New York audiences with its FX-driven jazz/funk, further showcasing his versatility and distinctive voice among NYC tenor players.
He is also active in innovative ensembles such as Travis Sullivan’s Bjorkestra, The Delphian Jazz Orchestra, and the Yutaka Uchida Quartet, performing regularly at premier jazz venues including the Blue Note, Smalls, Jazz Standard, Birdland, and internationally at Club JZ (Shanghai), CD Jazz (Beijing), and Café Plato (Belgrade). He has appeared at major festivals like the JVC Jazz Festival, San Francisco Jazz Festival, and Montreal Jazz Festival.
Tenor saxophonist and composer Sean Nowell hails from Birmingham, Alabama, where he absorbed the rich southern traditions of blues, gospel, jazz, and funk—fused with the complex harmonic and global rhythmic influences that define the New York City music scene.
Nowell’s latest release, Stockholm Swingin’ (Posi-Tone, 2011), captures a live session featuring himself, longtime collaborator drummer Joe Abba, and a talented ensemble of Swedish jazz musicians delivering spirited, straight-ahead jazz. The album highlights Nowell’s wide-ranging musical palette and brings him back to the roots of his jazz journey.
From a young age, Nowell thrived on musical diversity, singing in cathedrals as part of a national touring a cappella choir and exploring vocal traditions from Germany, Eastern Europe, and Africa. He earned a BA in Jazz Composition from Berklee College of Music and an MA in Performance from the Manhattan School of Music. Over his career, he has composed and improvised for film, ballet, theater, classical and jazz ensembles, while pushing saxophone boundaries with electronic effects pedals.
As Musical Director for Bond Street Theatre, Nowell has toured globally, collaborating with dancers, actors, painters, stilt walkers, and acrobats, and using music to unite religious and ethnic groups, notably in Kosovo. He has served as an Official Artistic Ambassador for the U.S. State Department in Turkey.
Nowell has performed with notable artists such as Dave Douglas, Rachael Z, Reeves Gabrels, Tim Lefebvre, Donny McCaslin, and Anton Fig. He recorded with Stanley Clarke and George Duke for the film Soul Men and co-wrote the score for the Nick Nolte movie Off the Black.
A driving force in the NYC jazz community, Nowell hosts weekly jazz composers’ forums in Manhattan and Brooklyn, spotlighting cutting-edge new jazz. His debut album Firewerks (Posi-Tone, 2007) emerged from these sessions, receiving acclaim for its interactive, rhythmically adventurous approach. His sophomore release, The Seeker (Posi-Tone, 2009), reflects his global explorations and personal journey toward self-realization.
Nowell’s electric project, The Kung-Fu Masters, has captivated New York audiences with its FX-driven jazz/funk, further showcasing his versatility and distinctive voice among NYC tenor players.
He is also active in innovative ensembles such as Travis Sullivan’s Bjorkestra, The Delphian Jazz Orchestra, and the Yutaka Uchida Quartet, performing regularly at premier jazz venues including the Blue Note, Smalls, Jazz Standard, Birdland, and internationally at Club JZ (Shanghai), CD Jazz (Beijing), and Café Plato (Belgrade). He has appeared at major festivals like the JVC Jazz Festival, San Francisco Jazz Festival, and Montreal Jazz Festival.