Travis Sullivan
“…a gifted alto saxophonist and improviser who has also developed a strong and commanding voice as a composer.” — Jazz Times
Embedded in the New York music scene for over 15 years, Travis Sullivan has earned a worldwide reputation as an alto saxophonist, pianist, composer, and arranger.
In 2011, Sullivan released New Directions, his third album as a leader and debut on Posi-Tone Records. The record features eight original modern jazz compositions alongside Rodgers & Hart’s “Spring is Here” and his arrangement of Tears for Fears’ classic “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.” The album introduces his newly formed Travis Sullivan Quartet, which includes Mike Eckroth (piano), Marco Panascia (bass), and Brian Fishler (drums). “It’s exciting to be returning to a quartet setting,” Sullivan says, “and I’m looking forward to further developing my creative voice as both a composer and improviser in this context.”
Sullivan’s recording career began in 1999 with Travis Sullivan’s Project One – As We Speak, featuring guitarist Rez Abbasi and drummer Ari Hoenig. His breakthrough came in 2002 with Travis Sullivan’s Björkestra, an 18-piece big band performing his arrangements of the music of Icelandic pop icon Björk. The band’s 2008 release, Travis Sullivan’s Björkestra – Enjoy!, on Koch Records, received critical acclaim.
Sullivan has performed at renowned venues such as The Blue Note, Iridium, The Jazz Standard, Smalls, Joe’s Pub, and Birdland, and internationally at the Montreal Jazz Festival, Jarasum Jazz Festival (South Korea), and as conductor for the Cologne Contemporary Jazz Orchestra (Germany), the Sicilian Jazz Orchestra (Italy), and the Reykjavik Big Band (Iceland).
“…a gifted alto saxophonist and improviser who has also developed a strong and commanding voice as a composer.” — Jazz Times
Embedded in the New York music scene for over 15 years, Travis Sullivan has earned a worldwide reputation as an alto saxophonist, pianist, composer, and arranger.
In 2011, Sullivan released New Directions, his third album as a leader and debut on Posi-Tone Records. The record features eight original modern jazz compositions alongside Rodgers & Hart’s “Spring is Here” and his arrangement of Tears for Fears’ classic “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.” The album introduces his newly formed Travis Sullivan Quartet, which includes Mike Eckroth (piano), Marco Panascia (bass), and Brian Fishler (drums). “It’s exciting to be returning to a quartet setting,” Sullivan says, “and I’m looking forward to further developing my creative voice as both a composer and improviser in this context.”
Sullivan’s recording career began in 1999 with Travis Sullivan’s Project One – As We Speak, featuring guitarist Rez Abbasi and drummer Ari Hoenig. His breakthrough came in 2002 with Travis Sullivan’s Björkestra, an 18-piece big band performing his arrangements of the music of Icelandic pop icon Björk. The band’s 2008 release, Travis Sullivan’s Björkestra – Enjoy!, on Koch Records, received critical acclaim.
Sullivan has performed at renowned venues such as The Blue Note, Iridium, The Jazz Standard, Smalls, Joe’s Pub, and Birdland, and internationally at the Montreal Jazz Festival, Jarasum Jazz Festival (South Korea), and as conductor for the Cologne Contemporary Jazz Orchestra (Germany), the Sicilian Jazz Orchestra (Italy), and the Reykjavik Big Band (Iceland).