Kyle Blake Jones

Stromatolites - Sum Yee Lee

Program note: "Stromatolites - Greek for 'layered rock' are formed by blue-green algae (cyanobacteria). They have played a pivotal role in Earth's geological and biological evolution. Most importantly, they are the reason why we're alive today! Around 3.4 million years ago, cyanobacteria performed oxygenic photosynthesis to produce oxygen in the oceans that was released into the air. With enough oxygen in the air, life was able to flourish and evolve."

Sonata, for Alto Saxophone and Piano: II. Soliloquy - Peter Dayton

Program note: "I began discussing the idea of a large-scale Sonata for alto sax with brilliant musician Kyle Blake Jones in the summer of 2019. This second movement, a reprieve for the pianist from the other movement's extreme exigencies (and the first movement's violence), was composed first. It is some of the music I am most proud of for its exposure, its vulnerability, and the duality it inhabits: singing the space into being in which its song pours out. I hope listeners will feel, in listening to the movement's lonely lines, themselves less alone."

REDLINE - Kyle Grimm

Program note: "REDLINE was for Dan Phipps as part of the SPLICE Institute in 2019. Before writing, we talked about music we liked to listen to, to play, our strengths and weaknesses, and Dan mentioned that he played a lot of jazz before focusing on classical saxophone. As a former jazz player myself, I decided to use the genre as a starting point for the work, though I knew that I did not want it to sound like a "jazzy" classical work. Instead, I wanted the intensity and virtuosity that I associate with jazz to permeate the work, so I looked to one of my favorite saxophonists, Joshua Redman. His virtuosity served as the inspiration for starting the piece, but once I had "enough" to begin, I tried to write my own piece without the idea of jazz or classical idioms. The result is an electro-acoustic work with vestiges of tonality, bebop phrasing, and contemporary techniques. A major thanks goes to Daniel Martin Minogue, who played the saxophone for all of the recorded cues."

Dr. Kyle Jones (he/him) enjoys a multi-hyphenate career as a saxophonist, educator, scholar, and arts administrator. An advocate for new music, Kyle has commissioned and premiered works by composers including Anthony R. Green, Gabriela Ortiz, Spencer Arias, Evan Williams, Tyson Gholston Davis, and Peter Dayton. As a clinician, Kyle has been a guest artist at institutions including Peabody Conservatory, Columbus State University, the University of Colorado-Boulder, and the University of Kansas. He serves as Assistant Professor of Music Business at the University of Memphis. In addition to his performing activities, Kyle serves on the College Music Society Music Industry Council, is an Educational Ambassador for the Mechanical Licensing Collective, Grant Writer for KC VITAs, and is Executive Director for Appalachia Winds. He has been the recipient of over 27 grants as both an individual artist and collaborator. Kyle is a D’Addario Reserve Clinician and Rovner Ambassador.