Chris Cheek

Chris Cheek ranks among the elite group of jazz artists who reached maturity in New York City during the 1990s. Originating from St. Louis, this saxophonist proficient on both tenor and soprano first enrolled at Webster University prior to transferring to Boston’s Berklee College of Music. Under the guidance of instructors including Joe Viola, Hal Crook, and Herb Pomeroy, he honed his skills at that institution. His relocation to New York occurred in 1992, after which he collaborated with ensembles such as Paul Motian’s Electric Bebop Band, Guillermo Klein’s Los Guachos, Seamus Blake’s Bloomdaddies, as well as musicians Stephan Crump and Jen Chapin. Participation in pianist David Berkman’s album Communication Theory, joined by saxophonists Steve Wilson and Sam Newsome, solidified his standing as a top-tier musician. Leading his own projects, Cheek releases recordings on the innovative Fresh Sound imprint. The saxophonist’s initial release under his own name came in 1997 with I Wish I Knew, a collection of standards that included contributions from guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel. Two years later, in 1998, he issued A Girl Named Joe, consisting entirely of original compositions. His third effort, Vine, appeared in 2000.