Gregory Tardy

Born circa 1964 in New Orleans, Louisiana, Tardy took up classical clarinet during childhood under the encouragement of his parents, both opera singers by profession. His mother, Jo Anne Tardy, later shifted from classical repertoire to become a gospel-influenced jazz vocalist. After turning to tenor saxophone, he performed with funk ensembles in Milwaukee until his brother prompted him to explore jazz, an encounter that led him to draw particular inspiration from John Coltrane’s recordings. Formal studies followed at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and the University of New Orleans, where he met Ellis Marsalis, who would serve as both tutor and mentor. From 1992 onward he made his home in New York City and immersed himself in the city’s contemporary jazz and improvised music communities. Over the years he has performed alongside Rashied Ali, Omer Avital, Jonathan Blake, Betty Carter, Steve Coleman, George Colligan, Ravi Coltrane, Sean Conly, Xavier Davis, Dave Douglas, Bill Frisell, Aaron Goldberg, Russell Gunn, Eric Harland, Tom Harrell, Antonio Hart, Andrew Hill, Elvin Jones, Joe Lovano, Ellis Marsalis, Jason Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Jay McShann, Mulgrew Miller, James Moody, John Patitucci, Nicholas Payton, Chris Potter, Dewey Redman, David Schumacher, Mark Turner, and Bobby Watson, the last of whom he has frequently cited as a pivotal influence.

Tardy most often fronts his own quintet yet maintains steady membership in additional ensembles, among them a cooperative quartet that also features John Clayton, Stefon Harris, and Donald Brown; that group issued the 2007 album Blues Man From Memphis on Blue Canoe Records as the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra. Although he remains identified chiefly with tenor saxophone, he has more recently resumed playing clarinet on selected dates. He continues to make regular visits to New Orleans, where he appears with forward-looking groups such as the Young Olympians. His 2007 release Steps Of Faith includes a vocal contribution from his mother on the track “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”

A player of distinctive force, Tardy has quickly earned recognition for both his instrumental command and his original compositions, which anchor the bulk of his recorded work.