Chicago has a rich tenor sax tradition—Gene Ammons, Johnny Griffin, Von Freeman, Fred Anderson, and so on. With tradition comes prescription; Chicago tenors, to fit the mold, need to be able to summon a broad tone, a bluesy vibe, and a steady stream of improvisational ideas. Local saxophonist Gerrit Hatcher has no trouble living up […]
Tag: Gerrit Hatcher
Posted inMusic
Two improvised saxophone-drum duos show that age is nothing but a number on the Chicago jazz scene
These two sax-percussion duos represent several generations in Chicago improvised music—saxophonist Gerrit Hatcher is 26, while drummer Steve Hunt is 63—but all the musicians share an exploratory curiosity, and both pairs engage in fascinating modes of communication. Reedist Keefe Jackson and Hunt—a perpetually overlooked titan in the city’s jazz scene who’s played in NRG Ensemble, […]
Posted inBlogs
Devouring the Guilt injects new energy into Chicago’s free-jazz scene
Scrappy free-improvising trio Devouring the Guilt—saxophonist Gerrit Hatcher, bassist Eli Namay, and drummer Bill Harris—are part of a potent group of performers releasing music through the Amalgam label.
Posted inMusic
Chicago saxophonist Gerrit Hatcher steps into the spotlight with an impressive solo practice
Improvised solo saxophone performance isn’t the kind of thing you’d expect a 26-year-old newcomer to the scene to jump into with both feet. But Gerrit Hatcher makes a convincing case that he’s ready on his new cassette, Good Weight (Amalgam), a succinct offering that keeps the focus on basic ideas. The album begins with a […]