Samples of Chris' playing
Here are some samples of Chris' playing, including clips from his NYC Free-Jazz group, "The Chris Alpiar Quartet", his Atlanta based Brazilian/ Americana/ Jazz fusion band "800 Giants" and selected studio work he has performed on in the past. To hear Chris' works as a composer, arranger and producer, please visit the official Christopher Kennedy Alpiar - Cinematic Composer website www.alpiar.com.
Chris plays on a vintage 1953 Selmer Super Balanced Action tenor saxophone with an Ottolink metal 6* mouthpiece. He uses a wide range of reeds from Rico Royal to La Voz and Gonzalez in various strengths. For soprano, Chris uses a Yanigasawa straight soprano with an Ottolink metal 6* mouthpiece also. He uses La Voz medium or medium hard reeds for soprano.
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800 Giants
800 Giants is a new Brazilian, Americana/ Roots, Free-Jazz fusion instrumental band mixing a unique blend of concepts and styles to create an exquisite pallete of sounds. Fun and energetic, yet still this music is deep and based on improvisation, pulling from the members' strengths as independent musicians in various genres. 800 Giants has their debut album scheduled for release this Spring! The band is:
- Chris Alpiar - Tenor and Soprano Saxophones, keyboards and percussion
- Ben Holst - Lap-Steel and Pedal-Steel Guitars, as well as an assortment of acoustic and electric guitars and basses
- Jez Graham - Piano, Fender Rhodes and keyboards
- Vlamir Abbud - Electric, Fretless and Acoustic Basses
- Darren Stanley - Drums and Percussion
- Special guest artists include - Marty Kearns on Hammond Organ; Ken Gregory on Trumpet; Derek Worth on Electric Guitars
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The Chris Alpiar Quartet
The Chris Alpiar Quartet is Chris' premiere modern Jazz/ free-Jazz group in New York City, with their album available now through BeHip Records™. This is an acoustic Jazz group with great homage to the Jazz tradition yet stepping out into the free-Jazz realm that was developed by masters like John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman and Sun Ra in the late '60s and continues to this day with prominant Jazz figures like George Garzone, Joe Lovano and John Zorn. Chris' unique take on the free-Jazz idiom is evident in his technically virtuous performances but still founded in soul and the delivery of the Universal Energy to his audience. The band includes:
- Chris Alpiar - Tenor Sax
- Pete Rende - Piano
- Matt Pavolka - Bass
- Bob Meyer - Drums
- Special guests include Akiko Pavolka on vocals and Takuya Nakamura on trumpet
We are very pleased to release Chris' album currently available on iTunes and other major online retailers.
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Studio Session Work
Here is a collection of selected cuts of Chris' recent work as a studio musician, both as a horn section player and as a soloist. Some sessions are done live in various studios and others are done remotely with Chris recording sax tracks at his studio and then shipping them back via the internet. For booking information for Chris as a studio musician, please Contact Him Today!