Eric Person
Newburgh, New York, United States | Established. Jan 01, 1993 | INDIE
Music
Press
Person takes his alto and soprano into the stratosphere with soaring solos...with all his talent, it is good to see him concentrating on the leader's role. - Frank Rubolino
Person is from St.Louis. Like most of his homeboys, he cultivates a sheer beauty of sound that's often breathtaking. Listen to the round, full yet emotional sound he gets on soprano, an instrument that is almost impossible to listen to after a decade of degradation by smooth jazz candyman. On alto too, his sound is big and singing with a hint of bluesy smoke. This is an artist that demands and rewards your attention. - John Chacona
Eric Person is a conjurer. This St.Louis saxman and his new group, Meta-Four transend the common terrain of jazz. In a post-bop era in which it is perilously easy for all saxophone improvisers to sound alike, Person lights up the scene with a very rare lyricism and lush originality.
Each of his nuanced compositions, from the subdued ballads to his frenetic riffing, embarks on an entirely new mood. Dynamics, rhythms, tempos shift freely, creating an invigorating musical texture. Person's discourse with pianist John Esposito and Bassist Danton Boller is truly engrossing. - Andrea Perkins
Person is more then just fine; he's a major talent of his generation.
- Russ Musto
From the first chorus of "Magenta"you know saxophonist Eric Person has the chops and the compositional skills to make interesting, listenable music without pandering to any preconceived notions about what modern jazz should be.
- Michael Renner
Saxman Eric Person turned in a deeply impressive show in November at the Blue room. Person and his Meta-Four band played with a singleness of purpose that we never hear enough of. Each player seemed concerned with pushing the others to play their best-and they did.
Joe Klopus - Kansas City Star
Elsewhere around town, the festival’s nine-day run included free concerts that presented music as good as anything heard at the other ticketed events. Eric Person & Meta-Four, a contemporary ensemble with one foot squarely in the tradition and another stepping into the future, saxophonist Person making a strong impression on soprano and via his sagacious compositions.
C. Andrew Hovan
- All About Jazz
Discography
1993 Arrival
1994 Prophecy
1997 More Tales To Tell
1999 Extra Pressure
2003 Live At Big Sur
2005 Reflections
2007 Rhythm Edge
2010 The Grand Illusion
2012 Thoughts on God
Photos
Bio
Saxophonist Eric Person arrived in New York City in 1982 and established a stellar rep for his sideman work with some of the best in the music business. He has performed with jazz masters Dave Holland, McCoy Tyner, John Hicks, and Chico Hamilton as well as rock and funk icons Vernon Reid, and Ben Harper
Eric was a pivotal member of the Dave Holland Quartet which toured throughout Europe, the United States and Canada. The bands success culminated in the classic recording on ECM Records, Dream of the Elders.
He also contributed to Ben Harpers gold status CD, The Will to Live and is seen in his documentary Pleasure and Pain where he performs at London's Royal Albert Hall.
Person continued to develop his personal saxophone style along side other legendary musicians. He performed and recorded with David Murray, World Saxophone Quartet, Dave Douglas, Houston Person, Donald Byrd among others.
After spending many years developing his sound as a sideman, Person released his1993 debut "Arrival." It was an auspicious beginning which paved the way for 1994’s Prophecy, both on Soul Note Records. Down Beat Magazine gave them 3 1/2 and 4 stars respectively. Arrival emphasized a variety of styles and Eric’s willingness to take chances. Prophecy was more conceptual, focusing on solo, duos and trio settings, while mixing Person’s songs with those of John Coltrane.
1997’s More Tales To Tell, showed the biggest development in Eric’s music. Great arrangements, strong composition, and an expanded band that featured acoustic guitar, bass clarinet, bassoon and flute. It was an all-acoustic band. Down Beat gave the recording 4 stars.
1999’s Extra Pressure is a giant step. It brings together all of the best previous releases in a singular musical statement along with the experience a by his working band, Meta-Four. Extra Pressure is a “musical knockout punch”—it’s Eric Person coming of age. This is music to get excited about. Music that made many say, “I want to see how they play that stuff live.”
2003 Brings us “Live At Big Sur”, the CD captures Meta-Four in dynamic performances at the 2002 Big Sur Jazz Festival. This recording features three compositions recorded here for the first time and four that are updated from Eric’s earlier records. This is Eric’s first LIVE CD as a leader, and it shows that Eric and the band are ready to “deliver the goods,” LIVE or in the studio.
2005’s Reflections let’s everyone know where he’s come from. There’s dynamic tracks from all of his CD’s plus three unreleased Live performances that feature trumpeter Dave Douglas.
"Rhythm Edge" brings in a new era. It’s fifteen music tracks feature his band Meta-Four with special guests trombonist Robin Eubanks and trumpeter Ingrid Jensen. Drummer Peter O’Brien who was featured on Live at Big Sur is back, and two new members bassist Adam Armstrong and keyboardist Jarod Kashkin take Eric’s music higher then it’s ever gone before. With it’s kenetic energy, and interplay, Rhythm Edge takes hold of the listener in a way that a Live performance does. This music takes all on a joy ride soaring high above the mundane.
The Grand Illusion is Person’s eighth CD as a leader. He calls this his rhythm and groove project This recording features music that’s funky, groovin’ and jamming like no other.
Band Members
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