NYSQ MEMBERS

Dennis Anderson, Soprano Saxophone

Dennis (b.1947) instrumentalist and composer, is one of the most sought after musicians worldwide. For over thirty years he has been a prominent freelance musician, soloist, studio musician and teaching professional in New York City. His versatility as a multi-reed specialist has afforded him the opportunity to perform within a broad range of styles from classical and contemporary chamber music to solo jazz improvisation. He has been a member of The New York Saxophone Quartet since 1977, performing throughout the US, Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, Italy, Great Britain and Japan including performances at Carnegie Hall, Merkin Auditorium, Mannes School of Music, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, WQXR and WNYC radio. An accomplished saxophonist and woodwind doubler, Dennis is equally at home performing on the concert stage and in the recording studio. He is a regular member of the Tony Awards Orchestra and the City Center Encores playing oboe, English horn, clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophone, recorders, flute and piccolo.

In concert he has appeared with The New York Philharmonic, New York City Ballet, New Jersey Symphony, American Symphony, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Loren Maazel, Leonard Bernstein, National Jazz Ensemble, Frank Sinatra, Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Big Band, Lucianno Pavarotti, Tony Bennett and Natalie Cole. Dennis has recorded with Placido Domingo, The New York Saxophone Quartet, Stephen Sondheim, Roger Kellaway, Federica Von Stade, Orchestra of St. Luke's, Chaka Kahn, Barbara Cook, Liza Minnelli and John Pizzarelli. His work can also be heard on radio and television commercials, documentary films and movie sound tracks.

Dennis is the founding member of the Riverside Chamber Trio, which premiered the "Piano Trio", (for soprano saxophone/English horn, cello and piano) composed by Hubert Arnold in Pesaro Italy, for the 10th World Saxophone Congress. He has been an orchestra member in numerous Broadway shows including The Light in the Piazza, The 24th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Pacific Overtures, Assassins, Kiss Me Kate, Gypsy, Sweet Smell of Success, Big, Passion, Anything Goes, Guys and Dolls, Dancin’, Dreamgirls, High Society, Dance of the Vampires and Chicago.

He has composed and arranged music for saxophone quartet, string quartet, woodwind quintet, solo instrumental pieces and original jazz compositions; many of which are published by Advance Music, Rottenberg, Germany. His most recent original composition Canzona Corrente was premiered at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in June of 2005. Dennis studied saxophone with Dave Tofani, Joe Allard, Eddie Daniels and Eugene Rousseau; flute, with Harold Bennett; oboe and English horn with Beth Orson and Rob Botte; clarinet with William Willett, Steve Hartman and Louis Paul; orchestration with Hubert Arnold; improvisation and composition with Michael Longo.

Ralph Olsen, Alto Saxophone

Ralph is a native of Sioux Falls, South Dakota and was educated at Augustana College. After graduating and teaching school for two years, his desire to play jazz and to extend his musical horizons brought him to NYC.

His exceptional versatility has allowed him to work in many venues. He recently appeared with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and has played with The New Jersey Symphony. Ralph is also a veteran on many TV jingles, film scores, jazz events, and club dates.

For over twenty years he has performed in the pits of many Broadway shows, including "Woman of the Year," "Song and Dance," "Starlight Express," and "Phantom of the Opera." His collaboration enhanced the performances of such artists as Buddy DeFranco, Gerry Mulligan, Buddy Morrow and Buddy Rich, and he appeared as featured soloist with Michael Feinstein on Broadway. In addition, he has accompanied Peggy Lee and Anita O'Day. Touring on the road has taken Ralph to almost every state in the USA, to Europe and the Far East.

Ken Hitchcock, Tenor Saxophone

 

Ken is a Juilliard graduate (BM,1978). Studied saxophone and clarinet with Joe Allard, and flute with Tom Nyfenger. He is equally at home on a concert stage or a jazz bandstand.

Ken has recorded and performed with Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Diana Ross, Lou Rawls, Sting, Michael Jackson, Ricky Martin, Mark Anthony, Christine Aguilera, and 13 years as soloist with Liza Minnelli. He has done three Grammy Award winning recordings: Steely Dan ("Two Against Nature"), Gerry Mulligan and Machito. Other jazz groups include: Buddy Rich, Mel Lewis, Elvin Jones Quintet, 20 Years with the Louie Bellson big band, and currently with Louie's quartet and quintet.

Orchestral performances with the Metropolitan Opera, American Symphony Orchestra, American Ballet Theater, American Composers Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, Concordia, and the New York Pops. He has taught at Queens College, SUNY Purchase, Columbia University, and currently at Mannes College and the New School.

In the past year Ken has recorded CD's for Steely Dan, Natalie Cole, George Michael, Lyle Lovett, Paula Cole, and is featured solo clarinetist and on camera in the Tim Robbins film - "The Cradle Will Rock." He has performed in over 30 Broadway shows and is now in the orchestra for ‘Grey Gardens’
 

Lino Gomez, Baritone Saxophone

A native of Cuba, Lino has resided in the USA since 1967.

He has been a frequent guest of the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera, American Symphony, New York City Ballet, New York City Opera, New York Pops, American Composers, New Jersey Symphony, and Brooklyn Philharmonic orchestras. He was alto saxophone soloist with the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Nemee Jarvi in the New York premier of Eino Tanberg’s “Concerto Grosso”, tenor saxophone soloist with the American Composers Orchestra in the USA premier of Tan Dun’s multimedia work “Red
Forecast”, and has been a featured soloist with the New York Pops. In
addition to saxophone, he has performed on clarinet and/or bass clarinet with all of these orchestras. A former member of EOS Orchestra, he has also appeared with the National Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Canadian National Ballet, and American Ballet Theater orchestras; and recently, on tour with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic as alto saxophone soloist in Rachmaninoff’s “Symphonic Dances”.

His chamber music credits include performances with the Metropolitan Opera Chamber Ensemble, Boston Symphony Chamber Players at Tanglewood, performances and recordings with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, including the 2001 Grammy winning “Shadow Dances”, and membership in the American Saxophone Quartet.

Lino has been a member of the orchestras for several Broadway hit musicals and is a former member of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” band. He is now an orchestra member in the revival of ‘A Chorus Line’.