Jaleel Shaw © Andrea Canter

“Mr. Shaw’s sound on alto saxophone can variously suggest Cannonball Adderley, Jackie McLean or his mentor, Bobby Watson—it’s brawny and full-bodied, but capable of quick silver actions—and his improvisational method is surefooted and exploratory,” – Nate Chinen, New York Times

Whenever drum legend Roy Haynes comes to town, he brings with him his Fountain of Youth—not only the name of his quartet, but also an apt description of the musicians and the music. Through Haynes, we were introduced a few years ago to the keyboard phenom Martin Bejerano and the soon-to-be highly acclaimed tenor saxophonist, Marcus Strickland. When Haynes’ last visited St. Paul in January 2006, we had our first encounter with pianist Robert Rodriguez, filling in for Bejerano. And with Strickland busy leading his own ensembles, the sax chair had been filled by young altoist, Jaleel Shaw. Proving his chops with the Mingus Big Band, Roy Hargrove, and Arturo Sandoval as well as in his continuing role with Haynes, Shaw was also earning accolades leading his own group and for his debut recording, Perspective. In April 2007, Jaleel debuted as leader at the AQ, and furthered his reputation locally. Now, this weeknd (March 7-8), he returns to the Artists Quarter with the best of the Twin Cities—Chris Lomheim on piano, Billy Peterson on bass, and Kenny Horst on drums.

Philadelphia native Jaleel Shaw counts among his early mentors John Blake, Byard Lancastar, Alfie Pollit, and Grover Washington, Jr. He attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston with a full tuition scholarship, earning a dual degree in Music Education and Performance in 2000. At Berklee he received the Billboard Endowed Scholarship for Outstanding Academic and Musical achievement (1998), two Woodwind Department Chair Awards, The Outstanding Student Teacher Award, and The Boston Jazz Society Award (1999). From Berklee he went on to study at the Manhattan School of Music, receiving his Masters in Jazz Performance in 2002, the same year in which he was a finalist in the Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition.

Jaleel Shaw © Andrea Canter

Now a part-time instructor at Temple University in Philadelphia, the just-turned-30 Shaw has played with Clark Terry, Roy Hargrove, Christian McBride, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Arturo Sandoval, Nicholas Payton, the Village Vanguard Orchestra, and the Count Basie Orchestra; currently he is a member of the Roy Haynes Fountain of Youth Quartet, the Charles Mingus Big Band, the Jeremy Pelt Quartet and the JazzReach education group. His debut recording, Perspective, was released in 2005 on Fresh Sound/New Talent; named one of the top debut albums of the year by All About Jazz, the first cut, Shaw’s original, “The Heavyweight Champion”—a tribute to his hero John Coltrane—earned him an ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award. Later this month, Shaw releases a follow-up on his own Changu lable, Optimism, featuring Lage Lund, Robert Glasper, Joe Martin, Johnathan Blake, and Jeremy Pelt.

With a sound steeped in Coltrane, Shorter and McLean, Jaleel Shaw is one of the Young Lions on the modern jazz scene, one who has already proven that his skills are far more than academic. Hear tomorrow’s legend today at the Artists Quarter, March 7-8; shows at 9 pm.

The Artists Quarter is located at 408 St. Peter Street, downtown St. Paul in the lower level of the Hamm Building. Visit www.artistsquarter.com. More on Jaleel Shaw at www.jaleelshaw.com