Pat Mallinger©Andrea Canter

"The daring of Mallinger's compositions, ingenuity of his arrangements, and ferocity of his solos are startling to hear” -- Chicago Tribune

A good wind blows through the Windy City this weekend as Chicago resident and alto saxman Pat Mallinger and his quartet perform at the Green Mill (April 25-26). Joining the band will be internationally acclaimed pianist Bill Carrothers.

As a youngster in St. Paul, Pat Mallinger was inspired by the Grass Junior High Jazz Band and recordings of Paul Desmond, and decided jazz rather than dentistry was his destiny. He played in the Sibley High School band, studied with his uncle Tommy Bauer and Brian Grivna, and often heard the great Eddie Berger perform around town. In addition to Desmond, Pat cites such early jazz influences as Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Dexter Gordon, and Miles Davis. After high school, Mallinger earned a degree in jazz studies from North Texas State (where he was part of the famed One O’Clock Jazz Band) and, in 1986, moved to Boston where he played with the Artie Shaw Orchestra and the Matt Wilson Quartet. Relocating to his current home in Chicago in 1990, Mallinger has played with Joe Williams, Nancy Wilson, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Harry Connick, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.; he’s toured with Charles Earland, Woody Herman, and Cab Calloway, and appears in concerts and festivals around the world. In Chicago, he regularly performs with the Chicago Jazz Ensemble, Kurt Elling, Howard Levy, and the 911 Mambo Orchestra; he co-leads the ensemble Sabertooth which has performed regularly at the Green Mill for the past 15 years. Pat is also a committed jazz educator whose efforts include inspiring inner city students to pursue jazz as a member of the Ravinia Jazz Mentors Sextet. He also teaches at Columbia College and in the Chicago Public Schools. (Click here for an exclusive Jazz Police interview with Pat Mallinger.)

In fall 2006, Pat Mallinger released Moorean Moon, recorded live at the 2000 North Sea Jazz Festival, a follow-up of his first, highly regarded Monday Prayer to Tunkashila. Of the earlier recording, which the Chicago Tribune dubbed “a stunning debut by any measure,” Saxophone Journal noted, "Not only do his solos exhibit a thorough understanding of America's art form, but his knowledge becomes especially visible through his exceptional writing and arranging skills. Each Mallinger composition shows remarkable craftmanship!" With Sabertooth, Pat recently released Dr. Midnight: Live at the Green Mill on Delmark, described by Jerry D’Souza (All About Jazz) as “filled with energy, intensity and elegance.”

At the Green Mill

Bill Carrothers©Andrea Canter

This weekend, Pat is joined by long-time collaborators Bill Carrothers on piano, Dennis Carroll on bass, and George Fludas on drums. Described by John Kelman (All About Jazz) as “a harmony-rich player with an uncanny ability to see the greater potential of both hands in concert,” Bill Carrothers started out on organ and initially hated the piano: “My mom made me play…I wanted to play baseball.” But eventually Bill was turned on to jazz by his piano teacher, the late Bobby Peterson, who introduced young Carrothers to Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, and most importantly, Miles Davis. After playing with visiting artists like James Moody and Billy Higgins while enrolled at North Texas State University, Bill landed in New York, where he recorded with Gary Peacock and Bill Stewart, and had gigs at the Village Gate, Birdland, and Visiones. Eventually relocating to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Bill now spends much of his music time in Europe. He’s released 14 acclaimed recordings as leader, including Shine Ball, a set of spontaneous improvisations with Gordon Johnson and Dave King, and his latest, Keep Your Sunnyside Up. (Click here for Jazz Police reviews of Shine Ball and Sunnyside.)

Dennis Carroll has been busy performing in the Chicago area with Pat Mallinger, Bobby Broom, and the Chicago Jazz Orchestra. Similarly, George Fludas is a highly-sought drummer in Chicago and beyond, heard frequently at The Jazz Showcase, Green Mill, and Pete Miller's, often in the company of Pat Mallinger and The Chicago Jazz Orchestra. Part of the late Ray Brown’s trio in 2000-2001, he also has performed with Johnny Griffin, Cedar Walton, Hank Jones, Tommy Flanagan, Frank Wess, Bobby Hutcherson, Eric Alexander and Diana Krall.

The Green Mill is located at 4802 N. Broadway; set times and information at www.greenmilljazz.com; 773-878-5552. More on Pat Mallinger at http://www.chicagojazz.com/v2/Main/FeaturedArtists/Homepage.asp?Artist=PatMallinger