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Bob Mintzer, who was born in New Rochelle, turns 61 on Monday.
Mintzer, a jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger, and big band leader based in Los Angeles, California, was born Jan. 27, 1953.
He is equally active in the areas of performance, composing/arranging, and music education. He has played/recorded with a wide variety of artists ranging from Tito Puente, Buddy Rich, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band, James Taylor, The New York Philharmonic, National Symphony, American Saxophone Quartet, Art Blakey, Donald Fagan, Bobby McFerrin, Nancy Wilson, Kurt Elling, to Jaco Pastorius, Mike Manieri, and Randy Brecker.
As a composer/arranger Bob wrote for the St. Lukes Orchestra, ABC, NBC and the Academy Awards show.
A pivotal year for Mintzer was 1990. He was asked to record with the Yellowjackets on the GRP CD "Greenhouse," which was the start of a 20-year plus stint with one of the premier bands in jazz music. The band has received 13 Grammy nominations, has been voted best contemporary jazz group almost every year in the jazz magazine readers polls, and continues to play major jazz venues all over the world.
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