Miguel Zenón Quartet

Multiple Grammy nominee and Guggenheim and MacArthur fellow Miguel Zenón is one of a select group of musicians who have masterfully balanced and blended the often contradictory poles of innovation and tradition. Widely considered one of the most groundbreaking and influential saxophonists of his generation, he has also developed a unique voice as a composer and as a conceptualist, concentrating his efforts on perfecting a fine mix between Latin American folkloric music and jazz. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Zenón has released seven recordings as a leader, including Rayuela (2012) and the Grammy-nominated Alma Adentro (2011). As a sideman he has worked with jazz luminaries such as the SFJAZZ Collective, Charlie Haden, David Sánchez, the Mingus Big Band, Bobby Hutcherson, Fred Hersch, Kenny Werner, and Steve Coleman. Zenón has topped the Rising Star Alto Sax category of the DownBeat critics’ poll on four different occasions. As a composer he has been commissioned by SFJAZZ, the New York State Council for the Arts, Chamber Music America, the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation, and many of his peers. Zenón has given hundreds of lectures and master classes at institutions all over the world, and is a permanent faculty member at the New England Conservatory of Music. In 2011 he founded Caravana Cultural, a program which presents free jazz concerts in rural areas of Puerto Rico. In 2008 Zenón was one of 25 distinguished individuals chosen to receive the coveted MacArthur Fellowship, also known as the “genius grant.” 
www.miguelzenon.com