Chris Oatts Pretty Big Band
Chris Oatts Pretty Big Band
Philadelphia based saxophonist, composer and educator Chris Oatts has been hailed as “a force to be reckoned with,” by All About Jazz. Chris has performed, recorded, or toured with the likes of Seal, Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia, Chelsea Reed and the Fair Weather Five, The Philly Pops, Terell Stafford, Wycliffe Gordon, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and The Temptations.
Born into a musical family, Chris is the nephew of alto saxophone icon Dick Oatts with whom he studied at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father Jim played trumpet with Stan Kenton, Machito, and the jazz rock group Chase while his two triplet brothers and multiple other family members are musicians as well. Chris’ grandfather Jack Oatts is credited by the Iowa Jazz Educators Hall of Fame for starting the first high school jazz band in the state of Iowa. Chris continues to perform with his grandfather’s Selmer Mark VI alto saxophone to this day.
In 2017 Chris released his debut album as a leader entitled First Quintet, a record of original compositions featuring a band of Philadelphia’s finest musicians.
Chris is also the founder of South Philly Big Band, a group steeped in the tradition of Thad Jones and Mel Lewis that commissions new works from Philadelphia composers. SPBB has performed shows with Walt Weiskopf, Ignacio Berroa and Gary Smulyan and in December 2017 released a Christmas EP of new imaginations of Christmas classics entitled, SPBBXMAS.
His latest recording project, Personalities presents both quintet and nonet ensemble settings and features Chris’ mentor and legendary jazz trumpeter Terell Stafford on the BCM&D label. Alongside a collection of Philadelphia and New York’s most in demand musicians, Personalities offers listeners fresh arrangements of familiar standards in addition to unique and personal original compositions.
Chris is a dedicated and active music educator in the Philadelphia area, teaching at the Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania since 2013. Additionally, he has been a faculty member in the Boyer School of Music at Temple University since 2017. He teaches Music Composition, Production, Theory, Improvisation, Instruction of Saxophone, Flute and clarinet, as well as directing large and small ensembles
Chris Oatts - alto and soprano sax, flute
Dylan Band - tenor sax, clarinet
Josh Lee - baritone sax, bass clarinet
Jon Shaw - trumpet
Joe Anderson - trumpet
Nick Lombardelli - trombone
Tim Brey - piano
Sam Harris - bass
Donovan Pope - drums
Set times 7:30pm & 9:00pm
Dinner & Show ~ $70 includes 3-course dinner.
General Admission ~ $15
(Beverages not included)
Dinner & Show fees include server gratuities.
Streaming on our YouTube channel: Chris' Jazz Cafe - YouTube
Philadelphia based saxophonist, composer and educator Chris Oatts has been hailed as “a force to be reckoned with,” by All About Jazz. Chris has performed, recorded, or toured with the likes of Seal, Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia, Chelsea Reed and the Fair Weather Five, The Philly Pops, Terell Stafford, Wycliffe Gordon, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and The Temptations.
Born into a musical family, Chris is the nephew of alto saxophone icon Dick Oatts with whom he studied at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father Jim played trumpet with Stan Kenton, Machito, and the jazz rock group Chase while his two triplet brothers and multiple other family members are musicians as well. Chris’ grandfather Jack Oatts is credited by the Iowa Jazz Educators Hall of Fame for starting the first high school jazz band in the state of Iowa. Chris continues to perform with his grandfather’s Selmer Mark VI alto saxophone to this day.
In 2017 Chris released his debut album as a leader entitled First Quintet, a record of original compositions featuring a band of Philadelphia’s finest musicians.
Chris is also the founder of South Philly Big Band, a group steeped in the tradition of Thad Jones and Mel Lewis that commissions new works from Philadelphia composers. SPBB has performed shows with Walt Weiskopf, Ignacio Berroa and Gary Smulyan and in December 2017 released a Christmas EP of new imaginations of Christmas classics entitled, SPBBXMAS.
His latest recording project, Personalities presents both quintet and nonet ensemble settings and features Chris’ mentor and legendary jazz trumpeter Terell Stafford on the BCM&D label. Alongside a collection of Philadelphia and New York’s most in demand musicians, Personalities offers listeners fresh arrangements of familiar standards in addition to unique and personal original compositions.
Chris is a dedicated and active music educator in the Philadelphia area, teaching at the Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania since 2013. Additionally, he has been a faculty member in the Boyer School of Music at Temple University since 2017. He teaches Music Composition, Production, Theory, Improvisation, Instruction of Saxophone, Flute and clarinet, as well as directing large and small ensembles