Lauren S. TakeLessons Instructor music, Jazz saxophone, flute, woodwinds, beginner piano, music theory Bronx, NY

***2008 Downbeat Critics Poll Nominee for rising star on Baritone Saxophone!***

Lauren has been performing professionally since the age of 12, first on the piano, then on the saxophone. At the age of 16 she won the Count Basie Invitational soloing competition, which led to a feature performance with the Basie Band. By the age of 17 she had already performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, & the Village Vanguard.

In the fall of 1997, Lauren came to NYC to attend the prestigious Manhattan School of Music where she studied with Mark Turner, Donny McCaslin, Steve Slagle, Joe Temperley, and Mike Abene.

Upon graduating, Lauren became a regular member of groups such as: the grammy nominated Mingus Big Band, Mingus Epitaph Orchestra, the Artie Shaw Orchestra, Howard Johnson's "Bear-tones", the grammy nominated JC Hopkins Biggish Band, Ada Rovatti's Elephunk, the Big "O" Orchestra, Travis Sullivan's Bjorkestra, & the Todd Londagin Big Band.

Lauren has performed with a variety of different groups including: the Mingus Orchestra, Mario Pavone's Septet, Frank Lacy's Vibe Tribe, Benny Rietveld & the Matching Ensemble, Valery Ponomarov's Big Band, Jack Jeffers Big Band, the Harlem Renaissance Orchestra, Charli Persip's Supersound, Travis Sullivan's Identity Crisis, Mike Hashim's Billy Strayhorn Orchestra, Kendrick Oliver and the New Life Jazz Orchestra, David Cassidy & "the Rat Pack is Back", Mike Smith's Supper Club Orchestra, the Sweet Divines, the Stan Rubin Orchestra, Earl McIntyre's Big Band, Diva, the Van Dells, the Benny Goodman Tribute Orchestra, the Harry James Orchestra, Steve Slagle's Sax Quartet, Blue #9, the Howard Williams Jazz Orchestra, the Ryles Jazz Orchestra, Gary Wofsey Jazz Orchestra, Istanbul Orchestra, Super 7, George Gee Orchestra, John Malino Big Band, singers David Cassidy, Justine "Baby" Washington, Maxine Brown, Quinn Lemley, Deian McBride, Josh Weinstein and Liz Winick.

Some clubs & concert halls she has performed throughout NYC include: Weill Recital Hall, Blue Note, Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, Dizzy's Club Coca cola, Rose Hall @ Lincoln Center, Iridium, Jazz Gallery, Village Vanguard, Sweet Rhythm, Jazz Standard, Mintons Playhouse, BB King's, Joe's Pub, Big Apple Jazz, Carnegie Club, Supper Club, Tilles Center, Westbury Music Fair, Fez, 55 Bar, Bowery Ballroom, the Highline Ballroom, Mercury Lounge, Rockwood Music Hall, Lion's Den, Makor, Swing 46, Metropolitan Cafe, Tribeca Blues, the Knitting Factory, Bitter End, Izzy Bar, Five Spot, Europa Club, BAM cafe, Brooklyn Conservatory, Decade, C-note, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, Cornelia Street Cafe, the Garage, Shelly's, Triad, Groove, the Oak Room, Mo Pitkins, The Slipper Room; and toured throughout Europe and South America playing clubs & jazz festivals.

Over the past several years, she has been featured in publications such as Saxophone Journal, Hothouse, the Boston Globe, and Newsday. She also appeared in the hollywood movie production of Mona Lisa Smile which starred actress Julia Roberts.

She has done numerous recording projects & jingles with artists such as Travis Sullivan's Bjorkestra, Ada Rovatti & Elephunk, Liz Winick, Blue Man Group, Greg Osby, Joan Osbourne, and Lucy Woodward.

In addition to performing, Lauren also teaches on a regular basis. In the summer of 2007, she joined the Litchfield Jazz Camp faculty as a teaching artist. In April 2008 she was invited to adjudicate & perform at the Monterey Jazz Festival's "Next Generation" Festival, where she performed alongside Christian McBride, Terry-Lynn Carrington, George Duke, Corey Christiansen, Billy Harper, Ron Westray, Sal Cracchiolo, & many others.

Lauren has two brand new bands, her quartet the "LSQ", which includes George Colligan (piano), Boris Kozlov (bass) , & Johnathan Blake (drums); & "Symmetry"; which she co-leads with tenor saxophonist Meilana Gillard. There is much more to come from the baritone saxophonist!

Education:  Bachelor of Music degree from Manhattan School of Music (graduated in 2001)

Students can expect to learn in a positive, fun, & creative environment.  While I like to use certain "method" books, (Rubank, Essential Elements, Tune a Day) I also let the student make suggestions, if there's a book they would like to use.  My teaching style is pretty laid back, but at the same time I do require that my students practice at least 15-20 mins. a day with a metronome!  After 3-6 mos. students can expect to have a nice, full, sound on their instrument, to have learned how to read music, to have a sense of rhythm, and to be proud of themselves for doing a good job!

Specializing in jazz saxophone, flute (all age ranges & abilities), classical piano (beginner-intermediate)

Miller Place H.S. - general - 1994-1997
Manhattan School of Music - jazz performance - 1997-2001

music, Jazz saxophone, flute, woodwinds, beginner piano, music theory