biography | discography



BIOGRAPHY

Described by some members of the mass media as, “a young jazz star on the rise”, award winning saxophonist Shenole Latimer has steadily gained recognition for his playing style and engaging stage presence. Latimer's passionate approach to playing the saxophone shows influences drawn from the likes of Michael Brecker, Branford Marsalis, John Coltrane, and Kenny Garrett. All of this, while still exhibiting the gift of being able to effectively communicate with his audiences through a voice and style that is uniquely his own.

Through the course of his career, Shenole has had the privilege of sharing the stage with such Jazz musicians as Jon Faddis, Todd Coolman, Ron Affif, Kenny MacKenzie, Lieven Venken, E.J. Strickland, Derek Gardner, Rufus Reid, Dan Faulk, Vincent Herring, Kyle Struve, Thomson Kneeland, Willard Dyson, Dion Parson, Ray Anderson, Jerry McDonald, Nick Russo, Gerry Neiwood, and a host of others.

Latimer, always open to new challenges, has also found himself working with artists from many different genres, including world music performer extraordinaire Jack Lacitra (Jack's Waterfall), blues power houses Gail Storm and Joe Vicino, pop artist Christina Gaudet, adult contemporary rock sensation Janira, and queen of neo-soul Giovanni von Essen to name a few. Additionally, before becoming a headliner himself, Shenole has served as an opening act for, Larry Coryell, Christian McBride, Cecil Brooks III, Renee Rosnes, and J.D. Allen.

Shenole Latimer is a Long Island, New York native and began playing the saxophone at the age of 9. Growing up in a household that was “economically challenged”, as Shenole fondly puts it, meant that his mother was unable to afford private lessons for him. However, eager to learn about the saxophone, Shenole absorbed all that he could from his public school experiences and from transcribing some of the music he was exposed to when watching the televised jazz performances that were often aired on Public Broadcasting Stations. The young Shenole Latimer was rewarded for his efforts by receiving the Louis Armstrong Award for Jazz Improvisation, which was rewarded only to the top young jazz performers in the state of New York.

As a college undergraduate student, Latimer attended the State University of New York at Stony Brook, intent on becoming a marine biologist. However, fate had other intensions for Shenole. A chance encounter with the esteemed jazz bassist Todd Coolman, who was the university’s Director of Jazz Studies at the time, would guide Latimer’s path toward becoming a member of the Stony Brook University Jazz Big Band. His fondness for jazz rekindled, Shenole worked hard under the tutelage of Coolman and would ultimately become not only the lead alto saxophonist for the big band, but also the face and ambassador of Stony Brook University’s jazz program. Latimer’s picture graced the front cover of the university’s 1998-1999 music brochure, which was circulated to over 500,000 homes in the state of New York. Additionally, Latimer was often called on by Todd Coolman to represent the university by performing in an array of special functions, concerts, and by even giving educational lectures and clinics to middle school and high school students within the surrounding school districts.

Another chance meeting, one night at a New York City jazz club formerly known as Sweet Basil, would bring Shenole Latimer face to face with the man who would become the single greatest contributor to his development as a saxophonist and jazz musician – tenor saxophone sensation Dan Faulk. Shenole, immediately impressed with Faulk as both a musician and a person, would find himself studying with the tenor saxophonist for several years. Latimer still holds his mentor in the highest regard and has even had Dan Faulk perform with him as a special guest in some of his concerts.

Shenole Latimer's ever advancing list of career achievements include numerous radio interviews, several television appearances, his endorsement with Vandoren (a highly respected company within the music industry), impressive concert ticket sales that include out selling world renowned performers such as Chuck Mangione, and his 2006 signing to a recording contract with the New York City / Dortmund, Germany based record label known as Tierra Records. That signing led to the release of "Front and Center", Shenole Latimer's debut album.

Because of Latimer’s almost insatiable desire to excel, and his relative youth, it is clear that his greatest achievements are still ahead of him. Moreover, Shenole's charisma and uncanny ability to connect with his audiences serve as the intoxicant that will continue to compel jazz aficionados and music lovers alike to follow his career for years to come.