FRED LIPSIUS AND HIS NEW JAZZ SEXTET CD, “RHYTHM, CATCH 4” About the CD and tunes (in order of tracks): This is Fred’s first jazz sextet recording as a leader. In his liner notes he says: “I went through all my jazz compositions and chose these 12 for the CD. They were penned at different times in my life, but always carry the influences of my musical heroes”. Originally, Fred intended these tunes and arrangements for an educational book/CD, but after hearing the horns record some of the tunes, he quickly changed the project to a jazz CD, featuring all the band members. (1) “Rhythm, Catch 4” (the title tune of the CD) is an up-tempo melody based on the standard “I’ve Got Rhythm”, and has the whole band ‘catching’ (or punctuating) beat 4 at places in the melody. Fred’s tenor sax playing is spotlighted. (2) “Folk Song”, written by Fred around age 18, begins with a simple theme that repeats and varies throughout the tune with interesting chord harmonies. It’s similar to what Bartok did, taking simple European folk melodies and putting his own harmonies to them. (3) “Some Things You Ain’t”, based on the chords to “All the Things You Are”, begins with Fred playing solo alto sax - improvising ‘freely’ over the whole tune’s chord structure. The rhythm section enters with Fred playing the melody, and then improvising over 3 choruses of the tune (each chorus, modulating into a new key). Fred takes the tune out, playing the melody in the original starting key, and ends the tune. (4) “Where At?” was inspired by hearing Miles Davis with John Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley. The 1st, 3rd, and 5th eight-bar sections of the melody use only a D7 (altered) chord for the harmony. (5) “Nippon” (means Japan), a fusion tune, reflects impressions of Japan. (6) “Basie-like” begins with a bass solo followed by the 3 horns playing the tune with a sound reminiscent of the Count Basie Orchestra. (7) “One For Trane”, dedicated to John Coltrane, is a jazz waltz using similar chords as Coltrane’s chordal reharmonization of “But Not For Me”. (8) “The Clear Islands” is an up-tempo Latin melody featuring ‘hot’ solos by the trombone and trumpet players. (9) “Bluesy Hues” contains simple, ‘bluesy’ melodic phrases over a chord progression of all Dominant Seventh Chords. (10) “Before and After” has touches of music by Bird ‘n Diz, Horace Silver and Benny Golson. (11) “Balloon Ride”, the other jazz waltz on the CD, takes the listener on a trip in a hot air balloon. The melody is based on a 4-note pattern that Chick Corea showed Fred. Fred used unique chord progressions for the A and B sections of his tune. (12) “Shuffle Blues” was one of many tunes Fred composed for his small group ensemble students at Berklee College of Music. This track features Fred throughout and is the closer for the CD. The Musicians on the CD: Fred Lipsius(alto and tenor saxes) Jeff Galindo (trombone) was Esperanza Spaulding’s Musical Director. Greg Hopkins (trumpet/flugel horn) played and arranged for Buddy Rich. Les Harris, Jr. (drums) played with Diana Krall, Clark Terry, Phil Woods, Marian McPartland, Scott Hamilton, and The Artie Shaw Orchestra. Russ Hoffmann (piano and electric keyboard) played with Bobbie McFerrin, James Moody, Rufus Reid, Billy Hart, and Paula Cole. Dave Clark (bass) played with Gary Burton, Danilo Perez, Dave Leibman, Terri Lynn Carrington, Lee Konitz, and John Abercrombie. Fred's Bio: Fred Lipsius was the original saxophonist, arranger, and conductor with Blood, Sweat & Tears (1967-71). He also doubled on keyboards. As a band member, Fred won nine Gold Records, a Grammy Award for “Best Album of the Year”, plus a Grammy Award for his arrangement of Spinning Wheel. He arranged and co-arranged, respectively, the hit singles “Hi-De-Ho” and “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy”. Fred brought the ‘jazz’ element to the band and public with his arrangements and sax/piano solos. In both the “Downbeat” and “Playboy” jazz polls he placed in the top ten of the alto sax category. Rock and Roll history books credit him as the first saxophonist to mix jazz and rock styles in his solos. In 1982, Fred toured with Simon and Garfunkel in Japan and Europe and was a featured soloist. Fred has performed with jazz greats Cannonball Adderley, Thelonious Monk, Zoot Sims, Eddie Gomez, Al Foster, Randy Brecker, George Mraz, Larry Willis, Rodney Jones, plus prominent Berklee College of Music faculty members Herb Pomeroy, Alan Dawson, Ray Santisi, and Donald Brown. Fred has written music for, and performed on, more than 30 CDs as both a leader and sideman. He’s also authored seven books/CDs on jazz improvisation and jazz reading, published worldwide. 

 Born in the Bronx, New York City on November 19, 1943, Fred began playing the clarinet at age 9, alto and tenor saxophones in Junior High School, and piano at Music and Art High School in Manhattan. He continued his studies at Berklee School of Music (1961-62), and then went on the road… Fred is currently an Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music, where he’s been teaching full-time since 1984. FRED IS AVAILABLE FOR RADIO, MAGAZINE AND NEWSPAPER INTERVIEWS. CONTACT HIM AT: email: flipsius@berklee.edu