Gary Smulyan, a jazz musician and baritone saxophonist, was born in Bethpage on April 4, 1956. Before joining Woody Herman, he studied at SUNY. He is currently the leader of a trio that includes Ray Drummond, bassist, and Kenny Washington. Smulyan is the current baritone jazz saxophonist for the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. He also played with the Mel Lewis Big Band. He has recorded and performed with Carla Bley’s Big Band and also plays baritone with the Dave Holland Big Band and Octet. Pepper Adams is Smulyan’s greatest influence. Smulyan’s final album, Homage, was recorded after Adams’ death. It featured eight compositions by Adams. Additional albums were recorded by Smulyan for Criss cross Jazz and Reservoir Records. These included the critically-acclaimed “High Noon”: The Jazz Soul Of Frankie Laine, which features arrangements by Mark Masters. Smulyan, who has been the Berkshire Hills Music Academy’s artistic director since 2006, lives in South Hadley, Massachusetts. Smulyan and Joan Cornachio, his wife and pianist/conductor, reside in Amherst with their families. Smulyan is consistently ranked the number one baritone saxophone player by the Downbeat Readers and Critics polls. From Wikipedia
