US tenor saxophonist, Jean Toussaint, has become known for a big rich sound, and for deeply melodic, swinging, surging jazz. His latest project - with Tony Remy and Jason Rebello - harnesses up that reputation to an exploration of contemporary British street sounds.

'It's an extension of the last CD Life I want.' says Toussaint, 'which combined the rhythms of the jazz, funk and soul I grew up with in New York. It's great fun. And it will be out soon under the band name Nazaire.'

Toussaint has also just returned from a spell in New York, headlining at the world-famous Sweet Basil's, and playing with old friends Donald Harrison, Lonnie Plaxico, Ralph Peterson, and Stephen Scott.


The stageposts along Toussaint's career have all made their mark - the Caribbean, New York and London.

In 1982, he set off for New York to join Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. 'I learned more in four years with Art than I'd have learned in ten had I not got through that audition,' says Toussaint who played with fellow messengers Mulgrew Miller, Terence Blanchard, Donald Harrison and Lonnie Plaxico.

Toussaint also worked with Wynton Marsalis, McCoy Tyner and Gil Evans, and regularly led the jam session at New York's Blue Note club.

Touring extensively with the Messengers, he always looked forward to London where he made friends amongst some of the capital's young jazz musicians. "In those early days I met Cleveland and Trevor Watkiss, Steve Williamson, Courtney Pine and Julian Joseph."

Being of Carribean descent I saw similarities in the blend of musical influences - jazz, African, calypso and reggae. At Berklee we learned the rules of jazz improvisation and composition - critical to understanding the tradition and dynamics of the music - but it can make you complacent. Here, the young jazz musicians have had to work it out themselves, so the approach is very personal.

In 1987, after leaving the Messengers, Toussaint accepted an invitation from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama to teach improvisation for three months. He's still here. From London, Toussaint works extensively in Europe and the US with his own bands, The Jean Toussaint Quartet (straight-ahead, accoustic jazz) and Nazaire (funky, dancey, electric jazz).

In the last few years, he has toured Europe with Max Roach, joined Cedar Walton for a fortnight at Ronnie Scott's, and worked with Horace Silver.

In 1997, with a commission from the Arts Council, he toured the UK with old friends Mulgrew Miller, Terence Blanchard and Reginald Veal.


The result of these musical experiences came together on Toussaint's last CD, Life I want (New Note Records NNCD 1001), featuring Jason Rebello, who co-produced the album, Tony Remy, Mark Mondesir and Wayne Batchelor.

Like the previous CD, What goes around, (World Circuit WCD 029), featuring striking combinations of musicians including Bheki Mseleku, Julian Joseph, and Alec Dankworth, it has been well received by the music press:

'Toussaint,'s musical ancestry is pre-free Coltrane, Sonny Rollins in his surging swing period and occasional bursts of Wayne Shorter's pebby, exclamatory fragments. Terrific.' John Fordham. The Guardian

'... class material, matured over the years and now bursting out of the cask. Single malt with a vengeance.' Jeremy Scott-Joynt, Jazz Express

Other recordings include:

Nine albums with Art Blakey, including the Grammy Award-winning The New York Scene.

Impressions of Coltrane (September Records), with Toussaint leading a line-up including Kenny Washington, Ray Drummond and Jason Rebello.

Who's blues,, Toussaint's electric band, Nazaire, recorded at Ronnie Scott's.

As a guest on albums including those of Bheki Mseleku , Julian Joseph, Cleveland Watkiss and Tony Remy.


Toussaint has appeared regularly on television arts programmes including BBC2's The Late Show, 01 for London, and Channel 4's Jazz Heroes series.


As well as part-time teaching jazz theory and improvisation at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Toussaint is a regular tutor on the Northern Ireland Arts Council-run summer school, and at the Guildhall Summer School. He also leads workshops at arts centres, schools and colleges in conjunction with concerts.