Artist Showcase Series: Jimmy Farace

Established as one of the up-and-coming baritone saxophonists, Jimmy Farace
works as a freelance jazz musician, composer and arranger. His compositions
have been described as “delightfully elegant, flirtatiously succulent”
(Exclusive Magazine) and tone has been celebrated as “big and sonorous –
visceral while giving hints of Gerry Mulligan coolness” (Jazz Weekly).
After receiving a full tuition scholarship to the prestigious Indiana University
Jacobs School of Music, Farace received his Masters of Music at DePaul
University in Chicago, Il where he currently works and resides. Farace leads
various ensembles under his own name ranging from chordless trio to nonet with
string quartet. He has performed with Chicago legends such as Mark Colby, Scott
Hesse, Clark Sommers, Ethan Philion, Katie Ernst, Pete Benson and Bill
O’Connell. As a baritone saxophone specialist Farace is no stranger to a
saxophone section, and has performed in numerous world class big bands
featuring soloists such as Chris Potter, Randy Brecker and Jeff Hamilton. Farace
has been a member of the Hugh Jackman World Tour Orchestra, Birch Creek
Faculty Band, as well as the Disneyland All-American College Band.
Jimmy Farace is a continuation of the rich history of the baritone saxophone and
has studied this tradition with baritone masters Gary Smulyan, Brian Landrus and
Paul Nedzela; as well as saxophone masters Walter Smith III, Greg Ward, Tom
Walsh, and Scott Burns.