Our new cd, Urban Nomad, is now available from Origin Records and other purveyors of fine music everywhere! Check out News and Sounds for samples and links.

Critics Say:

"In the last few years, Bradfield has quietly established himself among Chicago’s truly elite saxists, performing with a wide range of bands in Chicago... his fresh melodicism takes dramatic flights without sacrificing finely-wrought details." (Neil Tesser).

“Rule of Three is one of the more auspicious post-bop debuts to come down the boards in some time…Bradfield is not only confident, but in full possession of his gifts. Highly recommended. (****)” (All Music Guide)

“…muscular, inventive, gloriously free-ranging lines. Harmonically, there was simply no predicting where Bradfield would stray next; rhythmically, he sounded utterly liberated from backbeat and meter.” (Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune).

“Bradfield’s blowing mixes grits’n’gravy with erudition. Most notable is a rhythmic drive, sense of logic and tenor timbre reminiscent of Sonny Rollins.” (Michael Jackson, Downbeat)

“A quietly exhilarating album, and one of the more significant debut recordings of 2003.” (Nate Dorward, Cadence Magazine)

“Perhaps the best record from 2003 that you never heard.” (allaboutjazz.com)

“Rule of Three named one of the best albums of 2003 (Chicago Reader)

“…Rule of Three has a placid, grooving feeling within fairly disciplined mainstream parameters. It’s a nice sound, and one I don’t hear often on records by young jazz groups…” (Ben Ratliff, New York Times)

“…saxophonist Geof Bradfield imbues the various themes with subtle and affecting harmonic variations, unleashing loads of lyrical solos, ranging from the tender to the enraged.” (Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader).

“Bradfield reminds me of a young Sonny Rollins. This is a man who trusts in the power of his tone and his melodic invention to carry the song into our souls. And what a tone- like something between Rollins and Shorter. The overall effect is enough to make you wish King Pleasure was around to take one of Bradfield's solos and write words to it.”(Amazon.com)

“Bradfield is steeped in the tenor tradition of Coleman Hawkins, Gene Ammons, and Sonny Rollins. …he also addresses the Sun Ra sideman on the tribute track “John Gilmore” and soprano legend Steve Lacy with “Koan.” There’s a bit of Charlie Rouse, some Ben Webster, and well, we could go at this endlessly. Needless to say, Bradfield has the canon down.(allaboutjazz.com)

“If you want a cracking mainstream tenor/bass/drums jazz album, don't look to the major record labels: this is the real deal. Everything from Ellington's "Day Dream" to Andrew Hill's "Reconciliation" and a pile of pin-sharp originals.” (Stride Magazine).

“…a wonderful sense of intuition, and an expansive outlook that incorporates the best of contemporary postmodern phrasing over a solid rhythmic base that snaps with a great sense of swing and some nice dynamics.”(Dusty Groove)

“His tone is fat and buttery, his technique is flawless and his solos are spectacular.” (The Jazz Review).

“Bradfield pours soulful tenor all over the proceedings…”(All About Jazz).

“Spirited and soulful tenor work…Bradfield also proves that he is a gifted composer, with several superb compositions…”(One Final Note, Jay Collins).

“With casual aplomb, he combines a woody sound with harmonic sophistication and rhythmic flexibility, making standard jazz practices sound new and fresh again.”(AllAboutJazz).

Bio:

Born in Houston, TX, Geof Bradfield attended the well-known High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in that city. He then moved to Chicago to continue his education at DePaul University, and later to Los Angeles, where he completed a master’s degree at CalArts. While at CalArts, Geof studied with and had the opportunity to perform with such luminaries as Charlie Haden, Albert “Tootie Heath”, Roscoe Mitchell, Leo Smith, and Joe LaBarbara. He then moved to Brooklyn, where he lived from 1994 to 1997. During this period, Geof performed with many forward-looking musicians on the New York scene, including guitarists Ben Monder and Steve Cardenas, drummers Matt Wilson, Marc Miralta and Owen Howard, pianists David Hazeltine and Henry Hey, bassists Avishai Cohen, Reid Anderson and Joe Martin, and dancer Savion Glover.

Geof returned to Chicago for a brief period in 1997, during which he toured with various groups (including the popular Chicago band, The Mighty Blue Kings) throughout the U.S. and Europe. He also worked in Chicago with groups led by Jodie Christian, Marlene Rosenberg, Arturo Sandoval, Ben Sidran, Charles Earland, and Lonnie Smith, as well as with Ted Sirota’s Rebel Souls and the Ryan Cohan Quartet. He also led his own group during this time, a trio with Noel Kupersmith and Ted Sirota.

After a three-year hiatus in Pullman, Washington, where he taught at Washington State University, Geof returned to Chicago in 2003. Currently, he works extensively with Ted Sirota’s Rebel Souls and pianist Ryan Cohan as well as with the Mike Allemana Quartet, Dan Cray, and his own groups, performing locally and touring in North America and Europe. Notable recent performances in Chicago include appearances at the 2003 and 2004 Chicago Jazz Festivals and a performance with post-rock icon Tortoise in the new Millenium Park bandshell. Geof can be heard on recordings by several of the groups mentioned above, as well as many others. His debut as a leader, Rule of Three (Liberated Zone), has received much critical claim, including a laudatory review from Ben Ratliff in the New York Times and selection as one of the best albums of 2003 by Peter Margasak of the Chicago Reader. Currently, Geof is also on the Faculty of Columbia College in Chicago.

Selected Discography:

Urban Nomad (Origin, 2008)
Rule of Three (Liberated Zone, 2003)
Collage (2007)
Ryan Cohan, One Sky (Motema, 2007)
Ryan Cohan, Here and Now (Sirocco 2001)
Kelly Brand, The Door (Origin 2008)
John Moulder, Trinity (OA2, 2006)
Michael Allemana Quartet, Inner Rhythm (2006)
Ted Sirota’s Rebel Souls, Breeding Resistance (Delmark 2004)
Rebel Souls, Vs. the forces of evil (Naim 2001)
Godspeed You Black Emperor, Yanqui U.X.O. (Constellation 2002)
Tuey Connell, Under the Influence (Minor Music 2003)
Songs for Joy and Sadness (Minor Music 2004)
Mighty Blue Kings, Live in Chicago(Sony)