Charles Lane
Charles Lane’s saxophone playing is a completely emotional experience. His progressive view on art compliments the way he writes, plays and understands music. Charles' playing has been called "technically great, alive and vibrant" (smilepolitely.com). Renowned jazz writer, Scott Yanow says, "Charles is a saxophonist who has developed sounds of his own on tenor and soprano along with an open-minded approach towards music." Bending the rules of jazz by incorporating elements of the hip-hop, pop and jazz idioms, he views music as a forward thinking art-form that should be a reflection of the times, not what was, but what is and what will be.
Hailing from the North Suburbs of Chicago, Charles graduated with honors with a B.M. in Jazz Performance on the saxophone and a minor in Anthropology with an emphasis in Ethnomusicology and Andean Studies at the esteemed University Of Illinois in Urbana/Champaign in the Spring of 2009. Of the many awards and scholarships Charles has been given, he was named a Fulbright Scholar Alternate to Lima, Peru in 2009. The list of exceptional artists Charles has had the privilege of performing with include the late Jazz Violin great Johnny Frigo, Count Basie drummer Harold Jones, Frank Sinatra drummer Bob Chmel, The Brubeck Brothers Trio, bassist Jeff Campbell and pianist Reggie Thomas. He has shared the show bill with such renowned Jazz musicians as Harold Mabern, Wayne Escoffery, Eric Alexander, Harry Allen, Grant Stewart and Steve Wilson among others.
At the young age of 18, Charles toured Spain and Portugal on a fantastic three week tour in which his combo performed all over each country respectively. While in Spain and Portugal, Charles performed at the Spanish-American Embassy in Madrid and the Portuguese-American Embassy in Lisbon as well as other top venues in each country. Charles was one of three teaching assistants selected at the prestigious Birch Creek Music Performance Workshop in the summer of 2006 where he taught some of the best up and coming Jazz musicians in the country, while also playing in the professional all-star big-band, The Birch Creek Academy Band, for two weeks. His performances have not only spanned continents, but locally in Chicago and surrounding areas, at such well-known venues as The Jazz Showcase, Pete Miller’s, Hot House, Chicago’s Symphony Center and Grant and Millennium Parks respectively.
He has released two full length albums. The first, The Price Of Air is available everywhere music is sold on internet. It is an exploration of hip-hop and free music and how they can be joined with jazz.
His second album, Awaken was October 20, 2010, and is available online as well. It blends musics steeped in jazz tradition, to arrangements of both Fiona Apple and Radiohead pieces. With five originals, Lane is as proficient a composer as he is an arranger.
Charles was honored to be named a member of 2009 Mid-Atlantic Teach for America Corps. In the summer of 2009, he moved to Philadelphia to begin his two year teaching commitment, serving high need communities in Philadelphia. He is currently concluding his commitment to Teach for America, teaching 2nd grade at Hunter Elementary School in Kensington, Philadelphia.
He also recently received his Master's Degree in Urban education from the prestigious University of Pennsylvania. His thesis, entitled Music and Community Development in the 2nd Grade Classroom explores how music can be used as a community building and healing tool in the elementary school self-contained classroom.
Currently, he is making a name for himself in Philadelphia with a new quintet, new music and further developing his prowess as a progressive musician focused on exploring new sounds, and modes of expression.
As an artist, Charles is a firm believer that an appreciation and respect for the past is just as important as being a progressive and challenging musician. He constantly tries to develop ways to blend the past, present and future together in a synchronized fashion that simultaneously challenges the listener and speaks to them. For communication is the goal of all artists. That is where the true beauty lies.