Richard Howell Quartet February 8, 2007

Multi-instrumentalist, saxophonist, vocalist, Richard Howell has travelled a vast spectrum of music. His powerful, sensually melodic saxophone playing and keen sense of exploration have brought him to stages around the world, performing with artists as diverse and definitive as Etta James, Chaka Khan, Cecil Taylor, Don Cherry, Billy Higgins, Charlie Haden, Buddy Guy, and Pete Escovedo, to name a few.

His is the style and sound that Forrest Dylan Bryant of All About Jazz calls "Richard Howell's streetwise yet spiritual tenor sax."

Howell will be joined at Jazz at Pearl's by pianist Fred Harris, bassist Gary Brown and drummer E.W. Wainwright.

Richard Howell is perhaps best known in San Francisco for his work with the Afro/Indian/jazz improvisational group, the Supplicants. He also appears with local Afro/jazz percussion legend Babatunde Lea, with the jazz-poetry ensemble, Upsurge, and the Bay Area`s soulful Big Belly Blues Band.

In addition, Howell performs throughout Europe with his own bands, made up of European and African musicians, and he's an integral member and the producer of the popular Brazilian influenced band, VDP World Rock Project. As an educator he works in public and private schools and youth correction facilities as a member of the "African Roots of Jazz," founded by E.W.Wainwright and with the Oaktown Jazz Workshop founded by Khalil Shaheed.

With a wide range of influences and a wide range of experience, saxophonist Richard Howell truly brings a soulful, moving world of music to the stage of Jazz at Pearl's.

Official Website: http://www.jazzatpearls.com