CLAIRE DALY

www.clairedalymusic.com
"I have used Bari synthetic reeds for over twenty years on baritone sax.  They allow me a lot of freedom in sound production and are very consistent.  I love them and people have always complimented my sound.  I love these reeds because the last, they are consistent, and most importantly, I am happy with the sound they produce."
Claire Daly grew up in Yonkers, NY, affording her access to many jazz greats performing live in NYC.  At the same time, she was hearing contemporary music with her peers at venues like The Schaeffer Music Festivals in Central Park.  She graduated from Berklee College of Music as an alto player and traveled on the road with both jazz and rock bands, but her life changed significantly the first time she played baritone sax. "It was an epiphany.  I felt like, there I am... this is my voice."  Claire hasn't looked back and has become a well-known, leading voice on the big horn.  Her first CD as a leader was released on Koch Jazz in 1999.  "Swing Low" was received very warmly.  Claire was nominated by the Jazz Journalist Association for "Best New Artist of the Year" and Swing Low was subsequently added to a listening station in the William Jefferson Clinton Library in Little Rock, AK as a CD significant to the President while in office.  Since then, she has been a winner/nominee of many critic and reader polls and has won the JJA Baritone Saxophonist of the Year.  Her move back home to New York from Boston was the beginning of her playing extensively as a freelance musician in New York.  In collaboration with pianist/composer Joel Forrester, their band "People Like Us" released five CD's on Koch Jazz, and they continue to play and record some twenty-five years later.  She was the original baritone player in the Diva Big Band, anchoring its section for the first seven years as well as doing multiple recordings as a side person (Taj Mahal, George Garzone, and many more) and leading her own groups.  In 2012, The North Coast Brewing Co. in California produced a CD for Claire called "Baritone Monk" to promote their "Brother Theolonious Ale".  It was on the Jazzweek Charts for twenty-four weeks, nine of which were top ten.  This led to headlining at the Monterey Jazz Festival, KC Rythm'n Ribs Fest, Pittsfield Jazz Festival and more, in addition to touring the United States with the quartet.  Her most current project is called "2648 West Grand Boulevard" and features jazz versions of Motown tunes from the Detroit years.  It's on the Glass Beach Jazz label, produced by Doug Moody.  The music and the spectacle were deeply influential to Claire, who grew up listening to the Motown sound as the soundtrack of her early years.  She has also been a six-time winner of the Downbeat Critics Poll "Talent Deserving Wider Recognition".  Claire continues to live in New York City, travel, teach (Jazz at Lincoln Center MSJA, Litchfield Jazz Camp), give clinics, teach privately and tour.  Performing, listening, learning and mentoring young players are Claire's musical goals.