Chris Potter (jazz saxophonist)

Chris Potter
Chris Potter in Budapest, May 2008
Background information
Born	(1971-01-01) January 1, 1971 (age 46) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Saxophone
Years active	1990–present
Labels	Criss Cross, Concord, Verve, Sunnyside, ECM
Associated acts	Red Rodney, Dave Holland, Dave Douglas, Paul Motian, Steely Dan, Scott Colley, Craig Taborn
Website	www.chrispottermusic.com

Chris Potter (born January 1, 1971) is an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist. His main instrument is tenor sax, but he also performs on soprano and alto saxes, bass clarinet, flutes, guitar, and piano.

Potter came to prominence as a sideman with trumpeter Red Rodney, before stints with drummer Paul Motian, bassist Dave Holland, trumpeter Dave Douglas and others. He recorded his debut album in 1993 and according to critic Steve Huey, "quietly became one of the more sophisticated and respected stylists of the '90s and early 2000s."

Chris Potter was born in Chicago, Illinois, but his family soon moved to Columbia, South Carolina, where he spent his formative years. Potter showed an early interest in a wide variety of different music and easily learned several instruments including the guitar and piano. He quickly realized after hearing Paul Desmond that the saxophone would be the vehicle that would best allow him to express himself musically.

He played his first professional jazz gig on alto sax at age thirteen after mastering the complex musical language of Charlie Parker. He developed a devoted local following while performing with the Columbia jazz musicians Johnny Helms and Terry Rosen, as well as with others in the jazz community.

After leaving Columbia upon his graduation from Dreher High School, Potter attended college in New York City, first at the New School, and later at the Manhattan School of Music. Upon his arrival in New York he began performing with Red Rodney and gained a reputation as a rising new star of the saxophone.