On Thursday September 27, Capital District Jazz (CDJ) kicks off its second season of the highly acclaimed series Jazz at the Spring with the Giroux Brothers Quintet. If CDJ inaugurated the first season of Jazz at the Spring by honoring jazz history with legendary jazz clarinetist Brad Terry, this season celebrates the future of jazz by introducing Saratoga to the Giroux Brothers; Nate (sax) and Tyler (trombone), who bring their quintet to the Spring for the first concert of our Fall season.

The Giroux Brothers and the new generation of young jazz musicians grew up with the entire jazz cannon available to them at the swipe of a screen via YouTube, Spotify and iTunes. They have listened to and shared music with musicians from down the street to a half a world away, and this interaction has afforded them a musical vocabulary that is not constrained by one style or current trend. These young players have the freedom to blaze their own trail, reaching new audiences and their peers through the savvy use of tech and social media. They can be true to their musical selves. They can embrace the jazz tradition, or in the case of the Giroux brothers, bend the tradition and create something new.

Listening to the Giroux Brothers, your initial reaction is that they are delightfully retro, but as you listen more closely you realize that this is not your Grandpa’s jazz. The Giroux brothers, who hold melody, conversation, humor and freedom as their highest musical values, are joined by like-minded young players: Luke Franco (guitar), Dylan Perrillo (bass), Matthew Niedbalski (drums) who defy stereotypes to create a musical palette that blends a historical bent with the creativity of the modern millennial. Trombonist and cutting-edge big band director, Phil Allen, says “There are a number of really creative bands in the Capital Region but none more than the Giroux Brothers. They honor tradition while bringing their own unique concepts to any performance they do. Hear this band!”

Tyler Giroux (valve trombone) grew up playing piano and trumpet before switching to the bigger brass horns. He holds a bachelor of music in music education from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, and a master of music in jazz performance from the Frost School of Music. Tyler has studied and performed with many notable jazz artists including Brian Lynch, Dante Luciani, Bret Zvacek, Mitch Frohman, and Scott Robinson.

Nate Giroux (saxophone and clarinet) earned his bachelor of music in jazz studies from William Paterson University in 2012. His performance resume includes the Detroit Jazz Festival, Pittsfield Jazz Festival, Villanova Jazz Festival and the International Society for Improvised Music Conference, as well as performances with noted musicians Bucky Pizzarelli, Mulgrew Miller, Steve Davis, Scott Robinson, Joe Magnarelli, James Weidman, Kevin Norton and Paul Meyers.

Luke Franco (guitar) is a player who balances a strong melodic sensibility and a swinging groove. He credits both his mentor the late John Abercrombie, who was also his teacher, and the late Jim Hall, one of the great innovators of the jazz guitar as his formative influences. While pursuing his doctorate at the University of Miami, he performed with the award-winning Concert Jazz Band as a featured soloist alongside guest artists Gonzalo Rubalacaba and Alan Ferber. He was featured as lead guitarist at the world premiere of Michael Tilson Thomas’s, Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind with the New World Symphony in 2016. As a counterpoint to his musical career, he and his wife grow cut flowers and play music at Tiny Hearts Farm in the Berkshire foothills in Copake.

Dylan Perrillo is a native of Voorheesville and has been enjoying playing the upright bass for quite some time. He now resides in Albany, performing with fellow musicians across the land and leads a big band called the Dylan Perrillo Orchestra. Aside from music, he aspires to sow a great big garden each warm season.

Drummer Matthew Niedbalski began taking lessons from drummer and author Ted Mackenize at the age of 8. By age 13, he was performing with professional musicians in the Capital region. Matt participated in the Empire State Youth Orchestra jazz ensemble and in 2011 attended the Skidmore Summer Jazz Institute. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Performance from William Paterson in 2016. Niedbalski has performed at the Lake George Jazz Festival, the Final Stretch Music Festival, Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, Joe’s Pub, and the Harlem Tavern. Since graduating William Paterson in 2016, Matt has remained active in the jazz scene in both Albany and New York City, and appears on pianist Sam Javitch’s recording “People and Places” with Rich Perry. Matt is a member of the Charles Cornell Trio, Joel Cotton’s Consequence and the Dylan Perrillo Orchestra.

Jazz at the Spring is held the last Thursday of each month at the Spring Street Gallery, Saratoga Springs, and is sponsored by Capital District Jazz, Ltd. (CDJ) a 501©3 not-for-profit organization formed by practitioners and fans who love jazz music. American in origin, jazz reaches and draws from millions of performers and listeners around the globe who are inspired by its rich history, excited by its technical complexity, and moved by its emotional depth. The members of CDJ want to share their love of jazz with current and potential performers and enthusiasts throughout the “Capital District”. CDJ’s mission is to build and serve a wider audience for jazz through education; to create performance opportunities for jazz musicians; and to develop venues for these pursuits. CDJ supports All Ears: Jazz and Improvised Music Workshop, which is a fun hands-on way for students of all ages to learn about jazz.

CDJ is offering a number of free tickets for youth age 17 and under. If you are interested in obtaining a free ticket please inquire via email info@cdjazz.org. Tickets are available in advance at: brown paper tickets: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3518676