The Ernie Krivda Jazz Quintet

"I believe that the good jazz writer must have the ability to make the song satisfying on its own merits, even if the improvisation is of paramount importance."
- Ernie Krivda

The small group format is the ideal setting to put into practice the philosophy espoused above by Ernie Krivda. As a composer he’s written hundreds of tunes and they are heard to their best advantage played by thoughtful musicians who understand the importance of melody, shape, color and structure. The Ernie Krivda Jazz Quintet is an ensemble that finds these elements in Krivda’s finely drawn compositions and work together and individually to explore the many places these tunes take them and an audience.

Ernie Krivda is a truly original tenor saxophonist. With a rhapsodic approach and long involved lines and cadences, his soloing achieves classical dimensions. And he writes tunes that make the sound of his horn a focus around which the other players revolve but with whom they also beautifully communicate.

Guitarist Bob Fraser is one of Krivda's longtime musical partners. One of the great guitarists, he is, as the leader says, “part of the horn section, a separate instrumental section, an obbligato voice, a solo voice and a different comping texture.”

Dominic Farinacci on the trumpet was formerly a student of Krivda’s and has developed – at a young age – into an expressive soloist and solid ensemble player. A recent graduate of The Juilliard School, he has performed with Ira Sullivan, Mulgrew Miller and Joey DeFrancesco, and has CDs under his own name.

Drummer Carmen Intorre is originally from Buffalo and is also a graduate of The Juilliard School. An exciting and visceral player, Carmen provides the solid rhythmic underpinning that propels the soloists but also creates highly musical textures and patterns that demonstrate an individual voice. Carmen also performs regularly with Joey DeFrancesco.

* Peter Dominguez is on the faculty at Oberlin College. Well known in both jazz and classical circles, Peter features an exceptional technique, a great feel, and a rich sense of harmony, melody and dynamics.

The Ernie Krivda Jazz Quintet is keeping alive a tradition of small-group jazz that balances improvisational expansiveness with a compositional ensemble focus. Most importantly it plays with a passionate exuberance and an integrity of expression that is part and parcel to great music of all genres.

*Jeff Halsey, Kurt Kotheimer, and Yasushi Nakamori also have played bass with the quintet, in performance and recordings.

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