Saxophonist, composer, orchestrator, producer, scholar, professor, and leader Ed Calle is known for his extraordinary ability to perform virtually any musical style including bebop, Latin and contemporary jazz, world music, and pop. Throughout the globe, his peers and colleagues often laud his versatility. For example, while outside the Blue Note in New York City sharing some time with his mentor and friend Michael Brecker, fans asked Michael about being the most recorded saxophonist in history. Brecker smiled, looked at his pupil, and stated, “Thanks, but Ed’s probably on as many or more records. He records a lot for South American artists and we don’t see a lot of those credits. Regardless, in my estimation, Ed is likely the most versatile saxophonist on the planet.” Longtime mentor and collaborator Arturo Sandoval more succinctly affirms, “We call Calle – the monster.”
Born in Caracas, Venezuela to Spanish parents – father Joaquin Calle from Madrid and mother Maria Begoña Calle from Barcelona – it was obvious from the very start that Ed was a gifted musician whose energetic, passionate, and distinct sound captured the attention of audiences and musicians alike. His teachers and schoolmates often suggested that Calle’s sound was actually part of his DNA. Now, Calle can be heard on more than 1,200 albums, 8,500 singles, and countless movie and television soundtracks both as a soloist, sideman, composer, arranger, conductor, and producer. He appears on Grammy-award-winning albums by Frank Sinatra, Juan Luis Guerra, Arturo Sandoval, Juanes, Vicky Carr, Gloria Estefan, and Jon Secada. Calle has also recorded and performed around the world with music royalty including Phil Ramone, Tom Dowd, Carlos Santana, Eddie Money, Greg Allman, Emilio Estefan, Chick Corea, Michael and Randy Brecker, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Willy Chirino, John Patitucci, Steve Gadd, Anthony Jackson, Donna Summer, the Bee Gees, Natalie Cole, Smokey Robinson, Shakira, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Spinners, Armando Manzanero, Barry Gibb, Oscar D’Leon, Dave Valentine, Lenny Kravitz, K.C. & the Sunshine Band, Gloria Estefan, Diego Torres, Julio Iglesias, David Bisbal, Michael Bolton, Will to Power, Luis Enrique, Bob James, Bobby Caldwell, Franco de Vita, Frankie Valli, Rihanna, Idina Menzel, Extreme, the Pet Shop Boys, George Clinton, Albita, Placido Domingo, Roberto Carlos, Ricky Martin, Busta Rhyme, JLo, Chayanne, and Vanessa Williams just to name a few. Calle’s television work includes an almost decade-long stint as saxophonist in the Sabado Gigante orchestra and appearances as a soloist with various artists on theTonight Show with Johnny Carson and Jay Leno, Late Night with David Letterman, the Grammy Awards, and a host of international, national, and regional television programs and specials…
more at edcalle.com
