50 years of jazz in the Triangle: Saxophonist and bandleader Gregg Gelb on his performance and teaching career, and new music with La Fiesta Latin Jazz Quintet

Gregg Gelb is a saxophonist and clarinetist, bandleader, and educator based in the Triangle. 

On this episode, the musician shares about his latest work with La Fiesta Latin Jazz Quintet, “The Latin Jazz Dance Suite,” which his group debuted at Magnetic Sound Studios in Durham on June 23. The quintet comprises Ramon Ortiz and Beverly Botsford on percussion, Steve Anderson on keys, and Andy Kleindienst on bass. 

Since moving to Raleigh in 1979, Gregg has collaborated with and formed an array of groups, including Group Sax, the Gregg Gelb Swing Band, the Second Line Stompers, and others.

An arranger and composer, he’s has written more than 250 charts for his eight-piece band and 50 charts for his big band. 

Gregg also mentors advanced student musicians as the director of the Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble in Raleigh. Under his leadership the ensemble has been selected seven times to the finals of the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

In addition to teaching in public schools, Gregg has served as an interim assistant professor of jazz at Francis Marion University, UNC Greensboro, North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and institutions in the North Carolina Community Colleges System. 

The musician is now an adjunct jazz and classical music professor at Central Carolina Community College, and he teaches private lessons.

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Music credit

This episode features the songs “New Normal,” from the album The Latin Jazz Pandemic Suite (2022) by La Fiesta Latin Jazz Quintet, and “Four D” from the album Road Trip (2016) by the Gregg Gelb Jazz Quartet, featuring Christopher Gelb on drums, Thomas Linger on piano, Charlton Provatas on bass, and Gregg Gelb on tenor sax. 

This season features the songs “Forged in Rhythm” and “Callous & Kind” by Keenan McKenzie & The Riffers (2017), used by Six Count with permission from the artist. 

How to listen

You can find Six Count on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other listening app! The series also airs on taintradio.org, an online jazz radio station based in North Carolina, on Sundays at 6:00 p.m. and Fridays at 8:00 p.m. EST. 

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