Search - Chris Potter/Steve Wilson/Terell Stafford/Keith Javors/Delbert Felix/John Davis :: Coming Together

Twenty-four-year-old Brendan Romaneck was a saxophonist and composer of enormous promise as he prepared for his debut recording as a leader in the Spring of 2005. Romaneck had already made all the arrangements for the success of Coming Together, having booked a studio, prepared the compositions and selected a group of talented players trumpeter Terell Stafford, pianist Keith Javors, bassist Delbert Felix and drummer John Davis -- to help him bring his music to life. Then on April 20, 2005, just two weeks after his 24th birthday and less than two months before the scheduled recording, Brendan Romaneck was taken tragically and suddenly, ending what was already becoming an impressive career as a jazz artist. Romaneck s parents -- who were the date s executive producers -- decided to continue the project as a tribute to their son s music. Javors engaged Chris Potter and Steve Wilson to play the saxophone parts and the resulting music full of originality, promise and strength, heralding the coming of an important new composer -- is something that Romaneck, his family and friends can all be proud of. Romaneck, who was born April 6, 1981 in Colchester, Connecticut, set out on the life path of a musician from his early days of grammar school when he first began playing tenor saxophone and decided to pursue the career professionally even before graduating from high school. After studies at Santa Barbara City College, he entered the prestigious jazz program at the University of North Florida, where he took saxophone with the legendary Bunky Green, who noted, He was very original and he had a great big heart and that came through in his music ... We call it soul and Brendan he had that. At UNF, Romaneck also studied composition with the highly lauded Keith Javors, in whom the young saxophonist found both a mentor and colleague, playing with the pianist s groups around the Southeast. Not surprisingly, Romaneck called upon Javors to produce his debut recording. The original compositions on Coming Together are a moving expression of Romaneck s burgeoning abilities as a composer, while his choice of standards is a sure indication of his grasp of his role in maintaining and advancing the jazz tradition in which he was beginning to take his place. With producer Javors at the piano, Delbert Felix on bass and John Davis behind the drum kit, the music swings with power and originality. In speaking of the emotion of recording Coming Together Stafford says, This young man had a huge impact; his presence and his musicality really impacted a community and a community of musicians who didn t even know him. Bunky Green, who did know him, says of the saxophonist, He was just starting to bloom ... There was a lot of potential there. A lot of potential. Thanks to the efforts of the family and friends of Brendan Romaneck listeners can at least get a taste on Coming Together of what might have been.