Saxophonist Jeff Antoniuk
Bassist Tom Baldwin
Pianist Wade Beach
Drummer Tony Martucci

CD Release Concert


Jeff Antoniuk and the Jazz Update Unveil Brotherhood CD With Inspired Originals and Artful Jazz Staples

Tickets: $15/$10 students

Saxophonist, composer and bandleader Jeff Antoniuk steps out with fresh, memorable, and beautifully executed compositions in his new CD, Brotherhood, to be released May 18 on the Indy label JAJU Records.

With his band, the Jazz Update, Antoniuk offers an engaging jazz without borders, played by deeply sensitized players full of life, depth and humor. A solid figure on the greater Washington D.C. jazz scene, Antoniuk field-tested most of the content of the album in concert at the Philadelphia Museum of Art just weeks before the recording session. Listeners were enthralled by the group’s invention and technical prowess.

Brotherhood is the second album from Antoniuk and the Jazz Update. Their 2006 CD Here Today shone with Antoniuk originals and luscious covers by Monk and Golson and charted well in the U.S. and Canada. Tunes such as “Man’s Best Friend” and “Blues for JD Salinger” continue to be downloaded by new fans. After Salinger’s death in early 2010, the Oakland Examiner’s Brian McCoy revisited the latter piece calling “it’s a startling, free-jazz workout." Michael Joyce of The Washington Post testified that Antoniuk has “impressive skills as a composer.”

Brotherhood is beautifully balanced in its themes and musical styles. It includes five originals by Antoniuk and two by bassist Baldwin, along with fresh takes on four jazz staples. It might be called progressive straight ahead jazz or 21st century hard bop. Hear the album played live in this exclusive Baltimore showcase.

Bandleader Jeff Antoniuk continues to work with many stellar Canadian musicians including pop icon David Foster and Juneau Award winner trumpeter Ingrid Jensen. Antoniuk and Jensen have shared stages at Blues Alley and Maryland Summer Jazz and will headline the Juneau Jazz and Classics Festival in May.

In the U.S., Antoniuk has worked with diverse hit makers Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Bobby McFerrin and Freddie Hubbard. Najee, Marcus Miller and the late Wayman Tisdale. He is a master teaching artist for Washington Performing Arts Society (WPAS) and directs Maryland Summer Jazz and inDepth Jazz Clinics & Concerts. He has appeared at the Edmonton International Jazz Festival, the Vic Lewis International Band Festival and Grant MacEwan Summer Jazz. He has been an adjunct faculty member at Towson University for seven years.