Jordan Pettay | Saxophone

Jordan Pettay is a jazz saxophonist, composer and educator. Instantly recognizable for

her sophisticated and spiritual sound, Jordan has collaborated with many of the world’s

premier jazz artists including Herbie Hancock, Christian McBride and Terence

Blanchard. She currently lives in New York City, where she appears regularly as a

freelance artist, educator and leader of The Jordan Pettay Quartet.

As a child growing up in Ft. Worth, Texas, Jordan drew early inspiration from the classic

jazz recordings of Charlie Parker and Duke Ellington, as well as the gospel music she

was immersed in. She sought to attain the musical depth of the jazz masters while

maintaining the raw and sacred feeling of the church. In high school Jordan attended

Booker T. Washington Performing Arts High School in Dallas, and in 2008 received a full

scholarship to attend The Juilliard School in New York City.

At Juilliard, Jordan was mentored by iconic New York saxophonists Ron Blake and

Steve Wilson while traveling Europe, South America, Asia and Australia as a guest

clinician and performer. She graduated with her Master’s degree in 2014, and now

resides in Harlem’s historic Sugar Hill neighborhood, making regular appearances at top

NYC venues including Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, Ginny’s Supper Club,

Smalls and Smoke Jazz Club. Her debut album “First Fruit” is set to be released February 15, 2019.