Chicago saxophonist/composer Jeff Chan is dedicated to advancing the understanding of the Asian American experience through music. He has worked with many of the leaders of the Asian American creative music movement, including saxophonist Francis Wong and bassist Tatsu Aoki as well as some of the top figures in the Chicago music scene such as saxophonists Jimmy Ellis, Ari Brown and Ed Wilkerson, trumpeter Ameen Muhammad, drummer Avreeayl Ra and pianist/bandleader Yoko Noge.

As a composer, Chan has created works for varied and diverse ensembles, from solo instruments to large ensembles, including a musical score for modern dance company Facing East Dance & Music.

Chan is the recipient of awards from Meet The Composer, the Zellerbach Family Fund, the San Francisco Arts Commission and the Illinois Arts Council. He has presented and performed his music across the country and in Europe as a leader and guest artist.

A native of the California Bay Area, Chan made the move to Chicago in 2002 in order to be a part of the city’s rich musical culture. Critics have written that “… Chan has built a reputation as a formidable Chicago tenor saxophonist” (Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune, March 13, 2009) and that he is “… a voice to be reckoned with” (Brian Gilmore, JazzTimes, April 15, 2010). His latest recording, Horns of Plenty (Asian Improv Records 0077) has been praised as “some of the best improvised music I’ve heard this year” (Brad Walseth, www.chicagojazz.net, 2009).