BIO
One of Vermont's most versatile and in-demand saxophonists and jazz musicians, Jake Whitesell performs with a variety of ensembles including the Brian McCarthy Jazz Orchestra, Vermont Jazz Ensemble, Saturn People's Sound Collective, Guagua, Alma Picante, and the Jake Whitesell Quartet. Jake's jazz projects have been featured at the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival annually from 2013 to 2021, and at the Stowe Jazz Festival in 2019, 2022, and 2023. As lead alto saxophonist with Wally Siebel's All-Star Big Band in Potsdam, NY, Jake has backed up artists such as John Pizzarelli, Gary Smulyan, Ken Peplowski, Steve Wilson, Tommy Igoe, and Dennis Mackrel. Jake has also performed with The Temptations, The Dartmouth Gospel Choir, and Vermont Symphonic Winds, and Ray Vega.
Jake toured extensively from 2009 to 2021 with Kat Wright and the Indomitable Soul Band as tenor saxophonist and horn arranger, performing at N.P.R. Mountain Stage and numerous festivals including the Montreal Jazz Festival, Jam Cruise, Syracuse Jazz Festival, Rochester Lilac Festival, Arise Music Festival, Burlington Discover Jazz Festival, Grace Potter's Grand Point North, Frendly Gathering, Musik Fest, Rooster Walk, and Manifestivus, and opening for bands such as The Doobie Brothers, Soulive, Grace Potter, The Original Wailers, Lake Street Dive, The Motet, The Wood Brothers, Rubblebucket, Lawrence, and Joey Dosik.
Jake studied saxophone with Dr. Timothy McAllister at The Crane School of Music at S.U.N.Y. Potsdam, earning a Bachelor of Music in Performance with a minor in Jazz Studies in 2005.
Bio
One of Vermont's most versatile and in-demand saxophonists and jazz musicians, Jake Whitesell performs with a variety of ensembles including the Brian McCarthy Jazz Orchestra, Vermont Jazz Ensemble, Saturn People's Sound Collective, Guagua, Alma Picante, and the Jake Whitesell Quartet. Jake's jazz projects have been featured at the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival annually from 2013 to 2021, and at the Stowe Jazz Festival in 2019, 2022, and 2023. As lead alto saxophonist with Wally Siebel's All-Star Big Band in Potsdam, NY, Jake has backed up artists such as John Pizzarelli, Gary Smulyan, Ken Peplowski, Steve Wilson, Tommy Igoe, and Dennis Mackrel. Jake has also performed with The Temptations, The Dartmouth Gospel Choir, and Vermont Symphonic Winds, and Ray Vega.
Jake toured extensively from 2009 to 2021 with Kat Wright and the Indomitable Soul Band as tenor saxophonist and horn arranger, performing at N.P.R. Mountain Stage and numerous festivals including the Montreal Jazz Festival, Jam Cruise, Syracuse Jazz Festival, Rochester Lilac Festival, Arise Music Festival, Burlington Discover Jazz Festival, Grace Potter's Grand Point North, Frendly Gathering, Musik Fest, Rooster Walk, and Manifestivus, and opening for bands such as The Doobie Brothers, Soulive, Grace Potter, The Original Wailers, Lake Street Dive, The Motet, The Wood Brothers, Rubblebucket, Lawrence, and Joey Dosik.
Jake studied saxophone with Dr. Timothy McAllister at The Crane School of Music at S.U.N.Y. Potsdam, earning a Bachelor of Music in Performance with a minor in Jazz Studies in 2005.