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Amanda Gardier

Saxophonist  |  Composer |  Educator

Press

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Downbeat

“Complex harmonies, tantalizing melodies, and smooth ballads enrobe Amanda Gardier's Flyover Country as she claims a space among rising saxophonists.”

-Michele L. Simms-Burton 

2020

All About Jazz

“All the tunes here are Gardier originals. She writes a fine melody, and she and her band execute the music with finesse.”

 

"Shifts between serene reveries and pronouncements so bold they could fit . . . into an in-your-face heavy metal band."

-Chris Spector 

2020

New York Music Daily

"This could be one of the best jazz albums of the year."

"Alto saxophonist Amanda Gardier‘s album Flyover Country . . .  is a profoundly rewarding listen."

-Delarue

2020

Midwest Record

“A sure fingered player, she's equally at home with flights of fancy as she is with composed stuff.”

-Dan McClenaghan 

2020

Rochester City Newspaper

“A wild combination of hard bop and funk, you know this is not your standard jazz outing.”

-Ron Netsky

2020

Downbeat

“It's easy to settle into the lustrous tones and elegant structures in her compositions.”

-Suzanne Lorge 

2018

All About Jazz

Empathy is a debut with a lot of something for everyone. And that in and of itself is no small feat."

"With a clear sense of composition and where her own fluid voice, and those of her superb surrounding musicians, fall within the whole, Indiana-based alto saxophonist Amanda Gardier opens [with] her debut disc, Empathy."

-Mike Jurkovic 

2018

 

Jazz Weekly

“Gardier's tone is rich, breathy and filled with feeling.”

-George W. Harris 

2018

Nuvo

“A uniquely talented jazz composer and soloist."

"Empathy is packed with standout moments."

-Kyle Long 

2018

The Musical Box

"An instrumental voice that was subtle, tasteful and a touch restless."

-Walter Tunis 

2019

Pop Culture Classics

“Her Tunes are diverse and delectable.”

"Gardier's alto sax work...drives the sound, bringing [Empathy] its soulful, emotional center." 

-Paul Freeman 

2018

KUCI FM

“Gardier's phrasing is so well defined and clear that words almost emerge in your minds ear. That is what I think of when I hear "the voice" of an artists."

2018

Midwest Record

"This is what happens when you turn someone loose to make art and the results work." 

-Chris Spector 

2018

KUCI FM
“Charmingly direct solos on alto and flute”

-Hobard Taylor

2017

Indianapolis Star

“You won’t overlook [the] skills or the talents of alto saxophone player Amanda Gardier”

-David Lindquist 

2016

Blog Critics

“Fine alto sax work from Gardier”  

-Jack Goodstein

2016

Sea of Tranquility
“[Gardier’s] sax solo on “Hallelujah” is absolutely gorgeous."

– Jon Neudorf

2016

Recordings

Video

High-Res Images

Bio

Saxophonist, recording artist, and composer Amanda Gardier has been described as “a uniquely talented jazz composer and soloist” (Nuvo). With influences stemming from Miguel Zenon, The Bad Plus, Walter Smith III, and Bjork, Gardier is an alto saxophonist who juxtaposes the calmness of lush harmonies and cyclical melodies with the intensity of complex rhythms and fiery improvisation. Her first release with Green Mind Records, Empathy, was “a debut with a lot of something for everyone” (All About Jazz). Comprised of an eclectic collection of original music, Empathy revealed Gardier’s refined compositional sense and lyrical tone. With her second release, Flyover Country, Gardier “claims a space among rising saxophonists” (Downbeat) through the display of bold compositions and flexible improvisation.

 

Amanda has performed at notable venues and music festivals across North America, including The Jazz Kitchen (Indianapolis), Andy's Jazz Club (Chicago), Cliff Bell's (Detroit), The Jazz Estate (Milwaukee), Kerrytown Concert House (Ann Arbor), Palladium (Carmel), Indianapolis Jazz Festival, Winnipeg International Jazz Festival, Elkhart Jazz Festival, Fountain Square Music Festival, and more. She has also performed for the Walt Disney Company, Holland-America Cruise Lines, Birch Creek Music Performance Center, Cardinal Stage Company, and Wood & Rodin Music Production. Throughout her career, Amanda has performed with Ingrid Jensen, Dave Stryker, Leni Stern, Wayne Wallace, Wes "Warmdaddy" Anderson, Jamie Baum, Sal Lozano, and has been a featured performer on all four releases by the Charlie Ballantine Group--Life is Brief: The Music of Bob Dylan (2018), Where is My Mind? (2017), Providence (2016), and Green (2015). Amanda holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a master’s degree in Jazz Studies from Indiana University. Amanda is the Instructor of Jazz Saxophone at Ball State University in Muncie, IN.

Upcoming Performances

Oct. 28th, 2022

SILO

Mark Buselli Group

Nov. 11th 2022

Chatterbox

Charlie Ballantine Group 

Nov. 19th, 2022

Bangkok Thai Restaurant and Jazz Bar

Amanda Gardier Duo

Dec. 9th, 2022

Chatterbox

Charlie Ballantine Group

 

Contact

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Indianapolis, IN, USA

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©2016 by Amanda Gardier. 

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