Al Wittig Jazz (formerly Eclipse Jazz Quartet)

Al Wittig is a highly experienced professional musician who's been performing jazz/pop/funk/Latin and original music for over 40 years. Al's playing is exciting, entertaining, and thoughtful. He performs on alto and tenor saxophones, backed up by regional professionals and instrumental instructors--guitarist John Conley, bassist Jordan Ponzi, and drummer Forrest Young. Al Wittig Jazz performs a wide spectrum of jazz, such as swing, smooth jazz, funk, blues, Latin genres (Bossa novas and sambas), beautiful ballads and hip-hop grooves. The group can perform as a hard driving contemporary jazz group, keeping jazz fans enthralled with both standard jazz repertoire and original music (Please check out my CD, "Al Wittig Jazz- Retro-Activity"...available on most streaming and sale platforms) OR...it can deliver a comfortable background of easy listening standards, adding a touch of class and enhancing the atmosphere of any social gathering. While normally performing as quartet, with myself on alto and tenor saxophones, backed by a rhythm section of guitar, bass and drums, I customize my group to meet each client's objective. For example, a vocalist or additional musicians (i.e. trumpet and/or trombone and/or keyboards) are available upon request for an additional fee. Or, for smaller intimate gatherings, I can perform as a duo with a guitarist or a trio with guitar and bass. Please see my composite video of many styles and gigs in my profile on THE BASH. Or...on YouTube: http://*******.*** You can check out my album of eight original jazz songs on: "AL WITTIG JAZZ - Retro-Activity" on Apple Music, Amazon, Spotify, etc. My BIO: Following musical studies at the Universities of Memphis, Akron, and Kent State, Allen Wittig served 26 years in the US Air Force Band career field as a Music Arranger, Saxophonist and Musical Director of jazz and pop/rock music ensembles. During his military service, Allen directed and led five different US Air Force jazz ensembles in hundreds of performances throughout the US and Europe, including performances at the following jazz festivals: Clifford Brown (Wilmington, DE), Berks (Reading, PA), Cork (Ireland), North Sea (Den Hague, NE), Montreux (Switzerland), Cork (Ireland) and more. He produced/co-produced or contributed to five compact disc recordings for USAF/NATO Bands. Following his military service, Allen earned his his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master of Music in Composition at Shenandoah Conservatory. In addition to being a top-notch professional jazz saxophonist, he is also a published composer of big band music, arranger and producer. His compositions for jazz ensemble have been published by Belwin-Mills and Ludwig Music Publishers and performed by bands throughout the US and Europe. Allen currently leads "Al Wittig Jazz" and performs occasionally with the Virginia Symphony and Richmond Symphony on jazz and pops concerts.