The Music of Noel Jewkes

Noel Jewkes is one of the premier saxophone players in Northern California. He has worked in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 35 years, and has earned a distinguished reputation with lovers of Jazz music. This website contains information about upcoming dates and recent gigs, as well as audio clips, photos, and recording credits. Contact info is at the bottom of every page.

Noel has recorded with John Hendricks, Wesla Whitfield, Mary Stallings, Paula West, Mike Greensill, Lavay Smith, Bill Bell, Mimi Fox, Graham Bruce, Bobbe Norris, Larry Dunlap, Larry Vuckovich, Pat Yankee and Jerry Hahn, as well as his own ensembles.

Reviews

Phil Elwood, music critic of the S. F. Examiner, calls Noel Jewkes "the best mainstream reedman in the Bay Area as of 1998. I don't know of a better contemporary modern saxman anywhere".

"... It's criminal that music like this isn't widely available..." - Carl Brauer, Cadence Magazine

"...Dr. Legato has created a style and reputation that distinguishes him among west coast musicians..." - Jazz in Flight

"...The Legato group has a feeling of urgency which I admire...great fun and quite enlightening to see and hear on instrumental group work it's way through original and fresh charts; the listener is there at the beginning and it's charming and magnetic..." - Philip Elwood, S.F. Examiner

"...One day, I prey, we'll have (another) recording in commercial release that truly demonstrates the complete musical genius of NOEL JEWKES...." - Mel Martin, Saxophone Journal

".....Four Stars..... " - DownBeat Magazine

More Here -

• San Francisco Examiner 6-27-02
• A review of Noel's CD "Vooti"
• A review by Tup Lohse
• NuVoice interview of Noel Jewkes by Richard Cherry in May 2006

Paula West and Noel Jewkes at Davies Symphony Hall

"Listening to the majestic phrasing and harmonic adventurousness of Noel Jewkes is almost like hearing the entire history of modern jazz in a single evening. No wonder he is revered by musicians, critics, and music lovers alike as the premiere Saxist-by-the-Bay."