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Jaleel Shaw

Jaleel Shaw is an alto and soprano saxophonist, composer, bandleader, label founder, and educator with an artist-run recording catalog.

Alto saxophoneSoprano saxophoneComposerEducator8 current shows

Photo source · Photo: Dirk Neven, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Career Overview

About Jaleel Shaw

Shaw's official biography traces his development in Philadelphia through Berklee and Manhattan School of Music, followed by a pivotal place in Roy Haynes' quartet. It also documents broad work as a leader and collaborator across straight-ahead and experimental settings.[1]

In 2008 Shaw founded Changu Records to release his own music. The artist-run discography moves from ensemble albums such as Optimism and The Soundtrack of Things to Come to the solo-saxophone Echoes and the multigenerational group heard on Painter of the Invisible.[1][3][4]

Ensembles and Career Threads

Bands & Projects

Alto saxophonist

Roy Haynes Quartet

Association beginning in 2006

Shaw's biography describes the Haynes group as a formative apprenticeship and long-term musical friendship that changed the course of his playing.[1]

Founder, bandleader, saxophonist, and composer

Changu Records

Founded 2008

Shaw's independent label provides the home for his ensemble, solo, and archival leader releases.[1][2]

Educator and ensemble director

Music education and ensemble direction

The official biography documents saxophone teaching and ensemble direction at Manhattan School of Music after earlier faculty work at Temple, The New School, and LIU.[1]

Selected, Not Exhaustive

Recordings to Know

2005 · Fresh Sound New Talent

Perspective

Leader, alto saxophonist, and composer

Shaw's debut brings him together with Lage Lund, Robert Glasper, Vicente Archer, Johnathan Blake, and guest tenor saxophonist Mark Turner.[1]

Release details

2021 · Changu Records

Echoes

Solo alto and soprano saxophonist

Echoes is a solo-saxophone recording built entirely around Shaw's alto and soprano voices.[1][3]

Release details

2025 · Changu Records

Painter of the Invisible

Leader, alto and soprano saxophonist, and composer

The album revisits Shaw's original music with Lawrence Fields, Ben Street, Lage Lund, and Sasha Berliner.[1][4]

Release details

Artist-Authorized Destinations

Start Listening

Official Bandcamp

Hear Shaw's Changu Records catalog with artist-supplied release and personnel notes.

Official SoundCloud

Explore additional tracks through the SoundCloud account linked from Shaw's official site.

Painter of the Invisible

Hear the full 2025 ensemble recording through Shaw's artist-run Bandcamp page.

Live Calendar

Upcoming Jazz DateBook Shows

Sat, Aug 22, 7:00 PM

Dezron Douglas Quintet

Jazzcultural · New York

Show details

Sat, Aug 22, 9:00 PM

Dezron Douglas Quintet

Jazzcultural · New York

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Sun, Aug 23, 7:00 PM

Dezron Douglas Quintet

Jazzcultural · New York

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Sun, Aug 23, 7:00 PM

Dezron Douglas Quartet

Jazzcultural · New York

Show details

Sun, Aug 23, 9:00 PM

Dezron Douglas Quintet

Jazzcultural · New York

Show details

Sun, Aug 23, 9:00 PM

Dezron Douglas Quartet

Jazzcultural · New York

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Mon, Aug 31, 7:00 PM

Joe Farnsworth Quartet

Jazzcultural · New York

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Mon, Aug 31, 9:00 PM

Joe Farnsworth Quartet

Jazzcultural · New York

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Sources

Career copy is original synthesis from the artist, label, and project sources below. Current dates come from Jazz DateBook event inventory.

  1. [1] Official biography, discography, and personnel guide

    Jaleel Shaw

  2. [2] Official Changu Records catalog

    Jaleel Shaw

  3. [3] Echoes album and credits

    Jaleel Shaw

  4. [4] Painter of the Invisible album and credits

    Jaleel Shaw