Gary Keller is an Emeritus Professor of Practice who taught at the University of Miami Frost
School from 1982 – 2021. He specializes in jazz as well as all aspects of saxophone
performance and has toured the world as a soloist and sideman with major artists. He
received his bachelor’s degree in music education from New York State University at
Fredonia in 1975 and his master’s degree in jazz performance from University of Miami in
1980.
Immediately after graduation Keller took the third tenor chair with the Woody Herman
Orchestra, (following in the footsteps of legends Sal Nistico and Joe Lovano) before
returning to Miami where he became Professor of Saxophone in 1982. Since that time, he
has since launched hundreds of saxophonists into professional careers throughout the
music industry, as internationally recognized solo artists, sidemen, composers, producers,
and educators.
Keller became a fixture on the South Florida music scene virtually from the day of his
arrival in 1978 and has since logged thousands of performances on saxophones and
woodwinds, including backing up major artists on stage and in studio recordings,
performing with classical and pit orchestras, and touring with Miami based groups such as
the Jaco Pastorius Big Band. As a soloist Keller has made multiple appearances with the
Frost Symphony and Henry Mancini Orchestras, as well as at local, national, and
international jazz clubs and festivals. In 2001 Keller founded the acclaimed Miami
Saxophone Quartet, which created a signature sound based on the legendary precision of
Miami horn sections.
Keller debut solo CD, Blues for an Old New Age received a near perfect score from Penguin
Guide to Jazz on CD, which termed it “a thinker’s delight” and “extremely well done.” Other
publications include The Jazz Chord/Scale Handbook, which has been used in universities
worldwide, and articles and interviews in The Saxophone Journal, Jazz Educator’s Journal,
Woodwind Player, and the NASA Saxophone Symposium
Career Highlights:
- Woody Herman “Thundering Herd” Orchestra 1980-81
- Stage appearances/tours/recordings with Frank Sinatra, Natalie Cole, Johnny
Mathis, Tony Bennett, Gloria Estevan, Steve Lawrence, Michael Feinstein, Idina Menzel, and
other major artists - Solo CD Bluesfor an Old New Age featuring the quartet of Kenny Werner, Drew Gress,
and Billy Hart - Five international tours and three CD recordings as a member of the Jaco Pastorius
Word of Mouth Revisited Big Band - Five CD recordings with the Miami Saxophone Quartet
- Four CD recordings with the South Florida Jazz Orchestra
- Recordings with the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra and the New World Symphony
- Jazz performances with Maria Schneider, David Liebman, Kenny Wheeler, James
Moody, Peter Erskine, Victor Wooten, Richard Bona, Rick Margitza, and numerous other
prominent jazz musicians - Performances at jazz clubs, festivals, symposiums, and residencies at colleges
throughout the United States, Europe, Japan, Australia, South America, and Africa - Former students have toured and recorded with a broad array of artists, including
Jeff “Tain” Waits, Gregory Porter, Paul Simon, Philip Glass, the Rolling Stones, Gloria
Estevan, Julio Iglesias, Kenny Burrell, Tower of Power, Joey DeFrancesco, The Airmen of
Note, the Army Blues, the Navy Commodores, Ray Charles, the Mingus Big Band, and scores
of others. - Former saxophone students with noted or budding solo careers include Troy
Roberts, Tivon Pennicott, Andy Snitzer, Ed Calle, Steve Grove (“Euge Groove”), Brandon
Wright,
Honors and Awards: - 2013 Phillip FrostAward for Excellence in Teaching and Scholarship, University of
Miami - Buffalo Music Hall of Fame member
- National Foundation for theAdvancement in theArts Teacher RecognitionAward
- Dozens of private saxophone students have won Downbeat Magazine Performance
Awards. - Two private students selected as finalists in Thelonious Monk International Jazz
Competition - 26 former saxophone students occupy full time teaching positions in colleges
worldwide.
