Album Notes

Big Octave is a jazz trio featuring John Alexander, Ron Brendle, and Chris Garges. This group has an innovative style and an eclectic repertoire: they perform their own original works, as well as music by many other artists, formed into new and unconventional arrangements. On any given night, you might hear them playing songs by Miles Davis, the Beatles, Ornette Coleman, Jimi Hendrix, and the Allman Brothers...to name a few possibilities.

This group's range of musical direction is no surprise, considering the musicians that make up the trio. John Alexander plays every type of saxophone known to man...and when one sax isn't enough, he has been known to play two saxophones at the same time. John is a composer, arranger, and he writes for Jazz Journal magazine. Chris Garges is not only an excellent drummer, he is also one of the most in-demand recording engineers in the state. In addition, he writes for Tape Op Magazine. Both John and Chris were awarded degrees in jazz performance from the University of Miami. Ron Brendle, bassist, composer, and winner of numerous "Best Jazz Artist" awards in Creative Loafing Magazine and Charlotte's Best Magazine, is also the founder of Charlotte's only jazz record label, LoNote Records.