It's Saturday Nite Live
The Jim Butler Group
"Butler's sax has a simplicity to it that belies its complexity and directed energy. He plays sax that sounds natural and right,but engages at all kinds of levels. Whether it's dancing notes across the funky version of "Afro Blue" or dropping notes like raindrops on "So Many Stars," he always plays with the right tone, feel and connection." – Michael Pronko, "Jazz in Japan (September 2018)
Jim Butler, a native Californian, has been playing the saxophone for over 40 years. For twenty years Jim has led the Jim Butler Jazz Group. They have recorded 5 CDs: Journeys (2003); Live in Tokyo! (2005); Night of a Thousand Years (2009); Postcards from the World (2014), and Let's Get Lost, released in June 2019.
Jim started out as a music educator, teaching Jazz Studies at The University of North Florida. He has a Doctorate in Music from the University of Texas at Austin. During this time he appeared professionally as a saxophonist with many different artists including Mel Torme, Crystal Gail, The Drifters, Rosemary Clooney, Tony Campesi, and Sam Moore.
Jim was Lead Alto Saxophonist for the United States Air Force Band for 23 years until his retirement in 2018. In the Air Force Band, he toured to North and South America, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, and performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Bob Mintzer, Ed Shaughnessy, Jim McNeely, Toni Tennille, and other notables in the music industry. As Director of the Air Force Commanders Jazz Ensemble, he led the group in tours of California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and Idaho, and to the Monterey Jazz Festival.
Jim Butler : Saxophone, Dennis Lambert : Piano, Mark Tourian : Bass
And remember, it's free. No cover charge. No music charge. You just can't beat SNL for an exciting, entertaining night out in Tokyo.
The Entertainment Committee