ARTIST | ALEX SADNIK

Alex Sadnik is a Los-Angeles based alto saxophonist, composer, and arranger gaining a reputation as a unique musical voice. Steeped in the wisdom of his musical ancestors, he pairs a West Coast sensibility and eclectic musical upbringing with the legacies of Black American music, folk, and rock.

He has performed at many legendary festivals, including Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, the Monterey Jazz Festival, and Pilgrimage Festival. Tours brought him to prestigious venues such as Lincoln Center (New York, NY), Wolf Trap National Park (Wolf Trap, Virginia), Lied Center (Lawrence, Kansas), Flynn Center for the Performing Arts (Burlington, VT) Count Basie Theater (Red Bank, NJ), Moss Center for the Arts (Blacksburg, VA), Peace Center for the Performing Arts (Greenville, SC), Miami Theater Center (Miami, FL), and the Chenery Auditorium (Kalamazoo, MI). As a fixture in the Southern California music scene, he has graced the stages at The Getty Museum, Broad Stage, Segerstrom Center of the Arts, Redlands Bowl, The Jazz Bakery, Bluewhale, Feinsteins at Vitellos, and The Baked Potato.

Alex works with producer Chris Schlarb at BIG EGO Studios (Long Beach, CA) as a session musician, arranger, and songwriter. These sessions include releases by Psychic Temple, Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon, Anthony Shadduck, Maria Elena Silva, Guma, Eamon Fogarty, Dana T., Ann Thaiss, R. Scott, and Jazzy Ash. Alex and Chris also collaborated on the soundtrack to Ashli St. Armant’s audio book Viva Durant and the Madness of Madame Bouchard, with an original soundtrack released on the BIG EGO Records label in January 2022.

Under the umbrella of BIG EGO Records, Alex released three albums, all produced by Chris Schlarb. Londelius (2019) features top-tier Los Angeles improvisation talent tackling fusion originals and song arrangements. His first LP release, Self-Portrait Delay (2020), features a quartet of Jeff Parker (Tortoise), Stephen Hodges (Mavis Staples), and Carey Frank (Social Distortion) tackling a bevy of arrangements from the likes of Bill Evans, Irving Berlin, The Feelies, Henry Purcell, and much more. Modeled after R.E.M.’s Fan Club Christmas singles, The Christmas Singles, Vol. 1 (2020) takes a refreshed look at “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” and the folk standard “Goodnight, Irene”. His second LP slated for release in 2023 celebrates the music of alto saxophonist Charlie Parker.

With an emphasis in music composition and theory, he holds a bachelor of music degree from California State University, Long Beach. There he studied saxophone performance with Leo Potts, composition with Dr. Robin Cox, Dr. Adriana Verdie, Dr. Martin Herman, and Dr. Carolyn Bremer. He also took private improvisation lessons with Ron Stout and Matt Otto.

Alex Sadnik plays a Selmer Super Balanced Action alto saxophone with a “Claude Delangle” Henri Selmer Paris Mouthpiece, Ishimori Wood Stone Ligature, and Vandoren V12 reeds.

Appears on:

BIG004 | Anthony Shadduck | Quartet & Double Quartet - alto saxophone (Double Quartet)

BIG006 | Guma | Guma - alto saxophone, horn arrangements

LIL002 | Alex Sadnik | Londelius - alto saxophone

BIG007 | Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon | Namesake - alto saxophone, horn arrangements

LIL004 | Alex Sadnik | Self-Portrait Delay - alto saxophone

LIL006 | Alex Sadnik | The Christmas Singles, Vol. 1 - alto and tenor saxophone

LIL007 | Ann Thaiss | Hear Me - clarinet, alto saxophone, horn arrangements

BIG015 | Maria Elena Silva | Eros - alto saxophone

LIL008 | Chris Schlarb and Alex Sadnik | Viva Durant and the Madness of Madame Bouchard - alto saxophone

BIG017 | Guma | A List of Sightings - alto saxophone (2,4,5), horn arrangements

BIG020 | Psychic Temple | Plays Planet Caravan - alto sax

BIG024 | Alex Sadnik | Flight - alto saxophone

Learn more about Alex Sadnik.