Jimmy Farace Quartet

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courtesy Red Cat Publicity

Jimmy Farace and saxophone.

Jimmy Farace

Composer/arranger and baritone saxophonist Jimmy Farace is a rising star in the Chicago jazz scene, and it’s easy to hear why when listening to his debut album as a leader, Hours Fly, Flowers Die. Farace’s music for the album was inspired by “Time Is” (aka “For Katrina’s Sundial”), the 1904 poem by Henry Van Dyke reflecting on the fleeting nature of life, and the blend of a jazz ensemble with a string quartet adds extra layers of emotion to Farace’s melodic saxophone. For this Madison BlueStem Jazz concert Farace will be joined by guitarist Kenny Reichert (who plays on the album) along with drummer Devin Drobka and bassist Ethan Philion.

BlueStem Jazz.

media release: Jimmy Farace is a Chicago-based jazz baritone saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. His debut album, entitled Hours Fly, Flowers Die (Shifting Paradigm Records), will be released April 11th, 2025. The album is a heartfelt narrative bound together by the poignant themes of nostalgia and the passage of time. Drawing inspiration from Henry Van Dyke’s timeless poem, "For Katrina’s Sundial," the collection of works in this project become a contemplative journey, capturing the essence of fleeting moments, the bittersweet nature of nostalgia, and the universal struggle to hold onto the ephemeral present. 

"Hours Fly, Flowers Die" is a COMPLETE musical statement, displaying an uncommon level of maturity for such a young artist. Jimmy Farace playing and writing are the mark of someone who demands the attention of a wide audience!--Walter Smith III

“Jimmy Farace has made a recording of timeless and immense beauty. His baritone playing is deeply emotional, mature, and his sound simply gorgeous. The combination of the writing and playing is stunning, wonderfully conceived, and in perfect balance and harmony.” -Gary Smulyan