Mai Sugimoto Quartet, Anders Svanoe Trio

press release: The Madison Music Collective presents a special performance by Chicago saxophonist Mai Sugimoto’s quartet with Quentin Coaxum (trumpet), Katie Ernst (bass), and Juan Pastor (drums) at the Winnebago Cafe, one of Madison’s newest jazz presenting venues. The concert will be opened by Madison’s Anders Svanoe Trio with Anders Svanoe (baritone sax), Rodrigo Villanueva Conway (drums), and Brad Townsend (bass). Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

Mai Sugimoto is a Japanese born saxophonist and composer living in Chicago, IL. In 2018, she released her debut quartet album, Born/Raised (Asian Improv Records) which was made possible by an artist grant from the city of Chicago. Sugimoto is an integral member of the Chicago-based quartet, Hanami, that has released two albums and appeared in the Chicago Jazz Festival. She often appears with bassist Tatsu Aoki's ensembles including the Fred Anderson Legacy Band and the Miyumi Project. Howard Reich of the Chicago Tribune has described her as “a compelling performer” with a “dry-champagne tone and lyrical lines.” Sugimoto channels inspiration from her Japanese and American musical roots into writing and performing with various groups.