Alison Shearer, saxophone

“Wielding a skill set beyond her years, Alison Shearer is a force on the rise.” – Jazz Times 

Alison is a saxophonist and composer with tremendous style and intuition whose talents have brought her around the world. Alison has appeared with Kurt Elling, Nate Smith, Charlie Hunter, Josh Groban, Big Daddy Kane, Pharoahe Monch, Ana Egge, and is a member of the band Red Baraat, whom NPR calls “the best party band in years.” She has toured Canada, Europe, Pakistan and appeared at Rochester Jazz Festival, Saratoga Jazz Festival, Central Park Summerstage, California WorldFest and the Blue Note NYC, Radio City Music Hall, Lincoln Center, Merkin Concert Hall, Bowery Ballroom, Brooklyn Bowl, The Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap, Joe’s Pub, and Arden Concert Gild among other festivals and venues. 

Alison was a founding member of PitchBlak Brass Band, a ten-piece hip hop brass band that received critical acclaim from DownBeat Magazine, NPR, Live for Live Music, Brooklyn Vegan, The Wall Street Journal, and The Source Magazine. She performed with the band from 2010 – 2016. Alison formed her own quartet in 2016, united by the love of genre-bending melodic music. Alison’s debut album, View From Above, was released February 18, 2022.

Alison is passionate about arts education and has maintained a private teaching studio for 15 years. She recently joined the faculty of Jazz House Kids, where she leads a beginning Flute Class, a beginner Jazz Combo, and directs the junior Big Band.