Peter Sommer, saxophonist and composer, is in demand as a performer, clinician and recording artist throughout the state of Colorado and across the nation. Since establishing himself among the Denver area’s elite jazz musicians, Peter has contributed his muscular tenor playing and creative spirit to a wide variety of musical projects ranging from mainstream bebop to avant garde and beyond.

This past Spring, Peter released his second album as a leader, "Crossroads" on Capri Records, which features a two-tenor frontline with New York saxophonist Rich Perry. Peter is also featured on "Terra Firma" (Synergy Music) by the Ken Walker Sextet, "Unfailing Kindness" (Capri Records) by Chie Imaizumi, and the debut release from Ninth and Lincoln (Dazzle Records), as well as his first release as a leader, "Sioux County" (Tapestry Records) which features his duo with jazz piano legend Art Lande. He is also a soloist on the Colorado Symphony Orchestra’s recording of "Too Hot to Handel" with Marin Alsop conducting.

The Peter Sommer/Art Lande Duo has recently given concerts and clinics at Middle Tennessee State University, Portland State University, Western Oregon University, Southern Oregon University, Baylor University, the University of Colorado, the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, and at the Jazz School in Berkeley, California.

Peter has performed with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra, and has appeared at many jazz festivals throughout the state including the Telluride Jazz Celebration, Jazz in the Sangres and the Vail Jazz Festival. Peter has been a featured jazz soloist at North American Saxophone Alliance Regional and Biennial Conferences and has also performed at IAJE International Conferences in Anaheim and Toronto, Canada, and has performed at the World Saxophone Congress in Valencia, Spain. Peter has performed in concert with Nguyen Le, Greg Gisbert, Ron Miles, Brad Goode, Bobby Shew, John McNeil, Clay Jenkins, Bobby Watson, Dave Pietro, Don Aliquo, Gary Smulyan, Paul McKee, Dale Bruning, Jim McNeely, Joanne Brackeen, Chip Stephens, John Riley, Roseanna Vitro and Ernie Andrews. He has also played for Tony Bennett and John Pizzarelli with the Colorado Symphony.

Peter Sommer is Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies and Saxophone at Colorado State University in Ft. Collins. At CSU, Mr. Sommer directs Jazz Ensemble I and the CSU Jazz Combo program, in addition to teaching courses in Jazz Improvisation and Jazz Pedagogy.

To learn more about Peter Sommer,
visit www.petersommerjazz.com.