jaleel shaw

Praised by PostGenre as “one of the best saxophonists of his generation,” artist and composer Jaleel Shaw has become a master of his instrument and a role model for improvisers across every creative discipline. He composes, in real time, with abandon and precision. His devotion to melody — sweet & lyrical, raw & unyielding — informs his explorations on stage and in the studio. And his tone distills and sanctifies the challenging beauty of his instrument.

“[Among the] stewards of a next-generation jazz mainstream that’s inspired, not constrained, by timeworn traditions”
— The New York Times

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Shaw came up on the city’s iconic music scene, playing alto with its artists at an early age. After attending Berklee College of Music on full scholarship and graduating with a dual degree in Music Education and Performance, in 2000 he moved to New York where he earned his Master of Music in Performance from Manhattan School of Music. He issued his debut release Perspective in 2005 to wide critical acclaim; the following year, he joined the Roy Haynes Quartet, launching a pivotal apprenticeship-turned-lifelong friendship that would transform his playing and change the course of his career.

“He unspools long post-bebop lines without blinking...and journeys into avant- garde zones with clear-eyed self-possession”
— DownBeat

Traveling the world as a leader and a highly sought collaborator, Shaw has headlined storied venues across the country and throughout the world, from Newport Jazz Festival in Rhode Island to Beijing Jazz Festival in China. He has appeared at Newport, North Sea Jazz Festival, Pori Jazz Festival, Umbria Jazz Festival, The Village Vanguard, Jazz Showcase, Birdland, Blue Note Tokyo, Blue Note Milano, Blue Note Nagoya, Motion Blue, and Duc Des Lombards, among other domestic and international venues.

“Shaw’s playing is gorgeous at every turn, filling any listener with the power of feeling”
— PopMatters

Shaw bonds his reverent mastery of a shared vocabulary with his penchant for vitality. He frequently appears on stages and recordings in new and experimental contexts. His resume cites collaborations with artists across styles and perspectives, including Roy Haynes, Dave Holland, Tom Harrell, Robert Glasper, Nate Smith, Stefon Harris,

Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, Jason Moran, Terri Lyne Carrington, and countless other leaders.

“Possessed of extraordinary technical skill” — DownBeat

A spirit of independence pervades Shaw’s music and his trajectory. In 2008, he founded his own label Changu Records, issuing a series of internationally lauded albums, including Optimism (2008), The Soundtrack of Things to Come (2013), and Echoes (2021), which received a four-star review from DownBeat and an induction into the Library of Congress’ collection of Pandemic Art. In 2025, two decades after releasing his debut album, Shaw convened a multigenerational ensemble to record Painter of the Invisible via Changu, interpreting selections of his original music that, together, explore life through themes of joy, grief, beauty, social justice, and ancestral wisdom. Loved by peers for his versatility, Shaw also appears on recordings from Haynes, Glasper, Nate Smith & Kinfolk, Harrell, World Saxophone Quartet, Johnathan Blake, Dayna Stephens, Ben Williams, and Supreme Sonacy.

“A master of his instrument” — DownBeat

As his career moves into a new phase of evolution, Shaw continues collecting awards and elite recognition. As a burgeoning leader, he received the Billboard Endowed Scholarship for Outstanding Academic and Musical achievement, the Woodwind Department Chair Award, and The Boston Jazz Society Award, among others. Over the years, he has topped Critics and Readers Polls for DownBeat and JazzTimes, and, as a mid-career artist, has emerged as a frequent grant and commission recipient from stalwart organizations, including The Jazz Gallery, The Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, and Brooklyn Museum.

“Supremely melodic” — PopMatters

A passionate educator, Shaw upholds Haynes’ legacy of mentorship by teaching saxophone and leading 2024-25 DownBeat Student Music Award-winning ensembles at his alma mater Manhattan School of Music, formerly serving on faculties at Temple University, The New School, LIU, and many other colleges and universities. He’s served as a featured panelist for in-depth music discussions and cultural analyses, and has taught as a guest clinician at universities and music programs throughout the world. 

News & Updates

I N  D O W N B E A T

8.10.2025 - “Painter Of The Invisible” has received a 4 1/2 star review and is the editors pick in Downbeat Magazine

8.10.2015 - Jaleel's first blindfold test in the August 2015 issue of Downbeat Magazine

E U R O P E

In October and November, Jaleel will be touring throughout Europe with the Dave Holland Trio w/ Nasheet Waits

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