Artist Name: David Ware Artist Biography: Presently at the forefront of the downtown ³ecstatic jazz² scene, David S. Ware (b. 11/7/49), Plainfield N.J.) came to New York after attending the Berklee School of Music in Boston and first attracted critical attention for his work with Andrew Cyrille and the Cecil Taylor Unit in the mid-´70s. By the late ´80s he started leading his own quartet, in which he, pianist Matt Shipp, and bassist Matt Shipp constitute the nucleus. The group recorded a string of albums for Silkheart, Homestead, DIW, and AUM Fidelity; in 1998 Branford Marsalis, working A & R for Columbia, signed Ware, a deserved show of confidence from a major label. Drawing influence from the avant-garde tradition of the ´60s, Ware spearheads his group´s high-energy collective improvisations with his passionate, wide-toned style, replete with grinding squeals and rapid-fire runs. Easily the most authoritative saxophone voice on the scene, David S. Ware can be heard on his latest release, Surrendered (Columbia). E-mail:   Web Site: