Artist Name: Jay Rodriguez Artist Biography: Born September 17, 1967 in Baranquilla, Columbia, Jay Rodriguez is one of the busiest men in jazz, playing as a sideman with a diversity of musicians and synthesizing these experiences in his own projects. After moving to New York in 1971, Jay picked up the clarinet in grade school at age 8 and furthered his reed studying with Phil Woods (´82-´84). Always open-minded and versatile, Jay´s first jobs included a rumba in Weehawken, NJ, jam sessions in Harlem, and studio work on advertising jingles. Since the late ´80s Jay has split his time between downtown Knitting Factory gigs with Bill Ware (´88), Groove Collective (´93(), and Medeski, Martin and Wood (´94() and more mainstream acts like Dizzy Gillespie´s United Nations Orchestra (´91), Gil Evans´ Orchestra (´92-´94) and Roy Hargrove (´94). Capable on nearly all reeds, but primarily a soloist on tenor sax, Jay has a lithe sound and the refreshing willingness to explore any genre and contribute to any ensemble. E-mail:   Web Site: