Houston Person Concerts

Experience Houston Person

Houston Person (born September 4, 1937, in Hanock, Georgia) is a highly respected American jazz tenor saxophonist, known for his warm tone and blues-infused playing. He began his professional career in the early 1960s, initially with pianist George Shearing before gaining prominence through extensive work with organist Johnny Hammond.

Person’s discography boasts over 75 albums as a leader, primarily for the Prestige and Muse labels. He established a signature sound characterized by lyrical phrasing, soulful improvisation, and a deliberate avoidance of harmonic complexity – prioritizing feeling and melodic storytelling. His repertoire frequently includes standards and compositions by others, reinterpreted with his distinctive style.

Throughout the 1970s and 80s, Person was a prolific recording artist, often collaborating with prominent organists like Don Patterson and Shirley Scott. He's received numerous accolades including multiple *DownBeat* Readers’ Poll wins as a tenor saxophonist. Beyond performing and recording, Person dedicated decades to music education as a public school teacher in New Jersey. He continues to perform selectively today, maintaining a legacy as a cornerstone of hard bop and soul jazz traditions.