New York City saxophonist and Jazz Legacy Productions recording artist Sharel Cassity tours the world performing straight- ahead jazz and original music to the delight of fans and critics. Appearing in Downbeat Magazine’s Critics’ Poll category for “Rising Star, Alto Saxophone” during 2010 & 2011, this Oklahoma City native is quickly making waves on the New York jazz scene. As a leader, Cassity has enchanted Manhattan’s notoriously discriminating audiences at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, Blue Note, NBC’s Rainbow Room, and the West Village bop stop Smalls. She has also delighted crowds at Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center Jazz Club, the Lake George Jazz Festival and The Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian. Cassity’s experience as a sideman ranges from the big bands of Jimmy Heath, Nicholas Payton, Roy Hargrove, Christian Mc Bride, Joe Chambers, Natalie Cole, , Lewis Nash, The Diva Jazz Orchestra, Trisha Yearwood and The Dizzy Gillespie All Stars to the small groups of Wycliffe Gordon, Harry Whitaker, Ingrid Jensen, Winard Harper, The Dizzy Gillespie All Star Sextet, Mark Whitfield and John Lee. Cassity was awarded a full scholarship to Juilliard in 2005 and graduated with her MA in Jazz Studies. Also a talented woodwind specialist, Cassity is often called to perform
on flute, alto flute, piccolo , clarinet and bass clarinet as well as soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones when necessary. Her craftsmanship has secured her concerts all over the world, including the Playboy Jazz Festival, Costa Rica Jazz Festival, Hanover Jazz Festival, Concord/Fujitsu Jazz Festival, Avery Fischer Hall, Merkin Concert Hall and Lincoln Center. Her recent release, “Relentless” (Jazz Legacy Productions) received a four star review in Downbeat Magazine, is available on itunes and distributed internationally by Allegro. Recently, Sharel has had the honor of being inducted into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame and is working on her second release with Jazz Legacy Productions.