Dean Tsur | Saxophone
Thelonious Monk semifinalist Dean Tsur has become known for his focus on making fun and romantic jazz music as a saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. Upon completing his Master's at The Juilliard School, Dean formed his band, Dean Tsur & The Songbirds (previously named the Saxophone Choir). Dean is also the first prize winner at the North American Saxophone Alliance Competition and the Carinthian International Jazz Award Competition.
Dean has performed with Grammy-winning jazz musicians including Roy Hargrove and Wynton Marsalis, as well as with legendary drummer Billy Kaye’s Quartet. DT & The Songbirds have performed at New York’s leading jazz venues including Dizzy’s Club, Minton’s Playhouse, and Smalls. Featured guests with the band have included Steve Wilson. As a member of Evan Sherman Big Band, Dean has performed alongside jazz legends including Jonny O’Neal and Jerry Dodgion. Dean is also a member of Dayramir Gonzalez & Habana Entrancé and appears on the group’s latest album alongside Grammy-winner Pedrito Martinez. Additionally, Dean has toured Europe and Russia with Ark Ovrutski and Allan Harris as well as performed at many international jazz festivals such as Caramoor Jazz Festival, James Moody Jazz Festival, Tel Aviv Jazz Festival, Bric Jazz Festival, Cayman Arts Festival, Jerusalem Jazz Festival, Bric Jazz Festival, and Red Sea Jazz Festival.
As an educator, Dean has taught at Juilliard MAP, Juilliard’s college division (as a teaching assistant), adjudicated a saxophone competition at the Israeli branch of The New School (NY) and has given masterclasses at schools including Rimon College (Israel), Snow College (Utah), and Moscow State College.
Dean’s performances have been covered by The New York Times, BET/Centric Television, All About Jazz, DC Metro Theater Arts, and Broadway World, to name a few. Dean was America-Israel Cultural Foundation’s Featured Artist of the Month and appeared on the cover of several other Israeli magazines including Yediot Haemek and Haim Baemek.
