Bob Mintzer is a jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger, and big band leader based in Los Angeles. While touring with the Yellowjackets or his own quartet, or big band, Mintzer writes music for big band, various small bands, saxophone quartets, orchestral and concert band music.
Mintzer has played/recorded with a wide variety of artists ranging from Tito Puente, Buddy Rich, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band, James Taylor, The New York Philharmonic, National Symphony, American Saxophone Quartet, Art Blakey, Donald Fagen, Bobby McFerrin, Nancy Wilson, Kurt Elling, to Jaco Pastorius, Mike Manieri, and Randy Brecker.
Some career milestones: In 1974 Mintzer toured with Emir Deodato for one year, playing large venues all over the world. In 1981 Mintzer joined Jaco Pastorius' Word of Mouth Band with Michael Brecker, Peter Erskine, Don Alias, and Othello Molineaux. He played tenor sax and bass clarinet in that band as well as doing some arranging for the large ensemble version. Three recordings and a video document this music and show Mintzer to have quite a unique voice on the bass clarinetist. Around this time Mintzer was also playing with Mike Manieri and Randy Brecker.
1990 was a pivotal year for Mintzer. He was asked to record with the Yellowjackets on the GRP album Greenhouse, which was the start of a twenty plus year stint with one of the premier bands in jazz music. The band has received 13 Grammy nominations, has been voted best contemporary jazz group almost every year in the jazz magazine readers polls, and continues to play major jazz venues all over the world. Mintzer recorded 21 solo albums as leader of his own band.