BIO
Chris Speed is a defining voice in improvised music. His lyrical sensibility and dedication to ensemble ethos reflect a musician committed to exploration, clarity, and expression.
“A dazzling player of exquisite restraint, intelligence, and range.” — Chicago Reader
“Speed's top-down manner of storytelling is complemented by soaring mini-motifs and graceful descents.” — All About Jazz
“Mr. Speed is a tenor saxophonist and clarinetist who can find the logical strand in an abstract canvas, and turn wobbly irresolution into a form of riveting suspense.” — The New York Times
Born in 1967 and raised in the Seattle area, Speed formed early bonds with Jim Black and Andrew D'Angelo — friendships that later led to the formation of Human Feel in Boston with guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel. The group went on to release several acclaimed recordings, including Scatter (1992), Speak to It (1996), Galore (2006) and Gold (2019).
After studying at the New England Conservatory Speed moved to New York City, where he became a key figure in the downtown scene, notably through his work with Tim Berne’s Bloodcount (Unwound, Discretion, Saturation Point).
A deep respect for Balkan folk music led to Pachora — with Jim Black, Brad Shepik, and Skúli Sverrisson — a group rooted in traditional songs from Eastern Europe and shaped equally by original compositions and an improvising language of its own. (Unn 1999, Ast 2000, Astereotypical 2004)
His band Yeah NO (with Cuong Vu, Sverrisson, Black) explored the shaping of spontaneous improvisation into formal structures, blending jazz, rock, Eastern folk, and minimalism (Emit, 2000; Swell Henry, 2004). (2026 tour updates!)
The Clarinets (with Oscar Noriega and Anthony Burr) is devoted to collective improvisation, using extended techniques and deep listening to create richly detailed, slowly unfolding soundscapes. In 2006, the group was featured on NPR’s Fresh Air.
Endangered Blood — formed in 2008 with Black, Noriega, and Trevor Dunn — was born from benefit concerts for Andrew D’Angelo and evolved into a powerhouse group combining post-bop, New Orleans funeral marches, and avant-garde jazz with a raw, high-intensity approach (Work Your Magic 2013, NPR Tiny Desk Concert 2012).
In 2014, Speed formed the Chris Speed Trio with drummer Dave King and bassist Chris Tordini, reimagining the saxophone trio format with music that is direct, melodic, and quietly adventurous. Their recordings — Really OK, Platinum On Tap, Respect for Your Toughness, and Despite Obstacles — highlight his gift for writing pieces that are both immediately engaging and open-ended.
Broken Shadows (with Tim Berne, Reid Anderson, and Dave King) reinterprets the music of Ornette Coleman and Julius Hemphill with raw energy and modernist improvisation, drawing on deep American roots (Broken Shadows, 2019 Intakt).
Most recently, Speed joined the internationally acclaimed group The Bad Plus, bringing his distinctive voice to one of the most high-profile ensembles in contemporary jazz.