"...Epstein is making some pretty amazing statements rooted in world music and the avant-garde, but stretching even those parameters to create a contemporary modern sound all his own... highly recommended. - Michael Nastos, All Music Guide

Peter Epstein is a musician/educator of considerable artistry and stylistic breadth. His musical endeavors traverse a continuum that runs through jazz, world-music, classical, folk, and popular genres. Currently, Mr. Epstein is enjoying the challenge of balancing 2 full-time careers: 1) free-lance saxophonist and performer; 2) Assistant Professor and Director of the University of Nevada's Program in Jazz & Improvisational Music. Of course, there is much to do. In addition to a busy performance schedule, there is curricular development to attend to, classes and lessons to teach, and all of the other administrative duties that come with directing a dynamic and thriving creative music program.

Peter began playing the clarinet 27 years ago under the guidance of his father, saxophonist Ed Epstein. He soon turned to the saxophone and discovered an innate love of jazz and improvisation. His formative years were spent in Portland, Oregon apprenticing with resident musicians Glen Moore, Nancy King, and Gary Hobbs. Four years after arriving in Portland, he departed for Los Angeles and California Institute of the Arts where he studied with Charlie Haden, James Newton, and John Carter, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1992.

After moving to New York (1992-2002) Peter appeared on dozens of recordings, performed at numerous New York venues and festivals, and toured extensively in more than 20 countries. He has participated in a plethora of varying bands, concepts and contexts: everything from "straight-ahead" and "downtown" - to Bach and Villa Lobos - to music inspired and informed by the musical traditions of the Balkans, Sub-Saharan Africa, South India, Brazil and Portugal.

In addition to his full-time university teaching position, Peter is a co-founder (with Ralph Alessi), instructor, and current Vice-president of the School for Improvisational Music in New York City. He has lectured and performed many times at the International Meeting of Saxophonists in Nova Goriça, Slovenia, and he has presented numerous workshops and master classes at Eastman School of Music, New England Conservatory, California Institute of the Arts, Bangalore (India) School of Music, and many other institutions and events.

Recent performances highlights include Festival appearances in Canada with Jerry Granelli's Sandhills Reunion; Crunch and Lingua Franca gigs at the Bowery Poetry Club, NYC; SIM faculty concert w/ Ralph Alessi, Andy Milne, Mark Helias, and Tyshawn Sorey; SIM faculty concert w/ Ralph Alessi, Andy Milne, Drew Gress, and Tom Rainey; Peter Epstein Quartet in Brugge, Belgium w/ Jim Black, Brad Shepik and Jamie Saft; Soloist, Mark Anthony Turnage's "Blood on the Floor" with Absolute Ensemble and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra in Adelaide, Australia; European tour with Ralph Alessi & Modular Theatre; Festival appearances in the Azores with Joao Paulo; and a tour of India with Ravish Momin & Trio Dissolve.

Peter's latest album, "Lingua Franca," is a collaborative effort with Brad Shepik and Matt Kilmer for Songlines Records. He has previously released 4 albums for MA Recordings, "Old School," featuring a saxophone/bass/drums trio format with bassist Scott Colley and legendary drummer Peter Erskine, "The Invisible," "Staring at the Sun," and "Solus." In all, he appears on 14 MA Recordings releases. He also appears on albums released by a number of other labels including: ECM, Capitol, Koch, Palmetto, Songlines, and LoveSlave.

Peter has performed with: Reno Philharmonic Orchestra; Brad Shepik Group; Chris Dahlgren's Best Intentions; Ralph Alessi's Modular Theatre; guitarists Miroslav Tadic and Vlatko Stephenaski; Marcelo Zarvos Group; Pete McCann Group; Bobby Previte's Voodoo Orchestra; Jerry Granelli's Badlands; Crunch, a trio with guitarist David Tronzo and bassist J. Anthony Granelli; and Portuguese pianist/composer Joao Paulo. Here and there, Peter has also played with Charlie Haden, Mike Stern, Steve Coleman, Madeski, Martin and Wood, Ben Monder, Ravi Coltrane, Al Foster, Uri Caine, Wayne Horvitz, Mark Feldman, Hank Roberts, Jerome Harris, Matt Wilson, Chris Speed, Michael Cain, Dave Binney, Kenny Wollesen, Drew Gress, Nasheet Waits, Steve Bernstein, Ben Allison, Jason Moran, Ben Monder, Gene Jackson, Mark Helias, Marty Ehrlich, Christian McBride, Vijay Iyer, Kermit Driscoll, Curtis Folks, Jean-Michel Pilc, Ron McClure and many others.

Performing and recording opportunities have taken Peter to Clubs, Festivals, Studios, Concert Halls and "Spaces" around the world including: New York Jazz Festival (Knitting Factory) 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000; Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; Kala Ghoda Festival, Mumbai, India; Vienna Opera House; Saalfelden Jazz Festival, Saalfelden, Austria; Harmony Hall, Matsumoto, Japan; San Martino Cathedral, Lucca, Italy; Rainbow Studios, Oslo, Norway; Jazz al Parque, Bogota, Columbia; Jazz em Loule Festival Internacional, Faro, Portugal; Porto Jazz Festival, Porto, Portugal; Radio France, Paris, France; Merkin Concert Hall, NYC; Cantar Lontano Festival of Baroque and Early Music, Ancona, Italy; Atlantic Jazz Festival, Halifax, Nova Scotia; and other points throughout the United States, Canada, South America, Europe and Asia.