Jaleel Shaw

Alto and soprano saxophonist Jaleel Shaw is an adept soloist and composer whose deeply organic, hard-grooving work builds upon the contemporary post-bop and modal traditions. The Philly native first turned heads as a finalist in the 2002 Thelonius Monk competition before debuting with 2005's Perspective, featuring Robert Glasper. Along with Grammy-winning work alongside drummer Roy Haynes, Shaw has continued to deliver propulsive yet sonically nuanced small-group dates, like 2008's Optimism, 2013's The Soundtrack of Things to Come, and 2025's Painter of the Invisible.