Ross Mintzer Biography

Ross Philip Mintzer (born May 26, 1987) is an American musician and performer. He has led the Ross Mintzer Band since its formation in 2012. Mintzer performed at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles and was featured on National Public Radio show, "From The Top". In 2011, he started a girls' choir in Karachi, Pakistan and has been recognized by the National Association for Music Education.

Early life

Mintzer was born in 1987 in New York City. He began learning the saxophone at age 8, after influence by his uncle, Bob Mintzer, a Grammy Award-winning jazz saxophone player. He also plays tenor saxophone, flute, and guitar, in addition to singing and composing.

Mintzer played in the Jazz Band at Mamaroneck High School and in the band Dr. Meeker in New York before formally studying music during high school at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan. Mintzer continued his studies during college at the Manhattan School of Music. In high school, he played tenor sax in jazz combo and jazz band. He has studied privately with New York saxophonist, Marc Mommaas.

In 2005, Mintzer was one of 29 high school students selected for the Gibson/Baldwin Jazz Ensembles for the 47th Annual Grammy Music Awards in Los Angeles. Mintzer performed at the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood with award winning Jazz saxophonist Benny Golson. That same year, he was a featured performer on the National Public Radio program "From the Top" with bassist Michael Thurber. They performed J.S. Bach's Two-Part Inventions No.1 and No. 2. He was also a co-winner in Downbeat Magazine's 28th Annual Student Awards in the Blues/Pop/Rock Soloist and Jazz Instrumental Soloist categories.

Jazziz magazine invited him to perform on its compilation album "Jazziz on Disc," a limited-edition collector's CD issued with the October 2005 edition.

Career

2005-2012: Remington and Music in Pakistan

Mintzer was the guitarist and composer for Remington, a duo with bassist Michael Thurber, which became a trio with the addition of drummer Greg Evans. The Band was named for their mentor David Remington. In 2009, Mintzer traveled to teach music. He began touring around the country with fellow Interlochen alumnus Michael Thurber to hold music clinics for young musicians.

Beginning in February 2011, Mintzer taught in the Performing Arts Department of the American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. From October 2011 to February 2012, he taught English and music in Karachi, Pakistan to children at The Garage School. He also organized music events for the students and directed a girls' choir.

2012-present: Ross Mintzer Band

In 2012, he formed The Ross Mintzer Band. According to the band website, they have released two singles and one music video, and have performed in Chicago, St. Louis, Boulder, Madison, Los Angeles, and New York City. In February 2014, Mintzer was interviewed and played his song "Open Happiness" on NHK's program "World Wave Morning." He was conferred an "Honorary Life Membership" to the TRI-M Music Honor Society, a program of the National Association for Music Education, "For inspiring young musicians to achieve and for serving music education." on May 5, 2014 Mintzer states that he uses Facebook to reach fans; his band's Facebook page has over one million followers. On July 7th, 2015, Mintzer performed, "The Star Spangled Banner" in Colorado Springs, CO at Security Service Field before a Sky Sox baseball game.

Bitcoin Involvement

Beginning in spring of 2014, Mintzer received media attention for advocating the use of bitcoin. In May 2014, he co-directed a bitcoin-themed music festival at the New York City Bitcoin Center. The Ross Mintzer Band played at the festival.In December 2014, he performed saxophone at the Dubai Bitcoin Conference at the Dubai International Financial Centre in the United Arab Emirates.

Discography

Songs

• Guayaquil (2005)
• Two Step for a Rainy Day (2005)

EPs with Remington

• Songs For Our Friends (2007)
• Thank You Mr. Remington (2008)
• Warm Winter (2008)
• Human Music" (2009)

Songs with Ross Mintzer Band

• Victory (2013)
• World Goes Round (2013)
• Lost in America (2013)
• Freedom (2013)
• Open Happiness(Ft. Milton Vann) (2013)