Peter Sommer, saxophonist and composer, is in demand as a performer, clinician and recording artist throughout the state of Colorado. Since establishing himself among the area’s elite jazz musicians, Peter has contributed his muscular tenor playing and creative spirit to a wide variety of musical projects ranging from mainstream bebop to avant garde and beyond. Peter is a member of the Ken Walker Sextet, whose recent release on Synergy Music, Terra Firma, reached #6 on the CMJ Jazz Radio Charts and received rave reviews from JazzWeek.com and the All Music Guide Online. In the fall of 2005, Peter released his debut album, Sioux County on Tapestry Records, which features his compositions and his long-time collaboration with jazz piano legend Art Lande. Peter is also featured on the recent release from the Chie Imaizumi Jazz Orchestra on Capri Records, Unfailing Kindness, and on the Colorado Symphony Orchestra’s recording of Too Hot to Handel with Marin Alsop conducting. Peter’s next album, featuring fellow tenor saxophonist Rich Perry, is scheduled to be released in Fall 2007.
Peter Sommer is Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies and Saxophone at Colorado State University in Ft. Collins. At CSU, Mr. Sommer directs Jazz Ensemble I and the CSU Jazz Combo program, in addition to teaching courses in Jazz Improvisation and Jazz Pedagogy.