Vincent Herring


Vincent Dwyne Herring is an American jazz saxophonist, flautist, composer, and educator. Known for his fiery and soulful playing in the bands of Horace Silver, Freddie Hubbard, and Nat Adderley in the earlier stages of his career, he now frequently performs around the world with his own groups and is heavily involved in jazz education.

Biography

He was born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, United States. His parents divorced, and he and his mother moved to California. When he was 11, he started playing saxophone in school bands and studying privately at Dean Frederick's School of Music in Vallejo, California. At age 16, he entered California State University, Chico on a music scholarship.
A year later, Herring auditioned for the United States Military Academy band, Jazz Knights, playing lead alto sax. He moved to West Point and served one enlisted tour. In 1982 he moved to New York City attending Long Island University.
Herring first toured the United States and Europe as part of the Lionel Hampton Big Band. His talents came to the attention of Nat Adderley, and the two forged a nine-year musical relationship that led to nine albums and touring around the world year after year. After Adderley's death, Herring collaborated with former Cannonball Adderley bandmember Louis Hayes to form the Cannonball Adderley Legacy Band. He also worked and recorded with pianist Cedar Walton for over two decades. He has also appeared on stage or recordings with Dizzy Gillespie, Horace Silver, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Jack DeJohnette's Special Edition, Freddie Hubbard, James Carter, Larry Coryell, Steve Turre, the Mingus Big Band, Billy Taylor, Nancy Wilson, Kenny Barron, Roy Hargrove, Arthur Taylor, Carla Bley, Mike LeDonne, Eric Alexander, Wallace Roney, Carl Allen, Bobby Watson, Gary Bartz, Sonny Fortune, Cyrus Chestnut, Jeremy Pelt, Joe Farnsworth, and the Phil Woods Sax Machine. Herring has appeared as a special guest soloist with Wynton Marsalis at Lincoln Center as well as with Jon Faddis and The Carnegie Hall Big Band.
Herring has recorded over 20 albums as a leader and over 250 as a sideman. In addition to the Cannonball Adderley Legacy Band, Herring's other projects include Something Else, The Battle with Vincent Herring and Eric Alexander, The Vincent Herring-Joris Dudli's Soul Jazz Alliance, Earth Jazz Agents, and Jazz The Story.
Herring has taken bands to Japan, Europe, and China on several occasions and has appeared in nearly every major jazz festival in the world. He is also involved in jazz education as a professor at William Paterson University and Manhattan School of Music. In 2024, Herring published his jazz improvisation method book, Logic and Critical Thinking in Jazz Improvisation, with Sher Music, which focuses on distilling his original improvisation concepts and techniques.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

As a member

Mingus Big BandBlues & Politics Que Viva Mingus Three of Four Shades of Love
  • ''Tonight at Noon''

As sideman

With Nat AdderleyA Night in Manhattan Live at Floating Jazz Fest Live at Sweet Basil Vol. 1Live at Sweet Basil Vol. 2Live at Sweet Basil We Remember Cannon Autumn Leaves Work Song: Live at Sweet Basil Talkin' About You The [Old Country (album)|The Old Country] Workin
With Carl AllenThe Pursuer Testimonial w/Nicholas Payton Piccadilly Square w/Roy Hargrove
With Eric Alexander and Mike LeDonneHeavy Hitters That's What's Up!
With Don BradenArt of the Saxophone Contemporary Standards Ensemble
With Good FellasGood Fellas 2 3
With Ferit OdmanAutumn in New/York Nommo
With John HicksIn the Mix Piece for My Peace
With Freddie HubbardMMTC: Monk, Miles, Trane & Cannon Bolivia
With Manhattan ProjectsDark Side of Dewey Echoes of Our Heroes
With Harold MabernMabern Plays Mabern Mabern Plays Coltrane
With Barney McAllExit Blueprints
With Cedar WaltonComposer The Promise Land One Flight Down Seasoned Wood Voices Deep Within The Bouncer
With others
  • Alto Legacy, Alto Summit w/Phil Woods
  • Benard Purdie's, Soul To Jazz 2
  • Dave Ellis, State of Mind
  • Donald Brown Quintet, People Music
  • Eddie Allen Quintet, Another Point of View
  • Elio Villafranca, Standing By The Crossroads
  • Giacomo Gates, Centerpiece
  • Gloria Lynne, No Detour Ahead
  • Jihee Heo, Flow
  • Jill McCarron, Gin
  • Joe Chambers Quintet, Mirrors
  • Johannes Enders, Quiet Fire
  • Johnny King, In From the Cold
  • Kevin Hays Quintet, Sweet Ear
  • Klüvers Big Band, A Tribute To Duke
  • Lainie Kazan, Body & Soul
  • Leon Dorsey Quintet, The Watcher
  • Linda Presgrave, Along the Path
  • Louis Hayes, Dreamin of Cannonball
  • Louis Smith Sextet, Strike Up the Band
  • Marcus Roberts, Portraits in Blue
  • Melvin Rhyne, To Cannonball
  • Patty Lomuscio, Star Crossed Lovers
  • Ron McClure Quintet, Never Forget
  • Scott Wendholt Quintet, Scheme of Things
  • Steve Turre, The Spirits Up Above
  • Tim Hagans & Marcus Printup, Hubsongs
  • Yoichi Kobayashi, ''Sukiyaki''