About Chris West
Based out of Nashville, TN, Chris West has been composing and arranging for the past 16 years. An accomplished saxophonist/flutist/woodwindist, West has been working as a freelance musician for 20 years. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commercial Music Performance/Composition and a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies.
In 1998, his song “Dreams” was nominated for a Nashville Music Award (“NAMMY”), and in 2012 he had two songs in the finals of the International Songwriting Competition. West’s first solo album, entitled Jazzmanic, was released in 2005 and features 9 original compositions. In 2011, he released a three-album work entitled The Surprise Trilogy, which has been reviewd in Downbeat, Jazztimes, and many other publications, as well as receiving radio play throughout the U.S.
In addition to his own original work, West has written string and horn arrangements for many Nashville-based sessions, and has had songs placed in movies, TV shows, and commercials. He has toured, performed and recorded with top artists such as My Morning Jacket, Brenda Lee, Charles Walker, Carrie Underwood, Johnny Reid, Dr. Lonnie Smith, The Temptations, and The Four Tops, among others. Currently, he leads and composes for an experimental big band, as well as a 9 to 11 piece funky-jazz ensembled called the JunkYard Horns.
