About Christian.. Saxophonist, clarinetist and composer Christian Winther was introduced to jazz by his fathers albums of jazz masters such as Louis Armstrong, Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane. At the age of 11 Winther began playing the clarinet, among his first influences were Louis Armstrong and old blues recordings. Then Winther heard the music of Charlie Parker, which really grabbed him and the saxophone seemed the logical next step, he began studying with saxophonist Darryl Barber. Winther attended the Skidmore Jazz Institute program and was encouraged to continue his studies in jazz by the late legend Milt Hinton. Christian Winther studied at the University of New Orleans, with Jazz Studies Program director Ellis Marsalis and faculty Ed Petersen, Victor Goines and Harold Battiste. While attending University of New Orleans he performed with notable jazz names such as Frank Morgan, Ellis Marsalis, Alvin Red Tyler and Harold Battiste. Winther has toured Europe and the U.S. extensively with his own group the Christian Winther Quartet and also as a sideman. He has established himself as one of the most in demand saxophonists on the New Orleans jazz scene trough his strong versatile sound. As a bandleader and composer some of Winther's influences are the writing and sounds of Monk and Ellington, but it does not stop there, “being a musician in New Orleans, you are privileged to experience so much different music as part of everyday life, and you start to realize how you can draw from all those sources”. Winther received a nomination for best upcoming musician in contemporary jazz in the yearly poll by Offbeat Magazine, 2003 and have had his music featured in publications such as: Allaboutjazz, Cadence, Jazz Special, Offbeat, Jazz Times and Jazz Journal, jazzreview.com. Some of the musicians Winther has performed/recorded with include: Herlin Riley Quartet, Shannon Powell Group, Marcus Printup, Ali Jackson, Richard Doron Johnson, Fredrick Sanders, Roland Guerin, Vincent Gardner, David Torkanowsky, Gregory Tardy, Neal Caine, Billy Drummond, Thais Clark, Topsy Chapman Band and Larry Sieberth among others. Christian Winther released his debut CD “Perspectives” in 2001(curious cat records). Following his debut CD Winther has to date released 3 recordings on the SteepleChase label, his label debut, “Blue Function” (2004), “The Only Plan” January (2006) and his latest effort entitled Christian Winther Quintet “Soul House” (featuring Marcus Printup, Richard Johnson, Carlos Henriquez and Ali Jackson (released 2008).