Biography

Baritone saxophonist, woodwind multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, and composer from Tacoma, Washington.

Born in 1998, Noah is a proud student of the baritone saxophone and the jazz tradition. Through these disciplines, he finds a niche among his peers in the Pacific Northwest scene. Being an equally dedicated bandleader, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and teacher of saxophone, clarinet, and flute, music is a second language for Noah.

His basic music education began with piano lessons at age 6 which he continued until age 10 when he began playing saxophone in school band. In high school, Noah’s love of improvisation was initiated, at which point he began studying privately on saxophone, clarinet, and flute. He is a graduate of Central Washington University (‘21) where he studied clarinet in the concert tradition, performing in CWU’s Wind Ensemble on bass clarinet and Jazz Band 1 in the baritone saxophone chair.

He is proud to have associated with some of the major figures in music, many of whom have become dear friends, sharing with him their passion for music making. Such individuals include the late educator and pianist Barry Harris, New York City baritone saxophonists Frank Basile and Gary Smulyan, Seattle multi-instrumental master Jay Thomas, and his Tacoma-native saxophone mentors Kareem Kandi and Tracy Knoop, among many others.

Today, Noah records and performs throughout the Puget Sound area as a leader and sideman in many styles. He has performed with Delfeayo Marsalis, John Clayton, Dmitri Matheny, Jay Thomas, and Rich Wetzel’s Groovin’ Higher Orchestra, a rock and jazz fusion ensemble based in Tacoma. Noah has also recorded for a wide variety of artists, including for friend and composer Jafet Meza based in Mexico City and Florida-based producer EyeLoveBrandon. He has also produced multiple recordings under his own name, starting with his first EP-length record “Plus Two” at the age of 19.