Antonio Maurice Hart

Antonio Maurice Hart was born in 1969 and grew up in Baltimore and started studying the saxophone in elementary school.  After junior high, he attended a performing arts school, where he studied European classical music, where he increased his understanding of harmony.  However, citing the restrictions of classical music leaving little room for self-expression, he felt drawn to the jazz that he was listening to on the radio, specifically Sonny Stitt, Charlie Parker, and John Coltrane.

He later studied jazz at the Berklee College of Music, and upon graduating, he pursued a master's degree at Queen's College, where he studied under saxophonist Jimmy Heath and trumpeter Donald Byrd.  He focused much of his study on players who proceeded Parker, such as Johnny Hodges, Ben Webster, and Lester Young.

Hart toured with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and then spent three years with his friend from Berklee, Roy Hargrove.  Hart recorded on Hargrove's first 3 records and then used Hargrove on his first recording, For the first Time.  He also enjoyed the association of his mentor, coronetist Nat Adderly.  He recorded with Adderly, while absorbing much influence of Nat and his alto saxophonist-playing brother, the late Cannonball Adderly.

To learn more about Antonio Maurice Hart, check out this site:

Antonio Maurice Hart - biography from Duke University Jazz class.