The Cryogenic Renaissance Orchestra, a.k.a. the Greg Hopkins Nonet

This dynamic, brilliant sounding mini–big band is homage to three classical jazz nonets from the past and more. With a repertoire that includes several original arrangements from the influential Birth of the Cool recordings, this band might appear to be a mere re-creation of the Miles Davis Nonet—yet that legendary unit of the late ‘40s is only one of the models that have inspired this new unit. Also identified in the repertoire as specific inspirations are two Blue Note albums from the late ‘60s: McCoy Tyner’s Tender Moments and Herbie Hancock’s The Prisoner.

With that historic nod in mind, jazz composer, arranger, trumpeter, and Berklee faculty member Greg Hopkins has created yet another body of work for the same instrumentation in his own unique and original voice. The group will perform some of the original Birth of the Cool music, some McCoy Tyner, and lots of Hopkins’s originals at their upcoming performances at the Sahara Club, the Shalin Lu Concert Hall, and the Chianti Tuscan Grill. (see above)

The tight-knit nine-piece unit boasts some of the best jazz talent anywhere. Hopkins, longtime professor of jazz composition at Berklee, was soloist/arranger for the Buddy Rich Band in 1972–1974 before settling in the Boston area. In the Boston Globe, Bob Blumenthal called him "one of Boston’s unappreciated jazz treasures.”

Alongside Hopkins, other luminaries in the group are pianist Tim Ray, drummer Bob Gullotti, bassist Keala Kaumeheiwa, trombonist Jeff Galindo, French hornist Ken Pope, tubist Greg Fritze, and saxophonists Shannon LeClaire and Dino Govoni.