David Bindman
David Bindman, tenor saxophonist, is co-founder of the Brooklyn Sax Quartet and leader of his ensemble.  He has performed and recorded with Talking Drums, JUBA, Wadada Leo Smith, royal hartigan, Kevin Norton, Ehran Elisha, Anthony Braxton, and Fred Ho and many others.  Bindman has collaborated with poet Tyrone Henderson and visual artist Quimetta Perle, creating the multimedia pieces "The Madman" and "Strawman Dance," performed at Performance Space 122 in New York and the Green Room in Manchester, England, and recording their acclaimed CD Strawman Dance (Konnex).   Bindman has worked as a soloist and collaborated with artists in theater, dance, and visual arts in the United States, England, Bosnia, and Sweden.
[Visit www.DavidBindman.com]

Fred Ho
Fred Ho, baritone saxophonist, is a composer, activist and creator of large-scale works whose recent pieces include Journey Beyond the West: The New Adventures of Monkey, the Warrior Sisters opera, and Voice of the Dragon: Once Upon a Time in Chinese America...The Martial Arts Epic.  Ho has been based in New York since 1981, where his activism in community and Asian-American issues has influenced and informed his work.   Attaining international acclaim for his numerous recordings with his band, the Afro Asian Music Ensemble, Ho has combined jazz-based writing with Asian music.  In his theater work, Ho has collaborated with librettists Ann T Greene and playwright Ruth Margraff, premiering works at the Brooklyn Academy of Music Next Wave Festival, The Kitchen, and the Walker Arts Center in Minneapolis.  In 2003 Voice of the Dragon toured 30 cities throughout the USA.  Ho is the founder of Big Red Media, Inc. and co-founder of the Brooklyn Sax Quartet.
[Visit www.BigRedMediaInc.com]

John O'Gallagher
John O’Gallagher, alto saxophone, born in Anaheim, CA, began studying classical saxophone literature at age 13 in Spokane, WA.  After attending Eastern Washington University for two years he went on to receive a BA from Berklee College of Music and an MA from Manhattan School of Music.  Since moving to New York in 1988, John has worked in the downtown music scene and beyond, performing throughout North America and Europe.   He has been featured in the Grammy-winning Joe Henderson Big Band, Maria Schneider Orchestra, Kenny Wheeler Large Ensemble, Jason Lindner Big Band, Bob Belden Ensemble, Roberta Piket Quintet, Ron Horton Sextet, David Phillips and Freedance, as well as with numerous ensembles and musicians.
[Visit www.JohnOGallagher.com]

Sam Furnace
Sam Furnace (1954-2004), alto saxophonist, original member of the BSQ and dear friend, passed away in January, 2004 after a battle with cancer.  Sam was loved by numerous musicians in New York, and by the people who heard him play throughout the world.  A native of Brooklyn, Sam performed and recorded with a wide spectrum of artists, from R&B bands and big bands to the most exploratory new music ensembles, including Mongo Santamaria, The Temptations, Randy Weston, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Julius Hemphill, McCoy Tyner, Fred Ho, and Elliott Sharp, and many others. Sam was also a composer.  Sam performs on half of the tracks on Far Side of Here (OmniTone).

Rudresh Mahanthappa
Named a "Rising Star" of the alto saxophone by the 2003 and 2004 Down Beat International Critics Poll, Rudresh Mahanthappa has incorporated the culture of his Indian ancestry and fused myriad influences to create a truly groundbreaking artistic vision.  As a performer, he leads/co-leads five groups to critical acclaim. He has also worked as a sideman with such jazz luminaries as David Murray, Steve Coleman, Jack DeJohnette, Samir Chatterjee, Von Freeman, Tim Hagans, Fareed Haque, Vijay Iyer, Howard Levy, David Liebman, Greg Osby, and Dr Lonnie Smith. His most recent CD Mother Tongue was released on Pi Recordings in October 2004 and has already been described as “ingenious” by BETJazz.com.  He now teaches at The New School University.
[Visit www.RudreshM.com]

Sam Newsome [current member, not on Far Side of Here]
Sam Newsome, soprano saxophone, began playing professionally at the age of 16 in his hometown of Hampton, VA.  He has played with Donald Byrd and the Terence Blanchard Quintet, among many others, and has recorded numerous albums a leader and sideman.  His debut CD Sam I Am (Criss Cross) was selected by the New York Times as one of the "Top Ten Jazz Albums of the Year."  In the mid 1990’s, Sam made the liberating switch to the soprano and founded a band featuring musicians and instruments from around the world.  Together they brewed up their own brand of cross-cultural jazz.  Their debut album Sam Newsome & Global Unity, on Columbia/Sony Records, was chosen by Billboard as one of the "Top Ten Jazz CDs of the Year.