Garrett Frees

Bearduo is a saxophone duo consisting of Garrett Frees on Tenor Saxophone and Aaron Kaufman-Levine on Alto Saxophone. They met seven years ago at Birch Creek Music Camp, and quickly became close friends. Their friendship and musical collaboration continued to grow as they both served on the Jazz Institute of Chicago’s Jazz Links student council. Bearduo's musical journey continued as they both pursued their studies at the New England Conservatory of Music, where they developed their deep musical connection playing together daily for four years.

Over the years, they have performed at prestigious venues such as the historic Jordan Hall, Lilypad Inman, MIT’s Killian Hall, Tufts University’s Granoff Music Center, the Worcester, MA radio station WICN, Fulton Street Collective, and the Music in the Garden concert series.

Bearduo brings a unique and spontaneous creation to each performance that reflects their shared musical language and deep connection. Their sound draws on the innovations of Roscoe Mitchell, Anthony Braxton, Henry Threadgill, Ornette Coleman, and Eric Dolphy. Bearduo aims to push the boundaries of the saxophone and free improvisation through the synthesis of different improvisational methodologies.