A superb jazz saxophonist, Greg Abate is known for his dynamic, hard bop-influenced style. Initially emerging in the '80s leading groups in New England, he established himself nationally by issuing a handful of highly regarded albums in the '90s, including 1993's Straight Ahead and 1996's Bop Lives! Influenced by longtime associate Phil Woods, he has also worked with the jazz legend, collaborating on albums like 2012's The Greg Abate Quintet Featuring Phil Woods. Along with releasing albums like 2016's Road to Forever and 2021's Magic Dance: The Music of Kenny Barron, Abate is a well-known presence in his native Rhode Island, where he was inducted into the state's Hall of Fame in 2016 and works as an adjunct professor of jazz studies at Rhode Island College.