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Noel Catura -tenor, alto and soprano saxophones (flute, clarinet)
A native of San Jose, CA, Noel has been playing professionally since 1974 at the age of fifteen. He received an A.A.
Degree from San Jose City College in 1983, and continued studying at San Jose State University towards a music degree. He
has been teaching privately since 1982, however in 1981, he teamed with noted blues singer/guitarist Chris Cain to form the
Chris Cain Band, and as one of the groups original members, helped them to achieve critical acclaim both nationally and internationally.
In 1993 he joined up with unknown at that time Sista Monica. Then is 1995 worked in singer and guitarist Joe Louis Walker
for a year. Throughout his career he has performed at such prestigious festivals including: the San Francisco and Sacramento
Blues Festivals, the West Palm Beach Festival (Florida), the Gospel and Rhythm & Blues Festival (NY), the Notoden Blues
Festival (Norway), Belgiums Rhythm and Blues Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival (Canada) and many other prestigious Festivals
all over Europe.
Noel's playing can be found on three of Cain's albums, one of which was nominated for both a W.C. Handy Award and a Bay
Area Music Award (BAMMIE ) in 1988. Noel has been awarded Best Saxophonist for three consecutive years (1991-1993) by the
South Bay Blues Society, also he's on Joe Louis Walker's President and the Preacher, the Sista Monica CD "Get Out My
Way", "Sista Monica", "People Love the Blues" and the latest CD Live in Europe.
He has shared on the same bill as greats like: Ray Charles, Phoebe Snow, Maynard Ferguson, Chick Corea, Jack McDuff, Shirley
Scott, Kool and the Gang, Al Green, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Robert Cray, Albert Collins, Little Milton, Jeff Lorber, Stanley Clarke,
Memphis Slim, Buddy Guy, Kenny G, Jr. Walker, and a host of others.
He has performed with artists such as: Charles Brown, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Albert King, Lowell Fulsom,
Kim Wilson (of the Fabulous Thunderbirds), Pat Ford, Robben Ford, Joe Louis Walker, Ike Turner, Ron E. Beck, Skylark, Danny
Beconcini, Polo Jones, Mike Osborn, John Lee Hooker, Joey De Francesco, Duke Jethro, Duke Robilard, Chris Cain, Sista Monica,
Jesse Charles, Mitch Woods and Bobby Womack.
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