There is so much to write about Anton, this talented saxophonist, jazz player, composer, band leader, that it is hard to decide where to start. Maybe I should start to tell that you hire a nice, polite, and unpretentious fellow and his band who play excellent Jazz at your celebration. Only gradually, in the course of our conversation, did I discover the great breadth of his accomplishments.

Born into a musical family in New York, he started to play the clarinet when he was twelve years old; two years later he switched to the saxophone - Jazz was the music he wanted to play. During the high school years he had his first band. Then came his undergraduate years at Harvard, and a National Science foundation fellowship at Stanford after that. Five years into his Doctorate in Artificial Intelligence, he switched to his beloved jazz and has never looked back. "It is an uplifting feeling to create good music and see people enjoying it," Anton says. Now a full-time jazz musician, his music has gained a nationwide following. His four CDs have had rave reviews in the media, with his most recent release, Radiant Blue, landing at #4 on the national jazz radio charts. "It's fun to sit in Peet's, and suddenly your music comes over the radio," he told me. If you want to hear him and his group in person, you might catch him at Yoshi's in Oakland, at jazz festivals in Monterey, San Francisco, and San Jose, or at his private house concerts.

All his performance dates are listed on his website. Here you can listen to his music, read about his albums, see his teaching schedule, and learn about his concerts elsewhere in the country.

It is unusual for a jazz musician of such stature to devote such care and attention to private performances. "It surprises some of my clients, and I love that," says Anton. "I think it's important that people who want truly beautiful jazz at their special event - the kind you hear on fine CDs - have that option. It infuses true quality and an emotional richness." Clearly his clients agree, as is evidenced by the enthusiastic feedback they have given. You can read their glowing comments on his web site. "He came up hybrid," recounts one client. "After the jazz standards he played funky music for the younger generation. We had so much fun. He just makes extraordinary music and is such a fine man."

The band plays for private events in a variety of formats. Anton will help you decide which setup is best for you given all the particulars of your event, giving attention to such factors as your musical preferences, whom you're inviting, volume constraints, and your budget.