LaPlante's daring move of asking well-established musicians to tour with him needs to be seen in the continuum of his development. Travis has always been a dedicated and self-disciplined musician; his commitment to the music permeates his being and is an almost visible characteristic. His role model for practice and study is the indefatigable John Coltrane who was known for practicing even during the intermissions of his concerts. Through practice, listening and performance, he has gone through numerous stages of development to get to a level now, where he plays music with his own voice. Most tenor saxophonists go through similar phases of study where, after learning their chords and scales, they emulate different masters of their instrument such as Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, etc. until they eventually find “themselves." The mark of a mature musician is that they have a “sound." LaPlante at the young age of about twenty has already found his sound and is searching for fellow musicians that share his concept. He has come to the point where he isn't just looking for somebody to “jam" with, but a core of musicians that share his delight in investigation, his thirst for knowledge and his standard of musicianship. He now performs regularly in New York with some of the music's most prominent improvisers, including Mat Maneri, Matt Wilson, David Liebman, Dennis Gonzalez, and George Garzone and of course, Gerald Cleaver and Michael Formanek.
Michael Formanek has made many visits to the Vermont Jazz Center. When Attila Zoller was actively performing, Michael was one of his favorite bassists and musical soul brothers. They toured together, and produced some of Zoller's best recordings - music that was highly original while at the same time moved with a deep groove. Formanek has performed with some of jazz's most illustrious leaders such as Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Stan Getz, Tony Williams, the Mingus Big Band, Paquito D'Rivera, Tom Harrell and Dave Liebman. These days he focuses on performing his own original music and that of his compatriots within the New York down-town scene, such as Tim Berne, Jim Black, Greg Osby, Dave Douglas, Marty Erlich and Tony Malaby.
Young drummer Gerald Cleaver, who recently recorded his first album as a leader, “Adjust", for the Fresh Sound New Talent label is one of the newer names in New York who spans the genre barrier. He has played with dyed-in-the-wool beboppers, Barry Harris, Hank Jones, Ray Bryant, Kenny Burrell, and Frank Foster, but has also been associated with innovators, young and old such as Mark Turner, Henry Threadgill, Marilyn Crispell, Muhal Richard Abrams, David Berkman and many others. He can accompany the smoother side of jazz with Bob James, lay down a deep groove for singer Kevin Mahogany, or play completely spontaneously with Matt Shipp. This ability to cross genre-lines is born of Cleaver's love for the music in general. He plays each style of music with authenticity and fire - he associates himself with quality rather than intractable values.
Travis LaPlante, Michael Formanek, and Gerald Cleaver will perform at the Vermont Jazz Center in Brattelboro, VT, on Saturday, September 28th at 8:00 PM. Tickets can be purchased at Mainly Music and Maple Leaf Music in Brattleboro, VT, or can be reserved by phone or email by contacting the Vermont Jazz Center by phone, (802) 254 9088, or on the web at www.vtjazz.org. Tickets are $12.00 general admission, $8.00 for students and seniors. Add $2.00 per ticket if purchased or reserved on the day of the show.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
