Pianoculture.com, Noble Art Piano's and Brother Thelonious Belgian Abbey Style Pale Ale proudly announce the inaugural season of the Pianoculture.com Piano Festival featuring salon-style jazz piano concerts with limited seating in the intimate environment of the Fleisher Art Memorial Sanctuary Philadelphia.
Concerts run from January 24th to June 6th and feature a stellar lineup of some of the world's best jazz pianists and rising stars. Concerts run from 7:30 - 9:30 and are preceded by a discussion by the artist which begins at 7pm.
Rare Intimacy Between Artists and Audience
“With a small room that accommodates only 100 people, it's as intimate abeing on stage with the musicians" said Genevieve Luce, Producer. “There's a magic that happens when the musicians and the audience interact in a small space that cannot happen in larger concert halls and other venues. We look forward to our new relationship with Fleisher Art Memorial in presenting the greatest pianists in the world."
The World Class Lineup Includes: Geri Allen, Junior Mance, Luis Perdomo, Rachel Z, Larry Willis, Dave Burrell and introducing Harold O'Neal and Gabriel Luce.
Tickets are $30 in advance (available online at www.pianoculture.com.com) $40 cash only at the door.
January 24
Geri Allen Performs a Rare Solo Concert
States Tavis Smiley, “Jazz pianist Geri Allen has taken the freedom of Jazz and combined it with the cultural freedom movements that have paralleled the evolution of jazz itself."
In the past few years, she has performed at Carnegie Hall, The San Francisco Jazz Festival, The Capetown Jazz Festival (South Africa) and the Caramoor Jazz Festival in Katonah. Allen who has been well documented through albums on Blue Note and Telarc Records, recently performed in her native Detroit at America's largest jazz festival collaborting with Ravi Coltrane in a Tribute to Alice Coltrane. Allen will document her solo piano musings on a forthcoming album for Motema Music later this year.
February 21
At age 80, Junior Mance can look back on an amazing life in jazz. He began playing the piano
at five, but did not begin formal training until he was eight. In 1947, Junior joined Gene Ammons' band and later hooked up with Lester Young before being drafted into the Army. Junior served in the 36th Army Band at Fort Knox, Kentucky along with Julian “Cannonball" Adderley. After the Army, he played at the Bee Hive Jazz Club in Chicago, accompanying jazz greats Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, Eddie “Lockjaw" Davis, and Sonny Stitt. He also worked with Dinah Washington, Dizzy Gillespie, and Joe Williams.
In spite of all of his accomplishments, it wasn't until 2000 at Jazz@ Lincoln Center, that Junior performed in a solo context. For the better part of the past three decades Mance has been well documented through label affiliations in Japan and Europe.
Introducing Gabriel Luce opening for Junior Mance
Gabriel is a 22 year old pianist, composer and conductor. His new trio performs original compositions as well as unique arrangements of jazz standards, funk anthems, and popular and obscure Brazilian music.
March 21
Luis Perdomo was born in Caracas, Venezuela and grew up in a home filled with every style of music. His father, an avid music fan and collector exposed the young Perdomo to salsa, Latin, R & B, and classical; as well as jazz greats like Bud Powell and Oscar Peterson. Powell and Peterson were two of his earliest and most important musical influences, drawing him to jazz and to the piano at an early age. By the time he was 12, Luis was making regular professional appearances on Venezuelan TV and radio.
After moving to New York, he became a regular member of groups led by John Bentez, Miguel Zenn, Ray Barretto and Ravi Coltrane.
April 18
Pianist Rachel Z has emerged from the shadows of Peter Gabriel, Steps Ahead, Wayne Shorter and others with a special voice on solo piano that draws from jazz and popular music as well as her compelling originals.
With his recent arrival in New York, Harold O'Neal found has place in jazz collaborating with Greg Osby, Bobby Watson and with his own trio. Harold is less known for his solo playing, which is prodigious.
May 16
Philadelphia native Dave Burrell is an imposing improviser of the highest order and recognized throughout the world. His dynamic compositions with blues and gospel roots recall the tradition of Jelly Roll Morton, James P. Johnson and Duke Ellington. At home in the solo context as in his numerous collaborations with such notables as Archie Shepp, David Murray and others, Dave Burrell never fails to surprise.
June 6
At the age of 19, Larry Willis was discovered and recruited by saxophonist Jackie McLean, and made his jazz recording debut on McLean's Blue Note release, Right Now! The album also included two of Willis' compositions. From that auspicious start, Willis went on to play with jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Shaw, Cannonball Adderley, Stan Getz, Carmen McRae, and Shirley Horn. From 1972 to '79, Willis was the keyboardist for the fusion group Blood Sweat and Tears. He's also been a crucial part of the Grammy-nominated Afro-Cuban jazz group Fort Apache. In all, Willis has appeared on 300-plus albums, with more than 20 recordings as a leader.
Concerts run from January 24th to June 6th and feature a stellar lineup of some of the world's best jazz pianists and rising stars. Concerts run from 7:30 - 9:30 and are preceded by a discussion by the artist which begins at 7pm.
Rare Intimacy Between Artists and Audience
“With a small room that accommodates only 100 people, it's as intimate abeing on stage with the musicians" said Genevieve Luce, Producer. “There's a magic that happens when the musicians and the audience interact in a small space that cannot happen in larger concert halls and other venues. We look forward to our new relationship with Fleisher Art Memorial in presenting the greatest pianists in the world."
The World Class Lineup Includes: Geri Allen, Junior Mance, Luis Perdomo, Rachel Z, Larry Willis, Dave Burrell and introducing Harold O'Neal and Gabriel Luce.
Tickets are $30 in advance (available online at www.pianoculture.com.com) $40 cash only at the door.
January 24
Geri Allen Performs a Rare Solo Concert
States Tavis Smiley, “Jazz pianist Geri Allen has taken the freedom of Jazz and combined it with the cultural freedom movements that have paralleled the evolution of jazz itself."
In the past few years, she has performed at Carnegie Hall, The San Francisco Jazz Festival, The Capetown Jazz Festival (South Africa) and the Caramoor Jazz Festival in Katonah. Allen who has been well documented through albums on Blue Note and Telarc Records, recently performed in her native Detroit at America's largest jazz festival collaborting with Ravi Coltrane in a Tribute to Alice Coltrane. Allen will document her solo piano musings on a forthcoming album for Motema Music later this year.
February 21
At age 80, Junior Mance can look back on an amazing life in jazz. He began playing the piano
at five, but did not begin formal training until he was eight. In 1947, Junior joined Gene Ammons' band and later hooked up with Lester Young before being drafted into the Army. Junior served in the 36th Army Band at Fort Knox, Kentucky along with Julian “Cannonball" Adderley. After the Army, he played at the Bee Hive Jazz Club in Chicago, accompanying jazz greats Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, Eddie “Lockjaw" Davis, and Sonny Stitt. He also worked with Dinah Washington, Dizzy Gillespie, and Joe Williams.
In spite of all of his accomplishments, it wasn't until 2000 at Jazz@ Lincoln Center, that Junior performed in a solo context. For the better part of the past three decades Mance has been well documented through label affiliations in Japan and Europe.
Introducing Gabriel Luce opening for Junior Mance
Gabriel is a 22 year old pianist, composer and conductor. His new trio performs original compositions as well as unique arrangements of jazz standards, funk anthems, and popular and obscure Brazilian music.
March 21
Luis Perdomo was born in Caracas, Venezuela and grew up in a home filled with every style of music. His father, an avid music fan and collector exposed the young Perdomo to salsa, Latin, R & B, and classical; as well as jazz greats like Bud Powell and Oscar Peterson. Powell and Peterson were two of his earliest and most important musical influences, drawing him to jazz and to the piano at an early age. By the time he was 12, Luis was making regular professional appearances on Venezuelan TV and radio.
After moving to New York, he became a regular member of groups led by John Bentez, Miguel Zenn, Ray Barretto and Ravi Coltrane.
April 18
Pianist Rachel Z has emerged from the shadows of Peter Gabriel, Steps Ahead, Wayne Shorter and others with a special voice on solo piano that draws from jazz and popular music as well as her compelling originals.
With his recent arrival in New York, Harold O'Neal found has place in jazz collaborating with Greg Osby, Bobby Watson and with his own trio. Harold is less known for his solo playing, which is prodigious.
May 16
Philadelphia native Dave Burrell is an imposing improviser of the highest order and recognized throughout the world. His dynamic compositions with blues and gospel roots recall the tradition of Jelly Roll Morton, James P. Johnson and Duke Ellington. At home in the solo context as in his numerous collaborations with such notables as Archie Shepp, David Murray and others, Dave Burrell never fails to surprise.
June 6
At the age of 19, Larry Willis was discovered and recruited by saxophonist Jackie McLean, and made his jazz recording debut on McLean's Blue Note release, Right Now! The album also included two of Willis' compositions. From that auspicious start, Willis went on to play with jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Shaw, Cannonball Adderley, Stan Getz, Carmen McRae, and Shirley Horn. From 1972 to '79, Willis was the keyboardist for the fusion group Blood Sweat and Tears. He's also been a crucial part of the Grammy-nominated Afro-Cuban jazz group Fort Apache. In all, Willis has appeared on 300-plus albums, with more than 20 recordings as a leader.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
