Results for "jazz violin"

Ben Sutin

Born: December 23, 1992

After being enamored by the vocal qualities of the violin, Benjamin began studying Suzuki violin at age five, adding piano just a few years later. His career began to blossom when he started showing an interest in jazz, just months before his 13th birthday. It all started with a summer long workshop with saxophonist, Odean Pope at the famed Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz in Philadelphia, the only education institution at the time willing to accept a violinist into their program. Soon after, Benjamin started studying privately with legendary jazz violinist John Blake Jr. among other Philadelphia based jazz luminaries on faculty at the Clef Club. It wasn't long before he developed a name for himself. You would frequently catch him on the Philly scene, whether at sessions or gigging professionally, both as a leader and sideman.

Kersten Stevens

Kersten Stevens, Queen of The Violin, is a six-time winner of the historic Amateur Night and Showtime at The Apollo; she's performed with music greats Kim Burrell, renowned jazz violinist Regina Carter, international jazz bassist Christian McBride and performed for esteemed notables President Barack Obama, Ray Charles, Denzel Washington, Yanni among others, now celebrates her much anticipated fifth album, QUEEN RISING. 

Her latest release, QUEEN RISING, leads a growing breed of performers innovating jazz authenticity by collaborating with some of the industry's most outstanding and respected musicians. 

Rares Morarescu

Born: October 25, 1966

Born in 1966 in Bucharest from an Italian mother working for the Defence Ministry, and Romanian father economist for the Ministry of Industry, Rares was recognised as a musical prodigy at the age of three and received the best classical education from the Russian School on Piano and violin.

He also benefited from the affluence and knowledge of the family and was encouraged by his father to study extensively medicine and music. Aged 14 & 15 he had a life changing encounter in France when he met Jazzmaster Stephane Grapelli who coached him during summer holidays, starting a lifelong passion for Jazz and Swing.

Bowmanville

Active since: 2015

Hailing from Chicago, Bowmanville strives to bring the hip sensibilities of Hot Club Jazz from 1930s Paris mingled with the influences born of Chicago’s global crossroads to a wider audience. Led by violinist Ethan Adelsman, with Graham Nelson on harmonica/vocals, Noah Plotkin on drums, Oliver Horton on bass, and Mason Jiller on guitar, the group draws inspiration from diverse musical backgrounds to push the boundaries of their craft, thrilling audiences nationally. Creating a simmering synergy of vibrant bouncing sound that crackles with electric energy, Bowmanville leaves listeners always hungry for more.

Faith Heleene Brackenbury

Faith Brackenbury is a violinist, violist, vocalist and composer based in the UK. She plays and sings with American drummer Tony Bianco and the duo released 'Rising Up'  in 2021, 'Wayward Mystic- Improvisations on the Music of St.Hildegard von Bingen' in 2022 (Discus Records), 'Sentient Beings' (with Paul Dunmall, Tony Bianco and John Pope-(Off) 2023, Prema (FMR-2023, Paul Dunmall, Olie Brice, Tony Bianco, Faith Brackenbury)

From 2015-2017 she played and sang with British alto saxophonist Martin Speake in his quartet 'Mafarowi'  (Rob Luft guitar and Will Glaser drums)and the two also released a duo album 'Zephyr' in 2016 (Pumpkin Records).Her 'KnifeAngel' sextet ep was released in 2019, in response to the Knife Angel sculpture by Alfie Bradley, bringing attention to the rising rate of knife crime in the UK .

Gabe Terracciano

A native of Portland, Maine, Gabriel Terracciano has been playing the violin since the age of three. After eight years of strictly classical training, he discovered the jazz violin playing of Joe Venuti, Stuff Smith, and, later on, Zbigniew Seifert, who all changed his musical life (and life in general!) forever. Since then, Gabe has developed into a versatile multi-instrumentalist and a musician who has been recognized for playing the violin “in a way that’s unlike anyone else” (Sam Pfeifle, Portland Phoenix), while “proving himself as an improviser, never overplaying or imitating his predecessors on his instrument” (iTunes official album review for Crunch Time with Ron McClure). As an improvising string player, Gabe has delved into the fields of modern jazz, Gypsy and hot jazz, Middle Eastern, electronic, pop, bluegrass, and Latin styles, just to name a few! He has played for many years throughout the United States as both a leader and sideman, including multiple performances at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola (NYC), part of Jazz at Lincoln Center

Maria Manousaki

Maria Manousaki stands as one of Greece’s most successful and versatile musicians , working to great acclaim and commercial success as a violin performer and band leader, Maria's musical style can be best categorized within the jazz and world music scene. Maria Manousaki was born in Johannesburg of bicultural parentage. After completing the English Royal School of Music Violin examinations, Maria graduated from the Greek Conservatory Filippos Nakas with a Jazz Violinist Degree. She received a scholarship from the world renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA, earning an Honors Degree in Professional Music in 2002. Steadily growing into an international artiste, Maria performs as a soloist as well as with her band “Maria Manousaki Quintet” around America and the world: She performs in different bands as a freelance musician covering diverse musical genres for many prestigious high- profile events, theaters, festivals, clubs, and venues in various major cities across the globe. Since her arrival in New York, Maria has performed alongside some of the worlds most renowned musicians and has released two outstanding albums: "Sole Voyage" which comprises her own original music and the excitingly unusual combinations of Cretan melodies woven into a tapestry of Jazz with Polyrhythmic Percussion. This can be found on all streaming platforms, The album won the best jazz album at the “academia awards” in 2016 Her latest album “Hidden Trails” will be released in 2021. Maria has lived in Dubai where she performed in many prestigious events such as the International Film Festival, at private functions for the Sheikh of Dubai, the Madinat Theatre in Mina Al Salam, various seven star hotels including the Burg Al Arab

Elinor Speirs

Born: September 7

There is something amazing that happens when cultures converge. There is surprise and enchantment, chaos and dispute, but in the end, there is always something new. That is where violinist Elinor Speirs likes to set up residence - at the cusp of the conversation. The progeny of a Viking and a celt, raised at the southern tip of Africa with Ashkenazi Jewish heritage, it was almost inevitable that Elinor would flee the constraints of the orchestra and join the fire and dance of improvised music. Versatility and flair for style have ensured her place in musical genres across the board. Classically trained at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and jazz and free music trained at New York University and New England Conservatory, Elinor is an experienced orchestral and chamber music performer with a burgeoning career in jazz, world music fusion, free music, new music and interdisciplinary arts

Winko Ljizz

Born: 1955

Something has been missing from the northeast corner of 22nd and J streets for the past couple months. Those familiar with the weekend scene in this area have noticed the absence of a large, purple truck bearing the words, “Acoustic Sanctuary.”

Many people have become acquainted with this entertainment venue on wheels from the inside, while others maintain certain levels of curiosity from afar.

Accompanied with the green, lighted words, “OneManBand” and “Storyteller,” and stairs leading up to its purple curtain-covered entrance, this unique roadside attraction has been hard to miss. It had been a fixture of this midtown street corner on Thursday, Friday and Saturdays evenings since 2002.

Fit As A Fiddle: How the Violin Helped Shape Jazz, Part 2

by Peter Rubie
December 30, 2021

Part 1 | Part 2 This is Now I hate to confess this, but I've never been that keen on Stephane Grappelli's playing, as masterful and brilliant as he assuredly was. ("He plays with an accent," violinist and Berklee professor Rob Thomas confided to me when I hesitantly mentioned this to him. What Rob ...