Dave had a beat that could shake the earth, and I am grateful to have shared a strong musical bond with him for over 25 years.
—Dr. Eli Yamin, Co-Founder, Managing and Artistic Director, Jazz Power Initiative
Album is a tribute to the joy this gentle man left though his music and his life
Jazz Power Initiative (JPI) co-founder, Managing and Artistic Director Eli Yamin, better known as Dr. E., got together with some of his favorite musicians and friends to make an album under the JPI label some months ago. The album, Squeeze In Tight, set for release on September 1st, is meant as a tribute “…to the joy that jazz and blues inspire,” said Dr. E.
But with the sudden passing of the phenomenal drummer, and educator, Philadelphia’s David F. Gibson — this, his last release will be as much a tribute to this inspirational human being, who enjoyed playing as much as he loved teaching. He was a legend in his own right. He toured and recorded extensively with the Count Basie Orchestra led by Frank Foster; played with an exceptional list of rare musicians and orchestras including the Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Sun Ra Arkestra, Joe Williams, Clark Terry, the Diane Schuur Trio and many more. His legacy is in every young person that he touched with his musicianship, as an adjunct professor at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and as a member of the teaching artist roster at Jazz Power Initiative and this album.
Dr. E. master jazz pianist, songwriter/composer and educator said this about his friend and music partner, “Dave had a beat that could shake the earth, and I am grateful to have shared a strong musical bond with him for over 25 years. It’s hard to accept he is gone but I will do my best to live up to his example of pure devotion, concentration and groove.”
On the album, which Eli says is a way, “We create solidarity through improvisation call and response, co-signing, shuffle, swing, soulful sound syncopation and polyrhythm,” he is joined by a number of equally exceptional musicians including virtuoso saxophonist, Zaid Nasser, the son of bassist Jamil Sulieman Nasser who played on over a dozen Ahmad Jamal albums, and with noted jazz royalty, Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Lou Donaldson and George Coleman. Like his father, Zaid is cultured in the art of traditional bebop jazz, was mentored by Papa Jo Jones and like his father, played with Lou Donaldson and George Coleman.
Bassist Elias Bailey has been a professional musician since the age of 15. He joined the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra when he was 19 years old and played and toured with Freddy Cole and his quartet. He was also a featured player on the group’s Grammy-nominated albums, Freddy Cole Sings Mr. B and My Mood Is You. Today he continues to perform with jazz saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin.
Rounding out the group are Dr. E’s former students; the trumpeter Nicole Davis and vocalist Clover St. Hubert, a non-binary/trans NYC-based vocalist, violinist, and teaching artist, and Dr. E’s current students, JPI’s Zah! Jr. ensemble youth performance group.
Squeeze in Tight is produced by Jeff Jones “The Jedi Master” (Dr. John, Eric Clapton, Wynton Marsalis), showcases Yamin, who is a Steinway Artist, on piano and vocals, and features a vibrant mix of classics and timely originals including Climate Change, which he says, “is an absurd take on the utter seriousness of the issue,” and Make Room, inspired when Eli Yamin reconnected with his former student, the now global sensation, singer, songwriter and music producer better known as Charlie Puth.
The album drops on September 1st and will be available on all music streaming services. Some proceeds from the sale of the album will benefit Jazz Power Initiative youth programs.
On September 12th, from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, an album release and salute to David F. Gibson, will be held for Squeeze In Tight at Acts Center at the Eliza (4782 Broadway, New York). For more information on the event click here.
SMC Solutions
(917) 331-9375
Jazz Power Initiative (JPI) co-founder, Managing and Artistic Director Eli Yamin, better known as Dr. E., got together with some of his favorite musicians and friends to make an album under the JPI label some months ago. The album, Squeeze In Tight, set for release on September 1st, is meant as a tribute “…to the joy that jazz and blues inspire,” said Dr. E.
But with the sudden passing of the phenomenal drummer, and educator, Philadelphia’s David F. Gibson — this, his last release will be as much a tribute to this inspirational human being, who enjoyed playing as much as he loved teaching. He was a legend in his own right. He toured and recorded extensively with the Count Basie Orchestra led by Frank Foster; played with an exceptional list of rare musicians and orchestras including the Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Sun Ra Arkestra, Joe Williams, Clark Terry, the Diane Schuur Trio and many more. His legacy is in every young person that he touched with his musicianship, as an adjunct professor at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and as a member of the teaching artist roster at Jazz Power Initiative and this album.
Dr. E. master jazz pianist, songwriter/composer and educator said this about his friend and music partner, “Dave had a beat that could shake the earth, and I am grateful to have shared a strong musical bond with him for over 25 years. It’s hard to accept he is gone but I will do my best to live up to his example of pure devotion, concentration and groove.”
On the album, which Eli says is a way, “We create solidarity through improvisation call and response, co-signing, shuffle, swing, soulful sound syncopation and polyrhythm,” he is joined by a number of equally exceptional musicians including virtuoso saxophonist, Zaid Nasser, the son of bassist Jamil Sulieman Nasser who played on over a dozen Ahmad Jamal albums, and with noted jazz royalty, Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Lou Donaldson and George Coleman. Like his father, Zaid is cultured in the art of traditional bebop jazz, was mentored by Papa Jo Jones and like his father, played with Lou Donaldson and George Coleman.
Bassist Elias Bailey has been a professional musician since the age of 15. He joined the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra when he was 19 years old and played and toured with Freddy Cole and his quartet. He was also a featured player on the group’s Grammy-nominated albums, Freddy Cole Sings Mr. B and My Mood Is You. Today he continues to perform with jazz saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin.
Rounding out the group are Dr. E’s former students; the trumpeter Nicole Davis and vocalist Clover St. Hubert, a non-binary/trans NYC-based vocalist, violinist, and teaching artist, and Dr. E’s current students, JPI’s Zah! Jr. ensemble youth performance group.
Squeeze in Tight is produced by Jeff Jones “The Jedi Master” (Dr. John, Eric Clapton, Wynton Marsalis), showcases Yamin, who is a Steinway Artist, on piano and vocals, and features a vibrant mix of classics and timely originals including Climate Change, which he says, “is an absurd take on the utter seriousness of the issue,” and Make Room, inspired when Eli Yamin reconnected with his former student, the now global sensation, singer, songwriter and music producer better known as Charlie Puth.
The album drops on September 1st and will be available on all music streaming services. Some proceeds from the sale of the album will benefit Jazz Power Initiative youth programs.
On September 12th, from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, an album release and salute to David F. Gibson, will be held for Squeeze In Tight at Acts Center at the Eliza (4782 Broadway, New York). For more information on the event click here.
About Jazz Power Initiative
Jazz Power Initiative (JPI, a dba of The Jazz Drama Program), a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) organization founded in 2003, serves thousands of New Yorkers and visitors annually—students, teachers, artists, seniors and general audiences, ages 8-80+, to promote music education, and build more creative and inclusive communities through jazz music, theater and dance education and performance.Contact:
Sam MattinglySMC Solutions
(917) 331-9375
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