Results for "Composer/arranger"

Travis Hall

Born: January 23, 1994

Travis Hall (b. January 23, 1994) is an Atlanta-based vocalist, composer, and Recording Academy Voting Member whose work exists at the intersection of jazz tradition, soul expression, and contemporary Black American Music. He holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Georgia State University, where his graduate studies included advanced jazz theory, harmonic analysis, and improvisation alongside classical and operatic training.

Hall’s compositional voice is grounded in extended harmony, modal interchange, altered dominants, and jazz-informed voice leading — elements that shape both his writing and performance approach. Though widely recognized as a Soul and R&B artist, his music reflects a deep engagement with jazz structure, ensemble interplay, and improvisational phrasing.

Akiyoshi Shimizu

Born: February 6, 1985

Born in 1985 in Fukui, Japan.

Akiyoshi Shimizu’s musical journey began in childhood with a fascination for composition. At 14, he picked up the electric bass, and a transformative encounter with the music of Jaco Pastorius led him toward the world of jazz. Upon entering university, he transitioned to the double bass, mastering the instrument through self-study. Since beginning his professional career in Tokyo in 2006, he has earned profound trust and acclaim from a wide range of musicians across generations.

In tandem with his performance career, Shimizu has independently pursued the art of composition and arrangement. In 2020, he released his debut leader album, Satya. In 2022, his original composition "Room106" from the album was named a Finalist in the Jazz category of the prestigious John Lennon Songwriting Contest in the U.S., earning him international recognition as a composer.

Michel Freidenson

Born: August 14, 1961

Release by Michel Freidenson

Considered one of the great pianists of Brazil, Michel Freidenson is a composer, producer, keyboardist, and arranger. Founder of the legendary instrumental group "ZonaAzul," he participated in the effervescence of the Brazilian instrumental movement in the 80s.

Throughout his career, Michel has recorded and participated in shows in Brazil and around the world with great artists such as: Hermeto Pascoal (deceased), Luiz Millan, Djavan, Ivan Lins, Tim Maia (deceased), Filó Machado, Ana Caram, Márcio Montarroyos (deceased), Fafá de Belém, Bocato, Edu Santhana, Léa Freire, Teco Cardoso, Duda Neves, Lô Borges, Raul de Souza, Jane Duboc, Leny de Andrade, Badi Assad, Celso Pixinga, Corciolli, Thijs Van Leer and Bobby Jacobs from the Dutch progressive rock band "Focus," among many others, in addition to having international recognition with his "Michel Freidenson Trio." At age 5 he began playing the guitar. At age 6 he started playing the piano, with guidance from Professor Arlete Ognibene who allowed him "freedom" to create, compose, and have fun according to the inspiration of the moment. Simultaneously, he had the guidance of a great Master, Roberto Ribeiro de Souza (deceased), the guitar professor who taught him music and its transformative power, teaching him to listen to music, perceiving the paths of sounds, intentions, and arrangements, independent of sheet music. At age 14, Michel attended Clam - Centro Livre de Aprendizagem Musical (Free Center for Musical Learning), run by the Zimbo Trio.

David M. Brown

Chris McNulty

Born: December 23, 1953

Chris McNulty is an Australian born, American-Australian vocalist-composer. Born in Melbourne, Australia she travelled to NYC with her son in 1988 where she became a fixture on the New York jazz scene for almost three decades performing, recording and touring with many legendary American jazz musicians. Chris relocated back to Australia in late 2015.

McNulty’s emergence on the international jazz scene began around 1991 with the release of her critically acclaimed, Waltz for Debby (Discovery). Since then her recordings and performances have garnered outstanding reviews in publications including DownBeat, Jazz Times, The Irish Times, Jazz Wise, All About Jazz and The Australian, among others. Universal press and radio coverage brought further international touring opportunities leading to consistent appearances at festivals including the Edinburgh Jazz Festival, Dundee Jazz, Brecon Arts (UK); Kilkenny Arts (Ireland); Kharkiv Int. Jazz (Ukraine); Petrozavodsk Int. Jazz (Russia); Perth Int. Jazz, Wangaratta Jazz and Blues, Stonnington Jazz, Dunborough Jazz By the Bay and the Melbourne Int. Jazz (Australia)

Francesco Forges

Born: December 25, 1961

Singer, composer and flutist, was born in 1961 in Milan, Italy, where he still lives.

Graduate at the Conservatoire “G. Verdi” (Milan, Italy), he was formed and matured in different musical areas as progressive rock, jazz, opera, ancient and contemporary music.

He dedicated himself to jazz and vocal improvisation studies, with artists such as: Maggie Nicols, Bob Stoloff, Jay Clayton, André Minvielle, Fabrizio Cassol.

He worked also as a socio-educationalist, singing teacher and chorister.

His eclecticism has led him to collaborate, among others with: Zètema Orchestra (with Steve Lacy, Glenn Ferris, Gianluigi Trovesi, Paolo Fresu), Cantosospeso Choir (with Nana Vasconcelos, Miriam Makeba), Bruno Tommaso, Gianni Lenoci, Ferdinando Faraò & Artchipel Orchestra (also with Mike & Kate Westbrook), Micrologus Ensemble, Chorus of the Teatro Regio in Turin (under the direction, among others, of Semyon Bichkov, Pinchas Steinberg), Athestis Chorus (under the direction, among others, of Myun Wun Chung, Jeffrey Tate), Teatro alla Scala (Milan), Teatro La Fenice (Venice), Piccolo Teatro (Milan).

Gorkem Ozalp

Born: June 23, 1985

Gorkem Ozalp is a London-based guitarist, composer, and bandleader whose music bridges jazz, contemporary improvisation, and global influences.

Born and raised in Turkey, Ozalp completed his musical education in Istanbul, performing in many of the city’s prominent venues and gaining recognition within its vibrant jazz community. In 2023, he moved to London to pursue a Master’s degree in Music and Performance at Kingston University, where he began developing new projects and recording his original compositions.

Earlier this year, Ozalp released his debut EP Addresses, a collection of works reflecting his journey between Istanbul and London. The EP is available on all major streaming platforms and has been accompanied by live performances across London, including appearances with his trio at cultural venues and festivals.

Dale Bruning

Born: November 8, 1934

Bruning Bio for allaboutjazz.com: 10-10-25

Dale Bruning Biography

Jazz guitarist/composer/arranger and educator Dale Bruning excites his audiences with the superb quality of his playing. 

A native of Carbondale, Pennsylvania, guitarist, composer, arranger, author, and educator Dale Bruning spent time living, working and recording in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York during the 1940s and 1950s. During his tenure in the United States Navy from 1953-57, he was a guitarist and arranger, and when called upon, he also played piano, bass, vibes, and percussion.

Hillai Govreen

Hillai Govreen is a clarinetist, saxophonist and composer based in New York. Hillai’s upcoming album Every Other Now is a collaboration with bassist/composer Ben Meigners, and features some notable names of the NY music scene such as Steve Cardenas (guitar), Eric McPherson (drums), Café Da Silva (percussion) among others. The album is set to be released in August 2025 under the Fresh Sound label.

Her previous album “Allusions” (2021) is a duet with pianist Nitsan Kolko. Their duet feature spontaneous musical dialogue and alludes to various ancient fables. In addition, Hillai arranged music for a nonet consisting of strings and woodwinds.  

Harley White Jr.

Active since: September 11, 1965

Since 1991, Harley White Jr. has been a prominent figure on the Sacramento music scene in a wide array of roles from pop recording artist with “Papa’s Culture”, as a creative force with “Blackalicious”, “Original Heads” and “Dr. Echo”, as an award winning bassist, and as an impresario presenting the WhiteNoise™ festival.

Now, with the Harley White Jr. (HWJO) Jazz Orchestra, White returns to his musical roots as the son of prominent Bay Area Educator,Bassist, Harley White Sr. Performing Groups 1991- 1996 "Papa’s Culture" (Funk/Pop/World Beat) 1995 to present "Original Heads"(Funk/Jazz/Hip Hop) 2005 "Harley White Jr