Results for "Composer/arranger"

Thana Alexa

Surprising is the word that perhaps best describes Grammy® nominated, Downbeat cover artist and winner of the International Songwriting Competition, Thana Alexa, an extraordinarily creative force in music. Her 2x Grammy® nominated album ONA (self-release, March 2020), was inspired by the cross generational and cross-cultural stories of the immigrant women in her family and evolved into an exploration of the experiences of contemporary women everywhere. 

ONA has spawned more female-focused projects: Alexa, together with Grammy® nominated artist, Nicole Zuraitis and first-call bassist, Julia Adamy formed SONICA, a dynamic trio that incorporates intricate vocal harmonies, electronics, vocal loops, percussion, electric bass, and keyboards over a blend of original music and modern arrangements. The trio’s self-titled debut album, fully engineered, produced and mixed by Thana Alexa was released on September 30, 2022 via Outside In Music. The album was listed as one of Downbeat Magazine's "Best Albums of 2022." Alexa also created the project Founding Mothers of Jazz in conjunction with MusicTalks Concerts to honor the history of women in jazz, many who are not historically recognized for their contributions because of their gender. 

Luis Mario Ochoa

Guitarist, vocalist, composer, arranger and band leader Luis Mario Ochoa, the Cuban-born, Toronto based musician, released his fifth album Forever Lecuona, on April 6, 2022. A tribute to world renowned Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona – known as the Gershwin of Cuba – the album features ten of some of the legendary artist’s most beloved compositions, presented in a concert style recital program. As the primary force behind the emergence of Cuban music around the world in the early 20th century, Lecuona’s compositions encapsulated the spirit of Cuban, African and Spanish influences producing a library of music across multiple genres including popular songs, piano solo compositions, as well as music for theater, ballet and opera

Rafael Rosa

Born: March 14, 1985

Rafael has been performing and teaching for the past 12 years in New York City. He is currently part of the Faculty at LIU's ROCNATION, and has taught at other colleges like NYU, CUNY, Saint John’s University, The Brooklyn Music School, Stevens Cooperative and his private studio:  The Brooklyn Rock Academy, helping students graduate to colleges like Berklee College of Music, Wells College, Indiana University, etc. He regularly performs  in NYC as a sideman and as a leader so be sure  to check the calendar. He is currently putting the finishing touches on his second album and first LP as a leader titled “Axiomatic: Music For The People”

Rick Lawn

Born: May 15, 1949

Richard (Rick) Lawn is the former, now retired Dean of the College of Performing Arts at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia (uarts.edu) where he now following retirement professor emeritus in the School of Music. Previously he was the Founding Director of Jazz Studies, Chair of the Department of Music, and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. Before joining the Texas faculty Rick was Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Northern Iowa. Rick holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Eastman School of Music where his principal teachers were Rayburn Wright, Bill Dobbins, Chuck Mangione and William Osseck

Anna Luana Tallarita

Born: March 8

Steven Kirby

Guitarist, composer, educator Steven Kirby has built a reputation for performing exciting, melodic, lyrical and expressive mainstream and contemporary jazz as well as being active as performer in other contemporary styles. He has appeared on over 25 released recordings (including two as a leader “Point Of Balance” and “North Light”—available via iTunes, Amazon and at CDBaby). His newest recording, “Illuminations”, is slated for release in early 2016. He has performed and/or recorded with many of today’s most respected contemporary musicians including Chris Potter, George Garzone, Scott Colley, Bruce Barth, Joe Lovano, Harvie Swartz, Joe Hunt, Steve Hunt, George Schuller, Allan Holdsworth, Matt Malley (of Counting Crows) and others

Edward Partyka

Born: August 23, 1967

Ed Partyka is an arranger, composer, conductor and educator specializing in large ensemble jazz music. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, he earned a BA degree from Northern Illinois University before moving to Germany in 1990. He completed a master's degree in jazz trombone at the Musikhochschule in Cologne, where he was also a member of the G.E.M.A. Jazz Composers Workshop under the direction of Bob Brookmeyer.

He was recipient of the 2000 “A.S.C.A.P. / I.A.J.E. Commission Honouring the Centenary of Louis Armstrong”. He was 1st prize-winner of the 1998 “NDR Musikpreis” (Hamburg), 1st prize winner of the Jazz Composers Alliance 1998 Julius Hemphill Composition Awards (Boston) and finalist in the 1996 HR Emerging Composers Competition (Frankfurt).

Michel Nirenberg

Born: July 10

Saxophonist and composer Michel Nirenberg, a native of Rio de Janeiro, has been carving out a niche in the Washington, DC jazz scene since coming to the United States in 2012. He has already made a name for himself in Brazil, performing in many festivals and winning in competitions throughout the country while earning a bachelor’s degree in music at the top of his class from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). In 2014, he graduated with a master’s degree in music from James Madison University, where he was a teaching assistant and active performer. Long before graduation, he was playing with top performers in both countries. Nirenberg was raised in a family of musicians and studied music since childhood

Atsushi Kumagai

Jazz singer/composer/arranger/coach – Atsushi Kumagai, who is certified as one of the official vocal instructor’s members in 2015 by somaticvoicework.com. He grew up in Sendai city, Japan in a musical environment, where his mother was playing and teaching the piano. When he was 10 years old, he had one singing exam in the music class. He felt very free in my throat and his body sensation during singing. After he performed the song, He felt an underlying passion in his heart and felt free. He got a lot of praise from audience. After graduating from high school, he studied architecture at the University

Steve H. Williams

Composer, arranger and saxophonist Steve Williams has enjoyed a nearly 50 year career performing many styles of music. He has appeared on numerous albums including the Latin Grammy winning (2008) "Caribbean Jazz Project/Afro Bop Alliance Big Band featuring Dave Samuels." Steve's big band album, "Steve Williams and Jazz Nation" is available on OA2 Records and features Steve's exciting arrangements and compositions. In 1997 Steve joined the United Stated Navy Band Commodores and has served as the band's lead alto player and musical director and has contributed over 50 compositions and arrangements