Results for "Hard Bop"

Phil Wilkinson

Born: November 21, 1978

Philip Wilkinson was born in 1978 in Nottingham, United Kingdom. He started playing keyboards at age four and, as of 1985, studied organ—his main instrument—or seven years.

He became interested in Jazz in the early nineties, alternating piano and organ, and by the time he was twenty he was teaching piano and improvisation at the Clarendon (Nottingham) University.

Phil later met Darius Brubeck, son of the legendary Dave Brubeck. He studied with Darius for one year, and had the opportunity of playing several two-piano concerts with him.

Between 2012 and 2023, Wilkinson has had the opportunity to work with Jazz legends like Larry Coryell, Alvin Queen, Mark Whitfield, Ulf Wakenius, Phillip Catherine, Peter Bernstein and Jesse Van Ruler.

Alex Clarke

Born: December 14, 1999

As a finalist in the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2020, winner of the Rising Star category in the 2019 British Jazz Awards and nominee in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2021 & 2022, Alex is known to be one of the most in-demand and versatile young saxophonists to have emerged on the British jazz scene.

Since the age of 15 - where she saw her first public performance sitting in with the Exall/Roberts Quintet at Pershore Jazz Festival - Alex has been a regular face at jazz clubs and festivals all around the country.

Known for her versatility and open-minded attitude towards jazz, Alex enjoys performing a range of genres from New Orleans to bebop. Praised for her extensive repertoire list and intelligent ear for harmony, she brings a youthful, intuitive approach that always sounds authentic in a variety of musical settings. Alex's musical voice is steeped in the tradition of jazz; her deep respect for the heritage of the music can be heard in her swinging, melodic sound which is reminiscent of Scott Hamilton and Lester Young, also heavily influenced by Phil Woods and Cannonball Adderley.

Christopher Lucas Wilson

Christopher Lucas Wilson is a hard swingin' pianist originally from metropolitan Detroit, later transplanted to Los Angeles, and recently relocated to Chicago. As a child, Christopher was first introduced to music on a Grinnell Brothers piano in his parents’ living room by a now unknown piano teacher. Although this teacher’s name remains a mystery, Christopher remains indebted for his role in instilling a lifelong passion for music. 

The enlightening and freeing sound of swing is what first attracted Christopher to jazz. His interest in this feeling is what led him to begin exploring Detroit’s rich musical history which was and is replete with musical legends. He first studied with the late greats Bess Bonnier and Marcus Belgrave. Later, he would join the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Civic Jazz Program where he first met esteemed bassist and educator Rodney Whitaker. By the time Christopher graduated from high school, he was entrenched in swing and bebop and would go on to further his studies within the jazz program at Michigan State University. While at Michigan State, he had the pleasure of studying and performing with Rodney Whitaker, Wess “Warmdaddy” Anderson, Derrick Gardner, Vincent Chandler, Randy Gilespie, Diego Rivera, and Rick Roe. After graduating Christopher immediately began performing with his trio in Detroit, including a weekly jam session at the heralded Baker’s Keyboard Lounge. A short year later, Christopher relocated to sunny swingin’ Los Angeles where he fell in love with Southern California and spent nearly a decade there as a result. During that time he played regularly with his trio and released two albums, "Feelin' Better" and “Leaving Los Angeles." Christopher moved to Chicago shortly after and is honored and excited to be part of another incredible city rich with musical history. His third studio release, "Solemn Moments" was released in January 2023. 

Hard Bop Messengers

Active since: 2018

Live At The Last Hotel, the upcoming release from John Covelli’s Hard Bop Messengers, is a jazz album that literally tells a story. The visionary, original, genre-defying musical journey that reminds you of what jazz can be, was born from a residency at the REAL Last Hotel in downtown St. Louis. Each song paints a picture with bounce and bustle, that takes you to a place and time that somehow feels both nostalgic and modern. The lyrics tell the story of the trials and tribulations of a fictional hotel through the eyes of its employees.

Covelli knew he had something special when he assembled this group and he gives them all room to shine. Nick Savage, Chris Meschede, Luke Sailor, and Ben Shafer are, like himself, of the esteemed Webster University jazz program. Matt Krieg, originally from St Louis, puts the vocals where they need to be to tell Covelli’s lyrical tale. Covelli has played in dozens of bands over the years and learned just as many styles.

Dave Mattock

Born: December 9, 1980

A professional piano, organ and keyboard player living outside Philadelphia PA, Dave Mattock divides his time between running the Mattock School of Music, performing, and teaching. Dave is a member of the faculty at Camden County College, University of Pennsylvania, and Lafayette College, where he teaches piano, theory, music history, music business, jazz ensembles and introductory music classes. His recording career consists of three full length jazz albums under his own name, dozens of recordings as a sideman, and composition credits for TV. Dave can also be found freelancing around Philadelphia in various jazz ensembles, cover bands, wedding bands and studio appearances

Eric Jacobson

Born: April 7

As a performer, teacher, and clinician Eric Jacobson is in high demand and has been gaining a national reputation through his trumpet playing and as a jazz educator. Eric has performed with Grammy© Award Winners Phil Woods, Benny Golson, Brian Lynch, Tito Puente Jr., and Eric Benet. As a Music Major he studied Trumpet at UW-Whitewater from 1993-1997 with Dr. Frank Hanson, and Grammy Award winner Jazz Director Steve Wiest.

Eric is a top call trumpeter for high-profile gigs in Milwaukee, Madison, and Chicago. Eric performs in the windy city at the Green Mill, Jazz Showcase, Winter’s Jazz Club, and Andy's Jazz Club with some of the top Chicago groups such as The Chicago Jazz Orchestra, Chicago Yestet, Bakerzmillion, and Mark Colby’s Quintet.

Eric has also been busy in the recording studio with his latest CD released under Grammy Award winner Brian Lynch's jazz label Holistic MusicWorks.

In 2019 and 2021, Eric toured the east cost leading his own group in South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, D.C., Philly, and New York featuring world-class musicians Bruce Barth and John Swana.

"Eric is the real deal! - a truly world-class jazz trumpeter with a gift to inspire, motivate and teach students of all ages with dramatic results

Chris Mondak

Born: February 13, 1998

Born in Venezuela, raised in Illinois, and now residing in Nashville, composer and bassist Chris Mondak, just 23 years of age, already has amassed vast experience in jazz. A 2020 graduate of the New England Conservatory, Chris has studied with bass luminaries Cecil McBee, Dave Holland, and Larry Gray, and performed with the likes of Shelly Berg, Melanie Charles, Dave Douglas, Wayne Escoffery, Wycliffe Gordon, Jeff Hamilton, Jesus Molina, Matt Savage, and Marvin Stamm.

Chris has toured extensively in the U.S., playing with the Jazz band of America, jazz vocalist Daniel LeClaire, Chicago rock band Rev Gusto, and his own jazz combos The Chris Mondak Band and West of Staley

Andreas Hertel

Born: 1964

Andreas Hertel is a German jazz pianist, composer, bandleader, and piano teacher. Since the early 90ies he has been on the German jazz scene. He published 10 CDs with original compositions in solo, trio, and quintet settings and wrote about 200 jazz tunes, some big band arrangements, and theatre music. Two of his CDs received longlist nominations for a German Record Critic's Award ("Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik"): "Blue Bop" (Trio, 2022) and "Keepin' the Spirit" (2015), feat. guest stars Dusko Goykovich (tp/flh), Tony Lakatos (sax), "Lady Bass" Lindy Huppertsberg (b), Jens Biehl (dr) Hertel studied jazz-piano (1993-97) in Mainz, Germany and visited workshops with Simon Nabatov and Kenny Werner, Herb Geller, Jiggs Whigham, Gustavo Bergalli, among others

Michael Orenstein

Born: June 27, 1995

Hailing from Berkeley, CA, Origin Records Jazz Artist Michael Orenstein was surrounded by a vibrant jazz community at a young age. Through programs like the SFJazz All-Stars Combo, the Jazzschool, and Berkeley High Jazz, Orenstein had the chance to play with Terrence Blanchard, Christian McBride, Wycliffe Gordon, in addition to many local greats. In 2015, Orenstein was selected to attend the Banff International Workshop in Jazz and Creative music as a TD Fellow, where he got to perform his compositions with Ingrid Jensen and Zakir Hussain. In 2017, Orenstein graduated from Oberlin with a B.M

Skip Walker

Born: November 21

Skip Walker is a drummer, composer, producer, educator, and Episcopal Priest. He is a graduate of Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music (the world’s foremost institution for the study of Jazz and modern American music) where he studied with renown drummers John Ramsay, Skip Hadden, and Ed Uribe. Skip got his first break at the age seventeen touring Europe as the drummer for the New York based funk group “The Fatback Band,” but after hearing great jazz drummers such as Art Blakey, Max Roach, Roy Haynes, Elvin Jones and Tony Williams, Skip slowly began falling in love with Jazz