Results for "jazz"

Liz Cole

You know that scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail when Terry Jones’ weird, pale prince character tells his overbearing father he doesn’t want land or a wife–he’d rather just… he’d rather just… sing?

That scene really captures my musical journey.

I grew up in a musical household in California. My parents introduced me to everything from Bartok to Blue Mitchell, and one of my favorite toys was a box of rhythm instruments my dad kept in the hall closet. It’s no wonder I picked up the trumpet at the age of nine and played that thing right up until my first lease agreement specifically said “no horns.”

Griffin Woodard

Born: September 27, 1998

Griffin Woodard is a composer, bass clarinetist, and bandleader who believes in the transformative power of music.

As an instrumentalist, Woodard’s primary focus is playing the bass clarinet in a jazz context. He has dedicated years of study to acquiring an in-depth understanding of the rich historical lineage of jazz clarinetists and bass clarinetists from Johnny Dodds to Eric Dolphy.

He hopes to honor the profound contributions of the masters by pushing his instrument to new frontiers of personal expression.

Woodard’s compositions have been performed by a variety of esteemed ensembles and soloists, including the New England Conservatory Jazz Composers’ Workshop Orchestra, the Bach Festival Orchestra of Bethlehem, the Allentown Symphony Orchestra, concert pianist Michelle Cann, and organist Stephen Williams. In 2022, Woodard was awarded the ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award for his piece, “Kyrie”.

Delfeayo Marsalis & The Uptown Jazz Orchestra

Active since: 2007

Uptown Jazz Orchestra’s mission is to promote the rich cultural legacy of American music through both entertaining and educational performances. Our educational shows are designed to give young people a greater awareness of important historical figures and musical traditions. All other shows are designed specifically with the intent of folks having a good time … hands clapping, toes tapping and rump shaking!

In 2007, NEA Jazz Master and Grammy Award winning trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis formed the Uptown Jazz Orchestra (UJO) for the purpose of keeping important jazz music traditions alive; such as riff-playing, spontaneous group improvisations, and collective New Orleans instrumental polyphony. At the time, Marsalis realized that the New Orleans music community was lacking the infusion of young homegrown talent outside of the great brass band tradition, and chose to form an orchestra that could present traditional, classic, and modern compositions with authenticity. Since that time, UJO has grown into one of the premier large ensembles in the world, releasing four CDs to critical acclaim, and touring locally, nationally, and internationally.

Delfeayo Marsalis

Born: July 28, 1965

Delfeayo Marsalis is one of the top trombonists, composers and producers in jazz today. Known for his “technical excellence, inventive mind and frequent touches of humor…”(Leonard Feather, Los Angeles Times), he is “…one of the best, most imaginative and musical of the trombonists of his generation.” (Philip Elwood, San Francisco Examiner.) In January 2011, Delfeayo and the Marsalis family (father Ellis and brothers Branford, Wynton and Jason) earned the nation’s highest jazz honor" a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Award.

Born in New Orleans on July 28, 1965, Marsalis was destined to a life in music. “I remember my dad (Ellis Marsalis) playing piano at the house, and me laying underneath the piano as a child, listening to him play. After briefly trying bass and drums, in sixth grade I gravitated towards the trombone, which was an extension of my personality. Early on my influences and inspirations included J.J. Johnson, Curtis Fuller, Al Grey, Tyree Glenn and Tommy Dorsey.” Marsalis attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts high school, was classically trained at the Eastern Music Festival and Tanglewood Institute, and majored in both performance and audio production at the Berklee College of Music.

Jason Lapierre

Jason LaPierre is a singer-songwriter, jazz guitarist, and producer known for crafting rich, emotive soundscapes that blend jazz, R&B, and singer-songwriter influences into a distinct, evolving style. Since his independent debut in 2020, he has amassed over 10 million streams, garnered nearly 300,000 monthly listeners, and landed on numerous Spotify editorial playlists. His music has also gained global recognition, including a special CD compilation, Jason LaPierre for Quiet Corner, entirely dedicated to his work and distributed across Japan.

Jason’s work with artists across the globe, including Anthony Lazaro, Cy Leo, Ebony Loren, Suzie Collier, Whyte, and Mokina, reflects his commitment to pushing creative limits and embracing new sounds.

Carlos Alberto Jiménez

Born: April 13, 1978

Jazz guitarist and composer, Carlos Jiménez is a sought-after musician and educator on the Montreal jazz scene. He has shared the stage with some of the most expressive names of Canadian jazz. His versatility and ability to play multiple styles on both electric and classical instruments has made him a first-choice guitarist for many recording and touring projects. Along with his work as a sideman, Carlos Jiménez has produced and released four albums as a leader and has been involved in a variety of productions ranging from jazz, Brazilian music, and popular music. A recipient of both composition and recording grants, in 2009 he received a studying grant from the Canada Council for the Arts to study with American guitarist Adam Rogers, in New York

Henry Hall

Born: May 2, 1898

Henry Hall (born 2 May, 1898 in London) was best known for conducting and directing the BBC Dance Orchestra from the 1930s to the 1960s. Hall's first job was at the head office of the Salvation Army, which he composed several marches for. In World War I he served with the Royal Field Artillery, and played trumpet and piano in the regimental band, but it wasn't until the British dance band era of the 1930s that he became a household name and broadcasting star. He died on October 28, 1989, at 91-years-old

Thomas Hutchings

Born: October 21

Jay Sherman

Born: January 1, 1970

Versatile, tasteful, improvisational drummer seeking collaboration with other accomplished (expert) musicians in a lounge/jazz/fusion trio. Creates memorable audience and band member experiences through dynamic accompaniment, creativity and support of fellow musicians.

Plays at a volume and style suited to the arrangement, occasion and venue. Performed in a variety of genres including jazz, latin, funk, rock and musical theatre. A competent soloist. Reads charts. Conservatory trained. 

Creates a super-comfortable pocket from which band mates launch their expression and creativity

Rai Paz

Born: June 15, 1988

Graduated from the Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu, he furthered his education by attending various masterclasses and the Begues Jazz Camp seminars, where he has been a collaborator since the 2016 edition. In 2011, he traveled to New York, where he had the opportunity to study with Peter Bernstein, Michael Kanan, and Gilad Hekselmann.

In 2019, he made his debut as a bandleader with the album Rai Paz Quartet Plays Gypsy (by Jule Styne & Stephen Sondheim). Later, in 2022, he released two works with the Underpool label: Dedicatòria and Return | The Music of Sean Levitt. At the same time, he has been actively working in a duo with singer Elisenda Julià, with whom he released the album Love Will Be the Theme Song, awarded Best Jazz Album of the Year 2023 at the Enderrock-440 Awards by popular vote. He also collaborates with singer Isa Mirallas and is part of the Diana Palau Quartet.