Results for "jazz"

Samuel Morgan

Born: April 22, 2007

Wesley Montaigne

Kim Cypher

Kim Cypher is creating quite a stir on the jazz scene at present. As one of the UK’s most exciting saxophonists, vocalists, composers, band leaders and radio hosts, Kim has firmly secured a reputation for delivering the highest quality performance with incredible style, passion, energy, and charisma together with her renowned vivacious stage presence and warm connection with all audiences.

A regular performer on the London and UK jazz circuit, having sold out the main stage at world-renowned Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club and performed in New York, Kim’s experience, all-round skills and natural ability to win the hearts of all audiences offer a unique ‘full package’ for the very best in jazz performance.

Rob Crocker

Born: November 1, 1945

Rob Crocker, who worked as a radio host at WBGO for more than three decades, died on March 7, 2024, at his home in New York City. He was 78 years old. The cause of death, according to his family, was coronary disease and complications from asthma. Crocker had the singular distinction of being the longest-running disc jockey in the history of jazz radio in New York City.

Born in Brooklyn on November 1, 1945, Crocker was a musician in high school, but his life took a turn towards broadcasting when injuries, sustained in Vietnam, cut short his future as a performer. He started his broadcasting career as a programmer in Europe; Crocker co-hosted the Holland-based show "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" for Radio Free America.

Michael Snow violin and keyboards

Grace Kelly

Born: May 15, 1992

As Grace Kelly defiantly reminds us on The Other One, a standout number from her upcoming

Album, Trying To Figure It Out, she’s not looking to be like anyone else. “Got my own thing,” she sings over the song’s urban, trance-like groove. Although the singer and saxophone player has been acclaimed by critics and audiences alike as a jazz musician, the track’s exhilarating chorus, haunting keyboard hook and brittle electro edge show an artist interested only in playing what she loves labels be damned.

While a current Kelly concert might delight jazz purists with Great American Songbook standards, it could just as easily inspire mainstream listeners with Gracei-fied takes on the likes of Daft Punk’s Get Lucky, Coldplay’s Magic or Sia’s Chandelier.

Gus Leighton

Born: October 28, 1995

Gus Leighton is an Australian contemporary tenor saxophonist based in Hobart, Tasmania. He is known for his improvisational skills and compositional style, drawing influence from notable saxophonists such as Lester Young, Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz, and Wayne Shorter. Gus is currently pursuing his PhD research at the University of Tasmania, focusing on these four saxophonists.

Aside from his research, Gus is actively involved in the music scene. He is a respected saxophonist, composer, arranger, and bandleader of various groups including Uncle Gus and The Rimshots, The Gus Leighton Quartet, and The Greenrises Jazz Orchestra. Gus has also performed at festivals and events as both a leader and accompanist, having shared the stage with artists like Dami Im, Andrew O'Keefe and The Melbourne Ska Orchestra.

Thomas Reilly

Born: December, 1998

Thomas Reilly is an award winning multi-instrumentalist and composer from Bernardsville, New Jersey. Playing in rock bands since the age of twelve, Thomas’ passion for music has taken him through many styles. In 2021, he received his Bachelor’s of Music in Composition from Rowan University, during which he studied classical and jazz performance on drumset, vibraphone and piano, as well as classical and jazz composition. Thomas received the 2019 New Jersey Jazz Society Young Artist scholarship for his endeavors in jazz performance. Continuing his studies, Thomas received his Master’s of Music in Jazz Composition and Arranging from the University of North Texas in 2023. While at the University of North Texas, he played and recorded with the GRAMMY- nominated One o’Clock Lab Band.

F. August Bish

Derrick Bounds

A native Chicagoan, growing up on the West and NW sides of Chicago listening to everything from James Brown and Duke Ellington to Scott Joplin and Sergei Rachmaninoff, Derrick Bounds begin studying the piano at age 11, at "Dorolyn Academy of Music" in Oak Park, IL (founded by Derrick's aunt, Dorothy Bounds in 1982), studying privately for 12 consecutive years under Ms Juanita Calermee.  Later studying with various pianists including Alan Swain of Evanston, IL and Kevin Gainer in Waukegan, IL. and more recently at the Chicago Conservatory of Music studying Advanced Classical with Michael Ruiz where Derrick has been in preparation for a solo piano Classical and Jazz Recital.  Derrick, began playing in church during his teens as well as playing in the Wilbur Wright College Jazz Big Band.  Later graduating from DePaul University, BS Computer Science and also studying Music.  Derrick has been giggin' around town and out of state since.  Playing piano/keyboards behind live stage performances at Chicago's famed "Black Ensemble Theater" for 10 years gave Derrick unmeasurable experience playing in the music ensemble setting.  Derrick has also played behind several notable professional talents as well.  Developing a range of music genres to include Jazz, Classical, Ragtime, Pop, Gospel, Blues....  Composing, producing and performing is what he enjoys most, hence ultimately turning toward music full time after the IT position was out-sourced.  In addition to Chicago, Derrick has accompanied artists in Michigan's "Idlewild Jazz Festival, in New York Times Square and North Carolina's "Black Theater Festival".  Locally, he can be seen playing solo piano at the "Chicago Chop House" in the River North Neighborhood.  Derrick's original music can be heard on internet radio world wide as well as his YouTube channel derrickboundsmusic hosting vlogs on various historic music sites.