Results for "jazz"

LaVon Hardison

Born: July 19

LaVon Hardison sings jazz standards, originals, and her own eclectic and compelling arrangements of popular songs. She is equally at home at jazz clubs, corporate events, private parties, and sacred settings. Her background in musical theater, opera, and jazz provides a solid foundation for her accessible, joyful, and engaging musical explorations. LaVon is beyond versatile. She brings her glowing, open heart to every performance and has thrilled audiences all over the world. “I try to make music that delights me,” LaVon says. “When I first started singing jazz I felt that I had to do it a certain way

Gretje Angell

Born: July 25

Jazz vocalist Gretje Angell grew up in smoky, dimly-lit clubs as a little-girl roadie for her jazz-drummer father. Her grandfather was also a jazz drummer, so you could say Gretje was born to swing. “If it doesn’t groove then I don’t give it a sh*#,” the Los Angeles-based singer says with a good chuckle. Gretje ascended the bandstand on her own time. She worked through a heavy dose of stage fright, welcomed motherhood, and studied classical and opera prior launching her jazz career. Today, she announces her debut, "…in any key", a classic jazz vocal album—the kind of long player you put on while savoring wine and cooking and cleaning

Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra

Founded in 2012 by bandleader Art Bouton with a mission to perform the best music with the best musicians, the Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra does just that and more. Exciting world-renowned guest artists and many of the finest musicians in the region perform dynamic big band classics and contemporary jazz to enthusiastic crowds across Colorado.

Venues like the Arvada Center, PACE Center in Parker, Parsons Theatre in Northglenn, Lone Tree Arts Center, and Lakewood Cultural Center have heard music from Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Duke Ellington, Maynard Ferguson and Buddy Rich’s bands as well as original arrangements by CJRO composers and many more across the nation.

Heshima Moja

Born: May 13, 1970

Garnering International acclaim in the jazz and R&B world throughout Europe, Africa, the U.S. and Asia, Heshima Moja is an incredibly dynamic individual. As a Bassist, Vocalist. Percussionist, Composer/Songwriter, Music Director, and Cultural Arts Presenter, Heshima has moved audiences around the world with his soulful voice, fiery bass licks, and unforgettable songs and compositions. Heavily influenced by Jazz, Afro-Cuban Rumba, Hip-Hop and R&B, he has been touching audiences with his brand of Diaspora Jazz. Throughout his impressive career, Heshima has composed music for Nickelodeon, PBS, and various films throughout Latin America, and has released two C.D.’s, The Awakening(2017) and Round and Round (2011), which still remain in heavy rotation throughout Europe and Asia

Special Purpose

Combining vintage keyboards and lead guitar, Special Purpose blends psychedelic sounds with earthy elements of funk and jazz. The band has been playing shows in the Portland, Oregon area since 2016 with some of the best musicians in the city. Their debut instrumental album Password, written by guitarist Lance Vallis, was released in 2019 and features Paul Paresa on keyboards (Sweet n’ Juicy, Cloud 6), Hunter Parmentier on bass (Stephen Marley), and Forest Carter on drums (Far Out West, Giraffe Dodgers).

Gaetano Di Giacomo

Drummer | Composer | Educator Originally from Italy Gaetano Di Giacomo studied drums and percussion in Bologna before obtaining a degree in Drums and Music Performance from Trinity College after moving to the UK. In the early part of his career, Gaetano cut his teeth working on the jazz and pop scene travelling extensively and performing at festivals and venues in Italy, UK, Japan, Finland, USA, France, Norway, Denmark. ​ It wasn't long before Gaetano attracted the attention of the UK jazz scene's top players. A versatile drummer, Gaetano takes an active role in many aspects of the London Jazz scene

Ron Carlson

Born: May 20

Ron Carlson teaches guitar at Garden City Community College in western Kansas. For many years, he was a Kansas City based guitarist who especially enjoyed playing jazz standards. He also played guitar with a popular horn based classic rock band called Hard At Play. Ron's first CD project is titled Kind Folk in memory of the jazz artists Kenny Wheeler and Charlie Haden. Kind Folk is published by the Artists Recording Collective (ARC- 2635) and includes an all star quintet and three vocalists. The second CD project is titled For You and is dedicated to the memory of his late wife, Diane. For You contains standards as well as original compositions

Moonglow Duo

Matt Finley

Born: August 17, 1951

A professional musician for over fifty-five years, multi-instrumentalist Matt Finley is a native of Lake George, New York. He graduated from Union College, where he led a combined Union/SUNY Albany/RPI Jazz Workshop to a semi-final appearance at the American College Jazz Festival and received honorable mention in the New York Times. Matt earned his master's degree from the College of Saint Rose and is permanently certified to teach music in New York State. He performed for many years with Grammy-winning baritone saxophonist Nick Brignola and was a featured trumpet soloist and arranger with the Albany Jazz Workshop

Zardis