Results for "Latin Jazz"

Andrew DeNicola

Yuko Mabuchi

Born: June

In the world of music, there are artists who follow trends and those who create them. Yuko Mabuchi firmly belongs in the latter category. Hailing from Japan, she is currently taking the global music scene by storm, showcasing her awe-inspiring talent as a pianist while staying true to her roots.

At the tender age of four, Yuko found her rhythm in the world of classical piano in her hometown of Fukui. However, she didn't stay confined to just one genre. Growing up, she was drawn towards American R&B, Hip-Hop, and Blues, but it was jazz that struck a chord deep within her.

In fact, jazz captivated her so much that she dedicated her post-high school years to studying jazz piano. This early initiation into a multitude of genres fueled her music into an exotic mix, making it as unique as the artist herself.

Michael Joseph Harris

Born: August 2, 1967

In 2012, after years of performing mostly Brazilian and Latin influenced original music, guitarist Michael Joseph Harris began studying and playing the music of legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt which led to the creation of The Hot Club of Baltimore later that same year. Harris then formed the band Ultrafaux in 2014 to perform his original Gypsy Jazz compositions. In 2015, Harris founded and remained Artistic Director for Charm City Django Jazz Fest which is the only annual Jazz festival in Baltimore, Maryland. Michael was named one of the top ten musicians by Baltimore Style Magazine and he was featured on a full spread article in The Baltimore Sun Weekend Section as well as Baltimore Magazine

Eldad Tarmu

Born: August 26, 1960

Eldad Tarmu was born and raised in Los Angeles. He originally played drums and percussion before switching to the vibraphone where his mentor was Dave Pike. He spent time in Israel, studied and graduated from Tel Aviv University, and then back in the United States performed and recorded with a range of jazz groups including Freddie Hubbard, Frank Morgan, Poncho Sanchez, and Ernie Watts. Tarmu became a world traveler, performing at festivals and venues in over twenty-five countries while developing his own fresh voice on the vibes. He began recording as a leader in 1997 with Aluminum Forest, followed by Get Up Close, which garnered notable critical acclaim

Russ Nolan

Born: April 30, 1968

Consistently voted onto DownBeat magazine’s Rising Star Annual Critics Poll and featured in the 2016 September Indie Life section, Russ Nolan’s music is often described as High-Energy Modern Jazz that both satisfies the intellect of its musical peers and speaks to everyone on a soulful level. Called a ‘renaissance man’ by those close to him, he has taken his experiences in sports, martial arts, business, after-school program volunteering, music education, and other activities to relate to a wider audience. His 2016 release of Sanctuary from the Ordinary – Live at Firehouse 12 was voted onto DownBeat’s Best of 2016

Don Mopsick

Born: November 7, 1950

Don Mopsick began his musical career as a teenager in his hometown of Linden, NJ, performing on trumpet and bass guitar for local ethnic dances. He attended Rutgers University and The Manhattan School of Music. His first professional gigs were with Rosemary Clooney and Ralph Sharon around Boston.

Mopsick’s interests in jazz have always been eclectic. While in New York, he performed on tuba and bass with The Smith Street Society, Lee Castle (with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra), Jim Chapin, John Carisi, Benny Ventura, the Paul Jefferey Octet and others.

After a move to Ft. Myers FL in 1977, Mopsick began private study on double bass with Lucas Drew at the University of Miami. He moved to Orlando in 1983 and began work at Walt Disney World, Circus World, Rosie O’Grady’s, and as a free-lance bassist state-wide. Until 1986 he was a full-time staff musician at Walt Disney World. During his time in Orlando, Don played concert dates for, among others, The Jazz Club of Sarasota, The Treasure Coast Jazz Society (Vero Beach), the Gainesville Friends of Jazz, the Central Florida Jazz Society, and was a jazz clinician at Valdosta (Georgia) State University.

Ben Bierman

Born: March 15, 1954

Ben Bierman is a Brooklyn-based trumpet player, composer, and multi-instrumentalist. In his compositions he incorporates elements of jazz, blues, Latin music, and the Western art music tradition. His music can be heard on Some Takes On the Blues (Plaza Street Music PSM 101, 2019) and on Beyond Romance: Songs by Ben Bierman (New Focus Recordings FCR 141, 2013). As a trumpet player, Ben has performed with a wide array of artists, including Johnny Copeland, B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Johnny Pacheco, Machito, Johnny Colon, Archie Shepp, and Arthur Blythe. He is the author of Listening to Jazz (Oxford University Press), has essays in numerous books and journals, and is an Associate Professor at John Jay College, City University of New York

Deelee Dube

Born: January 15

Deelee Dube (/'diːliː 'duːbɛ/), born Sithandile Agatha Dube on January 15, is a British vocalist, songwriter, and musician of Southern African lineage.

On November 20th, 2016, Dube became the first British winner and recipient of a Sassy Award at the 5th Annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition hosted by Rhonda Hamilton and held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, which landed her a Concord Records contract and a chance to appear at the Montreal International Jazz Festival. Onstage she was accompanied by a trio consisting of Sergio Salvatore (piano and musical director), Lisle Atkinson (bass), and Buddy Williams (drums). The panel judges included Sheila Jordan, Dianne Reeves, Christian McBride, Sheila E. Anderson, and Mark Ruffin. While in Newark, Deelee attended rehearsals and was greeted by co-producer of the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, Carl Griffin. This was followed by an interview with former WBGO radio broadcaster Nicole Sweeney before her triumph in the Sarah Vaughan Vocal Competition at the NJPAC, where she also met and befriended Dorthaan Kirk and Linda Moody (wife of the late jazz saxophonist James Moody) as part of the TD James Moody Jazz Festival held at the NJPAC. Dube was presented with the Sassy award by NJPAC President & CEO John Schreiber (formerly Sarah Vaughan's road manager) and signed to Concord Jazz via Mark Wexler (former Chief Operating Officer at the Concord Label Group).

Jay Smith Group

Born: October 14, 1983

Called a "fixture in the Central Valley" (NPR), Jay Smith has had a wide variety of talent flow through his band. From jazz fusion to pop, the band has channeled a wide spectrum of musical genres to stay working and relevant. He is an Alum of California State University Bakersfield and Fresno City College where he earned his Bachelors of Arts and Associates of Arts Degree. He has opened up for groups and musicians as Carl Saunders, Poncho Sanchez, Jeff Coffin, Allan Holdsworth, Malo, Ozomatli, Clayton Cameron, and worked with Kelulu, Mento Buru, The Fresno Philharmonic, Andre Bush, Mike Dana, Velorio, and Patrick Contreras to name a few. His current projects include Mento Buru which was voted best band of 2018 by Bakersfield Magazine and The Jay Smith Trio/Group which features a variety of players including Cesareo Garasa, Paul Perez, Jay Jay Hicks, Fernando Montoya, Steve Eisen, and Patrick Contreras to name a few. The band's first album, Unashamed Portrayal, (available on iTunes and 30 other retailers) features Grammy Nominated Guitarist Andre Bush, Jay Jay Hicks, Saxophonist Chris Nguyen, trombonist Joe Vazquez, trumpeter Mark Manda, Fernando Montoya on acoustic and electric bass, Jonathan Weinmann on drums, and Jorge Nunzio Urbina on percussion

Tito Cruz

Born: July 16, 1950