Results for "modern jazz"

Christian Overton

Originally from Sudbury Ontario, Christian Overton is now one of the most in demand trombonists and composers in Toronto in every scene from jazz and rock to salsa, R&B, theatre work and everything in between. He has a degree from Humber College where he studied with some of the nation’s top jazz musicians including Pat LaBarbera, John MacLeod, and Alistair Kay. Christian has also completed a Masters degree at the University of Toronto studying with Kelsley Grant, Gary Kulesha and Tim Ries. 

Jazz collaborations include:  Hermeto Pascoal, John Clayton, The Panamanian Big Band featuring Danilo Perez, John Patitucci, Brian Blade, Miguel Zenon. Also Kurt Elling, Bobby Shew, Guido Basso, Peter Appleyard, Jane Bunnett, Bill Dobbins, The Art of Jazz Orchestra, Jens Lindemann & the Order of Canada Band, Christine and Ingrid Jensen, The LaBarbera Brothers, The Don Thompson Big Band, John MacLeod's Rex Hotel Orchestra, Turboprop, The Carn Davidson 9, The Heavyweights Brass Band, NOJO and Gary Morgan’s Panamerican All Stars as well as many other acts. Christian was also featured on the Cuphead video game soundtrack which reached #1 on the billboard jazz charts in 2019.

Mervin Toussaint

Born: January 17, 1996

Mervin Toussaint is an emerging saxophonist and composer making waves as both a performer and educator in the Philadelphia area. A Haitian American, Toussaint grew up in the Haitian church which provided an important incubator for his musical voice. Since moving to Philadelphia in 2016 Mervin has embraced the musical influences around him including Jazz, RnB, Neo-soul, and other contemporary styles into his own voice. He has presented his music as a leader in a wide array of venues and spaces, including South Jazz Kitchen, Chris’ Jazz Cafe, Paris Bistro, and the MAAS building. He has also performed as a soloist at a variety of churches, including the historical Tindley Temple United Methodist Church. As a side musician, Mervin actively collaborates with rappers, poets, and spoken word artists and incorporates those mediums into his original compositions; his five-song debut EP, Another Name for Everything reflects his diverse musical language creates a beautiful preamble to his first full-length release in the fall of 2022.

Darryl Harper

Born: November 14, 1968

Darryl Harper began studying clarinet at age six in his native Philadelphia and was introduced to jazz at 16 by trombonist Anthony Hurdle. Within a year he was working professionally and began sitting in at sessions and performing with Tony Williams, Tyrone Brown, Eddie Green, Bootsie Barnes and other veteran Philadelphia-based jazz artists. Over the years he has performed with Dee Dee Bridgewater, Roscoe Mitchell, Dave Holland, Orrin Evans, Freddie Bryant, Tim Warfield and Uri Caine. He performed with violinist Regina Carter for two years and toured the U.S., Europe, South America and the Caribbean. He currently holds the clarinet chair in pianist/composer Jason Moran’s tribute project to World War I veteran James Reese Europe: Jason Moran’s Harlem Hellfighters – James Reese Europe and the Absence of Ruin.

George Winstone

Born: June 17, 1994

Born in London, the rising star saxophonist George Winstone relocated to New York City in March 2019, bolstered by the endorsements of music legends Chick Corea, Jacob Collier, Ben Monder, and Chris Potter.

An artist whose technical prowess serves a decidedly spiritual commitment, Winstone is a powerful player and composer whose ensembles have been featured at London hotspots Ronnie Scott’s, Jazz in the Round at the Cockpit Theatre, the Verdict, and the Vortex, as well as in New York at the esteemed ShapeShifter Lab and Ornithology Jazz Club. After releasing his first EP in 2018, Outer Spaces, Winstone’s work met critical acclaim, with All About Jazz calling him a “future star in the making” and Bebop Spoken Here praising his “floating, ephemeral sound that drifts like a cloud.”

Hue Blanes

Born: October, 1984

Born in 1984, Melbourne, Hue grew up in the small Victorian town of Healesville, where he began his musical life playing local fetes, concerts and festivals. He received a scholarship to study at the Victorian College of The Arts Secondary School (VCASS), and graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Music Performance and the prestigious Billy Hyde Music Prize for outstanding achievement. Hue's teachers have included some of Australia's finest musicians - Bob and Steven Sedergreen, Andrea Keller, Tim Stevens, Tony Gould, and most recently with Fred Hersch and Jason Moran.

Dutcher Snedeker

Born: September 10, 1992

Dutcher Snedeker is a Grand Rapids pianist with a long history of being involved in the Michigan music scene. Growing up in a musical family, he was surrounded by different music styles that continue to inspire his multifaceted interest in music, whether it’s exploring different genres or taking on work in other music industry roles. He is recognized as an active part of the West Michigan music community, with multiple nominations and awards at the local WYCE Jammies alongside a jazz award from ArtPrize 2013. A graduate of both GVSU and WMU, he draws from years of experience as a classical and jazz performer in solo and group settings, with a focus on future soul, funk fusion, and New Music. 

Kaisa Mäensivu

Kaisa Mäensivu is a Finnish double bass player and composer. She is currently based in New York, where she finished her Master's degree at the highly acclaimed Manhattan School of Music in May 2017. She studied under the guidance of teachers and professors such as Dave Liebman and Jay Anderson. Prior to moving to New York, Kaisa studied at the prestigious Sibelius Academy Jazz Department with professor Jukkis Uotila and Ville Herrala. \

During her career, Kaisa has been awarded multiple awards and grants. In 2018, Kaisa was awarded as the Rising Star at the Pori Jazz Festival

Miguel Tarin Torres

Born: February 8, 2000

Miguel Tarin Torres is a bassist and composer based in NE Ohio. Born and raised in San Luis Potosi, Mexico in the year 2000, he started studying bass at the age of twelve years old, leading up to eventually teach music in his high school as well as individual lessons out of his home. Miguel developed his primordial musical foundation based on funk music as well as rock and latin rhythms, whilst always loving electronic music of all sorts.

Miguel moved to Ohio in October of 2017 to further pursue his musical education and to hone his chops and compositional skills as well as playing with local musicians and groups such as Free Black!, Matthew Alec and The Soul Electric, Mango Man and The Funketeers, Most Wanted Vibes, among others. His main focus now is trying to connect the dots between all the genres and musical nuances that have influenced him and sew them into one cohesive musical experience that he can call his own.

Melvin Johnson

Born: October 5, 1985

Houston-born keyboardist/composer Melvin Johnson is an artist as adept at creating his own dynamic expressions as he is a most valuable team player in realizing the visions of others. Church-grounded and college-educated, he has trained himself thoroughly to be an all-around musician who doesn’t just play his instrument but understands the fundamentals of all that he plays and composes, as well as his role as the leader of his band. At 36 years old, Melvin recently released his debut album, Little Red Wagon, a conceptual piece inspired by wisdoms passed down to him from his adopted father, Robert Lloyd Parker, as well as his own musings on life, family and spirituality. Musically, the project covers the full spectrum of African American musical styles, presented in configurations of solo, duo, trio, quartet and quintet. Melvin states, “These first fully arranged instrumental songs do not belong in any genre box, be it Jazz, Classical, Choral, Gospel, etc. All of that and more is in this! I love the space of creating at will.”

Stefano Falcone

Born: January 24, 1988

Stefano Falcone is an Italian pianist and composer. Based in Naples (IT) he currently works in in Italy and Europe as pianist, composer and bandleader. Falcone’s pianism is never short of lyricism or drama, but these qualities generally come unexpectedly and silently, filtered through an adventurous sensibility and the strategic use of silence that indicates its reflective - although never passive - nature. A versatile and sought-after professional, he has so far performed on many European stages (Italy, Sweden, Scotland, Denmark, England, Faroe Islands, Belgium, Portugal).