Results for "New York City"

Emmet Cohen

Born: May 25, 1990

Multifaceted American jazz pianist and composer Emmet Cohen is in the vanguard of his generation's advancement of music and the related arts. A recognized prodigy, Cohen began Suzuki method piano instruction at age three, and his playing quickly became a mature melding of musicality, technique, and concept. Downbeat observed that his "nimble touch, measured stride and warm harmonic vocabulary indicate he's above any convoluted technical showmanship." Cohen notes that performing jazz is "about communicating the deepest levels of humanity and individuality; it's essentially about connections," both among musicians and with audiences. He leads his namesake ensemble, the "Emmet Cohen Trio," is a vibrant solo performer, and is in constant demand as a sideman. Possessing a fluid technique, an innovative tonal palette, and an extensive repertoire, Cohen plays with the command and passion of an artist fully devoted to his medium.

Sarah Hayes

Born: October 17

Vocalist and Bandleader, Sarah Hayes has been at the forefront of New York’s music scene for the last 15 years- Performing Jazz and Swinging Standards with numerous bands and orchestras, lighting up New York's finest Jazz Clubs with her vibrant voice, enormous repertoire and sunny personality. Whether performances at the Montreal Jazz festival, luxury cruise ships, concerts, NY's famed 21 Club, repeat singing engagements for former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, special events, touring the country with The Artie Shaw Orchestra, (A position once held by Billie Holiday), weekly engagements in NYC with dear friend, Grammy & Hall of Famer- Tony Middleton of "The Willows" and international performances with the legendary Duke Ellington Orchestra

Paul Shaffer

For 33 years Paul Shaffer served as David Letterman's musical director and sidekick. Paul began his career in 1972 as musical director of the Toronto production of "Godspell." He played piano in "The Magic Show" on Broadway in 1974, then spent the next five years with the original "Saturday Night Live," where he played keyboards, composed special musical material and, in 1980, became a featured performer. In 1977, he took a brief break from the show to star in the CBS comedy series "A Year at the Top," produced by Norman Lear and Don Kirshner. After his return to "Saturday Night Live," he collaborated with Gilda Radner on the songs for her Broadway show, in which he also appeared

Mario Forte

Born: January 22, 1984

Tony Scherr

Tony Scherr is arguably one of the most in-demand sidemen in New York City. The list is long; as a bassist, guitarist, or singer Tony has worked with: Bill Frisell Trio, Sexmob, John Lurie's Lounge Lizards, Willie Nelson, Rickie Lee Jones, Ani DiFranco, Jason Collett (Broken Social Scene), Rufus Wainwright, Norah Jones, Madeleine Peyroux, Jesse Harris, Richard Julian, Sasha Dobson, Shawn Colvin, The Abrams Brothers, Kevin Kinney (Drivin N Cryin), and Teddy Thompson to name a few. He still tours, records, and plays around town regularly with a very broad range of artists, and has played on many albums, movie and television scores. In the 1990's, Tony built his own 8 track analog studio where he has recorded and played on numerous albums

Santi Debriano

Lauren Henderson

Born: November 5

Described as "somewhere between a comforting whisper and a cogent  declaration" by The New York Times, Lauren Henderson, paints reflective and impassioned stories with her haunting voice and enchanting compositions. 

Recognized as one of 10 Jazz Artists Blending and Expanding The Sounds Of Latin America by the Recording Academy, Lauren's music and artistic contributions are featured on Grammy.com.

Recently the cover of the Spotify Vocal Jazz Playlist, Lauren Henderson's music resonates with listeners around the world, captivating a broad audience of music aficionados.
 
Featured in the Financial Times, breaking the Jazz Charts Top 5, and the Year End Jazz Week Top 40 (2021) as the 38th most played record of the year, Henderson's eclectic vocal influences spread across genres producing a distinct yet versatile sound. 

Her original music is featured in Sky Rojo (Netflix), The Drowning, (starring Julia Stiles and Tracie Thoms), El Juego de Las Llaves, (Ela Velden, Maite Perroni, and Marimar Vega), and Romeo y Julieta (starring Lupita Nyong’o and Juan Castano), scored by one of Lauren’s musical partners, Michael Thurber.

Henderson uncovers the layers of her diverse background in English and Spanish.  Her compositions paint stories reflecting journeys imposed through the African Diaspora in  connection to Henderson's Panamanian, Montserratian, and vast Caribbean roots as they interplay with her North American upbringing.
 
Jazz, Latin Jazz, Flamenco, R&B and Soul roots aid in an exploration of culture, society, race, love and the complexities encountered as we navigate life's obstacles.  

Embarking on her 10th world tour, Henderson has performed in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Poland, Norway, Russia, Mexico, and South Africa, living up to her growing reputation as a "vibrant new star singer" - Downbeat Magazine. 

Henderson combines her passion for music, philanthropy, and business as the CEO of Brontosaurus Records and an internationally acclaimed recording artist.  Recently featured in the Financial Times, Henderson's achievements are celebrated worldwide. 
 
As the Founder and CEO of Brontosaurus Records, Lauren Henderson graduated with an Executive MBA from Brown University (RI) and the IE Business School (Madrid) in May of 2019.


EDUCATION: 

BROWN UNIVERSITY 
IE BUSINESS SCHOOL
WHEATON COLLEGE 
THE NEWMAN SCHOOL 
SHORE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL 

EARLY INFLUENCES:

Henderson began to study piano at an early age. She grew up singing in church and school choirs, as well as listening to jazz records her parents and grandparents played in the house. Timid as a young musician, she was always reluctant to sing solos, until given a gentle push by mentors shortly before heading to Wheaton College (MA) to receive her Bachelor of Arts.

At Wheaton, she discovered her voice, becoming the Musical Director of VUJ, a member of Jazz Band, studying classical voice and musical theatre, as well as finding inspiration from her professors and master classes with artists like Paquito D’Rivera, Take6, and the legendary Barry Harris at the Barry Harris Workshop. 

Having earned degrees in both Music and Hispanic Studies, Lauren combined her love of music and culture while living in Puebla, México. In Mexico she studied the traditional music of the Yucatán and popular music throughout the country at Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla. Through her international piano and voice studies, she worked on developing her musicianship. In Córdoba, España she studied flamenco and its connections to jazz at La Universidad de Córdoba. 

As the Founder and CEO of Brontosaurus Records, Lauren Henderson graduated with an Executive MBA from Brown University (RI) and the IE Business School (Madrid) in May of 2019.

DISCOGRAPHY:

• Lauren Henderson (2011) features Sullivan Fortner (piano), Ben Leifer (bass), and Jesse Simpson (drums).

Alex LoRe

Born: June 24

Noted by Ben Ratliff of the New York Times as a saxophonist who is “…making the connections among about 70 years’ worth of contemplative, articulate and light-toned players”, Manhattan-based saxophonist and composer Alex LoRe is one of the most in demand alto saxophonists on the current New York City jazz scene. Internationally acclaimed saxophonist and educator Bunky Green says LoRe “…will emerge to become one of the leading voices on the international jazz scene.” Saxophonist George Garzone describes his playing as “bold and unforgiving”, with “…a beautiful sound; he understands the concept of melody.” In New York, he frequents prominent venues such as Smalls Jazz Club, Dizzy’s Club, The Jazz Gallery, and Smoke Jazz Club both as a leader of his own groups and as a sideman

John Bailey

“John Bailey is a great improviser. Since we met as teenagers I've been taken with how natural a musician he is and how deeply his roots go into the tradition of jazz music. He's a joy to listen to!”

—Donny McCaslin

Known as one of the most eclectic trumpet players in New York City, Bailey is an in-demand musician and teaching artist on call for everything from traditional jazz, to R&B and Pop, to classical. He became a member of The Buddy Rich Band while still in college, and his career has included

long-running gigs with Ray Charles, master conguero and bandleader Ray Barretto, The Woody Herman Orchestra and Frank Sinatra, Jr. His work with Latin Jazz innovator Arturo O'Farrill won two Grammy awards for the albums The Offense of the Drum and Cuba - The Conversation Continues. He has played on more than 70 albums and, as a jazz educator, has taught at the University of Miami and Florida International University.

A trumpet prodigy, Bailey's spectacular gifts began to be noticed as a high school musician in 1984 when DownBeat Magazine cited him in its annual Student Music Awards for outstanding performances in both the classical and jazz trumpet categories, noting “Shades of Wynton!” The same year, he was a finalist in the National Foundation for Advancements in the Arts (NFAA) Arts Recognition and Talent Search, along with Donny McCaslin and Bill Charlap; and won the National Association of Jazz Educators’ Youth Talent Contest. Later, as a senior at the Eastman School of Music, he won DownBeat’s Best Instrumental Soloist award.

Looking back, he says, “It all started for me when I discovered Clifford Brown. Clifford was the centerpiece of the golden era of jazz trumpet, and a great place to begin my lifelong study of the instrument. He was influenced by everyone before him, and became an influence on everyone after.”

Bailey, who continues to teach privately, believes that educating the next generation of musicians is essential for any artist. “In American culture, where the arts are often ignored or deemphasized in both schools and the mainstream media, it is up to us, the artists, to inspire an appreciation for great art.” he says. “By keeping performance standards as high as possible and sharing our devotion with others, especially children, we enrich countless lives.”

Ryan Truesdell

A world-renowned, GRAMMY® Award-winning producer, composer, arranger, and educator, Ryan Truesdell was voted “Best New Artist” in the 2012 JazzTimes Critic’s Poll and is best known for his award-winning Gil Evans Project, a large ensemble devoted to the performance and preservation of the music of the famed arranger and Miles Davis collaborator, Gil Evans. This extensive project to unearth and bring to light some of the lesser-known music of Evans’ has resulted in two critically acclaimed albums: CENTENNIAL: Newly Discovered Works of Gil Evans (ArtistShare, 2012) which debuted ten never-before-recorded works of Evans’ in honor of his 100th birthday, and LINES OF COLOR: Live at Jazz Standard (Blue Note/ArtistShare, 2015), recorded live during the band’s annual residency at Jazz Standard in New York City. Both albums were unanimously praised by the critics, receiving a total of four GRAMMY® nominations and a posthumous GRAMMY® Award for “Best Instrumental Arrangement” for Evans, in addition to two Jazz Journalist Association Jazz Awards for ‘Record of the Year’ and ‘Large Ensemble of the Year,’ UK JazzFM Awards Nomination for ‘Album of the Year’ and the "Les Coups De Coeur" from France's Académie Charles Cros.