Results for "New York City"

Jay Rosen

Born: November 20, 1961

Jay Rosen was born in 1961 in Philadelphia. His family moved to Long Island, N.Y. in 1964. Jay's musical interest took shape from recorded music that was played around the house as well as two aunts and a brother that were all musicians. Musical vibrations affected Jay in deep, profound ways. Jay began music lessons at age eight on guitar and then piano. However, after seeing (and hearing) Tony Williams (with Sonny Rollins) at Carnegie Hall in 1971, Jay switched to the drums exclusively. Upon hearing Charlie Parker and John Coltrane at the age of 13, Jay decided to pursue jazz as a serious course of study

Nasheet Waits

Born: June 15, 1971

Nasheet Waits, drummer/music educator, is a New York native. His interest in playing the drums was encouraged by his father, legendary percussionist, Frederick Waits. Over the course of his career, Freddie Waits played with such legendary artists as Ella Fitzgerald, Sonny Rollins, Max Roach, McCoy Tyner, and countless others. Freddie Waits Nasheet’s college education began at Morehouse in Atlanta, GA, where he majored in Psychology and History. Deciding that music would be his main focus, he continued his college studies in New York at Long Island University, where he graduated with honors, receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Music

Michael Dease

Born: August 25, 1982

Michael Dease is one of the world's eminent trombonists, lending his versatile sound and signature improvisations to over 200 recordings and groups as diverse as Grammy winning artists David Sanborn, Christian McBride, Michel Camilo, and Alicia Keys. Born in Augusta, GA, he played the saxophone and trumpet before choosing the trombone at age 17. In 2001, Dease moved to New York City to become part of the historic first class of jazz students at The Juilliard School, earning both Bachelors and Masters degrees, and quickly established a reputation as a brilliant soloist, sideperson, and bandleader.

Bobby Sanabria

Bobby Sanabria is a 7-time Grammy-nominee as a leader. He is a noted drummer, percussionist, composer, arranger, conductor, producer, educator, documentary film maker, and bandleader of Puerto Rican descent born and raised in NY’s South Bronx. He was the drummer for the acknowledged creator of Afro-Cuban jazz, Mario Bauzá touring and recording three CD’s with him, two of which were Grammy nominated, as well as an incredible variety of artists. From Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria (with whom he started his career) Paquito D’Rivera, Yomo Toro, Candido, The Mills Brothers, Ray Barretto, Chico O’Farrill, Francisco Aguabella, Henry Threadgill, Luis "Perico" Ortiz, Daniel Ponce, Larry Harlow, Daniel Santos, Celia Cruz, Adalberto Santiago, Xiomara Portuondo, Pedrito Martinez, Roswell Rudd, Patato, David Amram, the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, Michael Gibbs, Charles McPherson Jon Faddis, Bob Mintzer, Phil Wilson, Randy Brecker, Charles Tolliver, M'BOOM, Michelle Shocked, Marco Rizo, and many more

Lori Fredrics

Born: November 23, 1965

Born in New York City, soprano / educator Lori Joachim Fredrics is presently expanding her career from the opera house and concert hall into the area of vocal jazz. Lori is, indeed, a rare breed among operatic soprano/mezzo-sopranos, as she is equally at home singing avant garde new music, 'legit' musical theatre, standard and scat-style jazz, as well as pop- style background vocals.She is known for her rich vocal tone, expressive interpretation, precise intonation, accurate musicianship and incredibly clear diction in four languages. She is a knowledgeable exponent of art song repertoire, specializing in the works of Schumann, Mahler, Ravel, and Faure as well as works by contemporary American composers, including those by her husband, Howard Fredrics. She also regularly performs jazz standards including Strayhorn/Ellington Classics, Gershwin, Weil, modern jazz compositions and well known virtuostic vocalese favorites such as "Twisted" by Annie Ross, "The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines" first heard on Joni Michell's Mingus Album and her own version of "Moody's Mood for Love". Lori has performed as a backing vocalist for bands and songwriters since the very beginning of her career, most recently, she recorded as a guest vocalist on "Simple" a track on Madding Crowd's new CD single entitled" Modern Man". As a University instructor of voice and private coach to many professional singers, Lori has been a mentor to performers on both sides of the atlantic. Lori has sung at international level opera houses and has appeared on stage with Sam Ramey, Catherine Malfitano, Ramon Vargas, Joyce Di Donato, Anna Maria Martinez and has sung under the baton of Robert Spano, Patrick Summers and Roberto Abbado among others. Roles performed include Octavian in" Der Rosenkavalier" , Cherubino in "The Marriage of Figaro" and Maria in "The Sound of Music". Lori made her London stage directing debut in "The Whitechapel Whirwind" at the Bloomsbury Theatre in 2004. Lori has worked in many capacities within the music and entertainment industry including as an Artist Manager, Researcher and Theatrical Agent

Glenn White

Born: September 7, 1973

Glenn White is a progressive jazz saxophonist and composer in New York City with performance and recording experience including work with Norah Jones, Paul Banks (Interpol), Greg Camp (Smash Mouth), and jazz luminaries Jamie Baum, Jeff Hirshfield, Art Lande, and more. With three critically-acclaimed recordings on independent jazz labels, Glenn’s music has been featured on radio and streaming services. Notable press reviews of Glenn’s performance and composition include:

“A sophisticated mix of probing and intriguing original compositions. White has a strong and robust sound, and the writing mixes well structure and freedom.”
–Jazz Weekly

Ark Ovrutski

Born: October 31, 1963

Since moving to NYC in 2005, Ark Ovrutski has had a busy career free-lancing with many of the great jazz musicians from many generations, including: Curtis Fuller, Carmen Lundy, Mark Soskin, Steve Williams, Larry Willis, Javon Jackson, JD Walter, Duduka da Fonseca, Patience Higgins,Gerald Hayes, Michael Borstlap, Cynthia Scott, Jim Rotondi ,Will Boulware, Donald Edwards, James Spaulding. In 2007 Ark began work on his Masters degree in music at Rutgers University in New Jersey, studying with bassist Mike Richmond, drummer Victor Lewis and pianist Stanley Cowell, among others. Veteran bassist Bob Cranshaw advised him to go for a doctorate, which he’s done at University of Illinois

Matt Ray

Born: August 22, 1972

MATT RAY is a Brooklyn-based pianist, singer, songwriter, arranger, and music director. His arrangements have been called “wizardly” (Time Out NY) and “ingenious” (NY Times), and his piano playing referred to as “classic, well-oiled swing” (NY Times) and “to cry for” (Ebony). For his work on Taylor Mac’s show A 24- Decade History of Popular Music he and Mac shared the 2017 Kennedy Prize for Drama Inspired By American History. Notable live performances include playing at Carnegie Hall with Kat Edmonson, headlining his own show at Lincoln Center, playing the Hollywood Bowl with reggae legend Burning Spear, and touring the Caribbean and Central America with his piano trio as a US Department of State Jazz Ambassador

Simona Premazzi

New York based pianist Simona Premazzi has developed an impressive body of work as a composer and bandleader. Originally from Italy, Premazzi hails from a small town in the outskirts of Milano, where she began playing piano at age 9.

Simona recently released her 3rd CD, “The Lucid Dreamer”, on the Inner Circle Music Label, featuring her latest ensemble comprised of tenor saxophonist Melissa Aldana, bassist Ameen Saleem, drummer Jochen Rueckert and special guest, the inimitable Greg Osby on Alto and Soprano Saxophone.

Simona Premazzi’s debut album, “Looking For An Exit”, a trio with Ari Hoenig and Joe Sanders, was listed among the best trio albums to come out between 2004 and 2008 by the prestigious Japanese magazine, Jazz Hihyo. Her highly acclaimed second album, “Inside In”, featured her band, “The Intruders” with Stacy Dillard on saxophone, bassist Ryan Berg and drummer Rudy Royston.

Komeda Project

“An innovator with a complex of tradition, romanticist expressing himself in the contemporary idiom, poet of piano - this was Krzysztof Komeda, one of those musicians who have widened the essence of jazz”*.


Plenty has been written about European musicians approaching the American jazz tradition; it's far rarer to hear about American musicians bringing their heritage to distinctly European projects. Capitalizing on the critical acclaim for its debut Crazy Girl, pianist/composer/arranger Andrzej Winnicki and saxophonist Krzysztof Medyna - the driving force behind Komeda Project - bring trumpeter Russ Johnson back for their new CD Requiem