Results for "san francisco"

Paul Desmond

Born: November 25, 1924

Paul Desmond was revered for the pure, gentle tone of his alto saxophone, and the elegant lyricism of his improvisations. For seventeen years he was the lead soloist in the most commercially successful jazz combo ever, the Dave Brubeck Quartet. In an era that worshipped the frenetic, bebop style of Charlie Parker, Paul Desmond found his own sound, a tone that he claimed imitated a "dry martini." It was a sound that made him a favourite with critics and fans alike, and won him jazz poll after jazz poll. "I have won several prizes as the world's slowest alto player, as well as a special award in 1961 for quietness." He was a modest, retiring man, known to his friends for his wit and charm

Dick Berk

Born: May 22, 1939

Richard Alan "Dick" Berk was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Berk was born in San Francisco, California. He studied at the Berklee College of Music and played in the Boston area early in the 1960s. In 1962 he moved to New York City and played there with Ted Curson and Bill Barron in a quintet from 1962 to 1964. Following this he played with Charles Mingus, Mose Allison, Freddie Hubbard, and Walter Bishop, Jr., among others. He moved to Los Angeles late in the 1960s, where he played with Milt Jackson, George Duke, Cal Tjader, Jean-Luc Ponty, and Blue Mitchell. He founded the Jazz Adoption Agency in the early 1980s, playing into the 2000s; among this group's alumni are Andy Martin, Mike Fahn, Nick Brignola, John Nagorney, Keith Saunders, Tad Weed, and John Patitucci.

Gerald Beckett

Born: May 2

Gerald, born in Beaumont, Texas, started playing alto saxophone at the age of 11. As a freshman at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas he switched to playing the flute. During his years as an undergraduate at UNT he played with various local bands. Mindful of how unpredictable making a living as a musician could be, he studied business and received his BBA in Administrative Management. It wasn't until moving to San Francisco in 1985 that he began immersing himself in the jazz scene. He started listening to various flutists, from Eric Dolphy, Frank Wess, Herbie Mann, Hubert Laws, to Dave Valentin, Paul Horn, and others

Denny Zeitlin

Born: April 10, 1938

Denny Zeitlin has recorded over thirty critically acclaimed albums; twice won first place in the Down Beat International Jazz Critics Poll; written original music for Sesame Street; and appeared on network TV, including repeats on the Tonight Show, and CBS Sunday Morning. Zeitlin’s lecture- demonstration “Unlocking the Creative Impulse: The Psychology of Improvisation” has been presented across the U.S. and in Europe. He has concertized throughout the U.S., Canada, Japan, and Europe, at colleges, jazz clubs, and major festivals; appearing with jazz greats such as Joe Henderson, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Tony Williams, Bobby Hutcherson, John Patitucci, John Abercrombie, Marian McPartland, Charlie Haden, David Grisman, Kronos Quartet, Paul Winter, David Friesen, Matt Wilson, Buster Williams and many others. Zeitlin was born in Chicago in 1938

Ian Carey

Born: July 24, 1974

Ian Carey is a San Francisco Bay Area–based jazz trumpeter, composer, and educator who “asks deep musical questions and comes up with compelling answers” (Bill Kirchner, editor, The Oxford Companion to Jazz).

His musical projects include the IAN CAREY QUINTET+1 (“a highly skilled band of improvisers” –DownBeat), which has been performing his original compositions for over a decade and has been featured on five albums including the 2020 release Fire in My Head; WOOD METAL PLASTIC, a 7-piece group which “combines the delicately calibrated dynamics of a chamber ensemble with alternating sections of close voicings and free improvisation” (Andrew Gilbert, Berkeleyside); TAKOYAKI 4, a pared-down, street-food–style organ/horns quartet which performs original music and jazz rarities; and DUOCRACY, a duo with pianist Ben Stolorow which explores rare American standards with intimacy and interplay.

Los Boleros

Active since: January 4, 1963

Los Boleros is the Sizzling Hot Latin Band that is taking off in the San Francisco Bay Area. Acoustic Son Montuno, Cuban Son, Bolero, Cumbia, Merengue, Vals, Pasio and more! If a touch of Class is what you seek, you have found it. Attractive and Talented Vocalists revive Traditional Classics Like "Besame Mucho," "Cuarto de Tula," and "Dos Gardenias." Passionate solos by Flute, Sultry Saxophone and Hot Tres Cubano will get you hooked!
Take a ride to the Buena Vista Club, Havana! Quotes: "The music played by Los Boleros at my wedding reception was the most beautiful music I have ever heard."
Karn Berring, Woodside, California "Los Boleros makes it a Classy Event!"
Donna Blethen, Tribune "For a group without a single Cuban musician, Los Boleros has the style, the talent and the passion to match many a Cuban band performing now or in the past

Max Perkoff

Born: May 28, 1962

Infinite Search, the Max Perkoff Band, the brand new CD by the Max Perkoff Band, represents Max Perkoff's most compelling project to date. That's saying a lot, for as a trombonist, pianist, composer and bandleader, Max Perkoff is a musician of grace, depth and impressive achievement, with several striking recordings as a leader to his name, and a recent chart-busting collaboration with trombone great Roswell Rudd. Perkoff has impressive bloodlines, as well; he's the son of pianist Si Perkoff, one of the founding fathers of San Francisco bebop. The Max Perkoff Band will celebrate the release of Infinite Search with a performance at Jazz at Pearl's on Thursday, April 12, 2007

Barry Cleveland

Born: March 27, 1956

For more than 25 years, Barry Cleveland's epic compositions and virtuoso, eclectic guitar work have been celebrated by critics and listeners alike. His fifth album Hologramatron, is a timely progressive rock and world fusion statement. Hologramatron is a 21st Century protest record with songs featuring biting, sometimes brutal, commentary on the state of the Western world. It’s a musical response to contemporary social, political, and even spiritual realities. The disc draws inspiration from a musical continuum spanning art rock, psychedelia, metal, ambient, world music, trance, and funk. The cast of players joining Cleveland comprises some of the most respected musicians of the avant-rock scene, including bass innovator Michael Manring, drummer and percussionist Celso Alberti (Steve Winwood), pedal-steel iconoclast Robert Powell (Peter Gabriel, Jackson Browne), vocalists Amy X Neuburg, Deborah Holland (Stanley Clarke, Stewart Copeland), and Harry Manx

Jackie King

Born: March 22, 1944

After holding a full-time staff position teaching at the Music Institute (then GIT) Jackie King created and owned the Southwest Guitar Conservatory, which drew students from around the world and was featured in Guitar Player Magazine. He received an honorary Master’s degree from San Francisco State University and served on the board of the Music Teachers’ Association of California. Jackie King’s educational products have continued to be in print for almost 20 years: REH-Warner Bros. Hotlines book & cassette, Contemporary Guitar Improvisation on Hotlicks Videos. King’s first book for the Mel Bay Company, Getting Into Jazz Guitar, is currently available worldwide

Mike Parykaza

Born: November 18, 1957

20 plus years performing on trumpet and flugelhorn. Recent additions include valve trombone, percussion, lead vocals, arranging/composition, and piano. Genres include mainstream jazz, blues, funk/soul/r&b, big band (lead & solo), classical, pop, and others.