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Introducing Baritone Saxophonist Evan Gongora
by Sanford Josephson
Evan Gongora's father, Oscar, is a classical saxophonist and Founder and Director of The Vitral Saxophone Quartet. “So," recalled the 18-year-old Evan, “he put a saxophone in my mouth at a very early age." Evan “fell in love with the baritone saxophone. I loved the sound. I always listened for all the low sounds, songs built ...
Introducing Pianist Esteban Castro
by Sanford Josephson
Esteban Castro's parents gave him a toy piano when he was three years old. “I would just kind of gravitate toward it a lot," he recalled. “When I was four, they rented a piano and started getting me lessons. I got into jazz because I would really enjoy improvising and composing when I started playing. I ...
Introducing Saxophonist Olivia Hughart
by Sanford Josephson
Growing up in Lower Merion, PA, a Philadelphia suburb, Olivia Hughart started playing jazz saxophone in middle school. “My parents were big music lovers," she recalled. “We were listening to music all the time. They're huge Yellowjackets fans, so we'd always listen to Bob Mintzer playing. Also, Dexter Gordon, Larry McKenna, Melissa Aldana, and Roxy Coss." ...
Introducing Pianist Tyler Bullock
by Sanford Josephson
Tyler Bullock began taking classical piano lessons in his hometown of Nashville when he was four years old. Eight years later, he discovered jazz through an organization called the Nashville Jazz Workshop. “It's kind of similar to Jazz House Kids," he said. “They have classes and summer camps. It was a summer camp I went to, ...
Introducing Trumpeter Kellin Hanas
by Sanford Josephson
As a four-year-old, growing up in Wheaton, IL, Kellin Hanas was a fan of the TV show, The Wiggles. “There were four Australian guys in colorful shirts, and they would sing songs," she recalled. “In one of their shows, they brought out this guy with a little trumpet. I guess, from watching that, I had a ...
Introducing Vocalist Tyreek McDole
by Sanford Josephson
In 2018, Tyreek McDole, a student at the Osceola County School for the Arts in Kissimmee, FL, was playing classical percussion for a performance of the 1987 Stephen Sondheim/James Lapine musical, Into the Woods. “During rehearsal," he recalled, “one of the actors got sick. I had studied all the music, so I sang the part for ...
Introducing Bassist Liany Mateo
by Sanford Josephson
Liany Mateo started playing the bass when she was 13 years old. “They opened up a performing arts school in Jersey City," she recalled. “At that time, I knew I wanted to play an instrument. I was into '70s punk music, and all of my favorite people in those bands were the (electric) bass players. I ...
Introducing Drummer Mecadon McCune
by Sanford Josephson
Mecadon McCune has been immersed in music since he was born. His father is veteran jazz pianist Brandon McCune; his mother, Christine Clemmons-McCune, is an opera singer. “My dad made sure that I was learning piano since I was about four years old," he said, “but growing up I really did not like learning the piano. ...
Introducing Jazz House Kids All-Stars
by Sanford Josephson
Bassist Laura Simone-Martin of Lawrenceville, NJ, is heading back to Carnegie Hall's NYO Jazz Program for the second consecutive year. “Last year," she said, “gave me that first-hand experience of what it is like being on the road for so long and how much energy goes into it." On Saturday night, June 3, Simone-Martin ...
Introducing Vocalist April Varner
by Sanford Josephson
The 1957 Verve album, Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book, contained 38 tracks, including some of the best-known tunes associated with Ellington such as “Solitude," “Satin Doll," and “I'm Beginning to See the Light." Contestants in this year's sixth annual Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal Competition, sponsored by Blues Alley Jazz, were asked to select ...
