Results for "Smooth Jazz"

Warren Keller

Born: September 28, 1965

The child of a concert pianist and teacher, and a world-class operatic baritone, Warren began playing and singing early. His father, Howard Keller, blessed with an incredible baritone voice, studied with Carlton Gauld (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlton_Gauld). Warren's dear mother, Roslyn, apprenticed with several luminaries: Anatole Kitain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatole_Kitain), Constance Keene (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constance_Keene), and her husband Abram Chasins (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abram_Chasins). As a teacher, 'Roz' was responsible for developing the talents of Joel Levine, musical director emeritus of the Oklahoma Philharmonic, and Sting’s occasional accompanist, Ken Helman. Warren has sung, played woodwinds (tenor/alto/soprano saxophone, flute), and written music on the New York City, Nashville, and Smooth Jazz music scenes. Warren was fortunate enough to have studied with the late, great Kenny Davern (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_Davern), who began his career with Jack Teagarden, and was a multiple winner of the Downbeat Poll for soprano sax and clarinet. Three other master teachers were Gerry Orrico, fabulous alto sax and alto flute player for the Tex Benecke Orchestra and The Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas, vocal coach Marty Lawrence who taught everyone from Vicki Carr to David Coverdale, and guitarist Gary Talley of The Box Tops. Warren says that to have benefited from their level of musicianship humbles him. While playing classical clarinet and jazz sax with high school ensembles, he began his professional career with friends from New Jersey in the band 'Harper.' Though having aspirations of writing original music, they remained largely a cover band, albeit, one of the Jersey Shore's best. While the formative years from 1973-1979 were spent with Harper, Warren's singing, playing, and performing abilities were honed by the variety of styles they covered, and their extensive travels as a road band in the US and Canada. Beginning as a Chicago Transit Authority clone playing over 40 of their songs, Harper morphed into a Disco-Funk act, covering everything from Earth, Wind, and Fire, to Crown Heights Affair. It was at this time that Harper became the backup band of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performer and Motown producer, Terry Johnson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_%22Buzzy%22_Johnson) and his Flamingos ("I Only Have Eyes for You"). Their days with these veteran performers were both educational and fun. After Harper left Terry, Warren stepped out from his role as saxophonist, percussionist, and occasional singer, to become lead singer/front man. Harper evolved into a Top-40 hard rock act, doing Springsteen, Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Kansas, and Boston, as well as vestiges of their horn-oriented and funky past. In their final incarnation before Warren's departure in 1979, he had introduced the band to the new wave of the Clash, Elvis Costello, and The Cars.

Kenne Thomas

Born: September, 1953

Drummer, composer, and author, Kenne Thomas is the son of Chicago bebop saxophonist, Jimmy “Bouncy” Whitehead. Influenced by family friends, Gene Ammons and Sonny Stitt he began his musical career in his hometown of Chicago performing with notable musicians, Jodie Christian, Ari Brown, Adam Rudolph the Charles Walton Big Band, and the Black Artists Group. In the early 70’s Kenne moved to Minnesota where he performed with pianist, Jimmy Bowman Trio. Attending Moorhead State University, he played around the region with the R & B horn band, AIRTIGHT. After graduating with a degree in Music Education, he joined the Jerry Lakes Memories of Elvis Supershow which toured throughout the US and in Europe. Kenne went to Japan, in 1979 to perform, with the Pullman-West Band, out of Detroit

Herb Partlow

Born: July 23, 1961

Contemporary Jazz Artist | Producer | Composer | Multi-Instrumentalist

Herb Partlow is an acclaimed contemporary jazz artist, music producer, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and recording engineer whose distinctive sound bridges the worlds of jazz, funk, R&B, and hip-hop. With a career spanning decades, Partlow has established himself as an independent recording artist known for combining melodic jazz instrumentation with the rhythmic energy and production techniques of contemporary urban music.

Based in Charleston, South Carolina, Partlow is the founder of Superb Muzic, his independent record label, and Superb Herb Muzic (BMI), his music publishing company. A versatile musician who performs on keyboards, piano, and bass guitar, he also handles drum programming, arrangements, recording, mixing, and mastering, maintaining creative control over his original compositions and productions.

Francis Hon

Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Dr. Francis Hon (洪維浩) began playing classical piano at the age of six. In 2011, Francis moved to the United States to pursue a Doctorate in Piano Performance at The University of Texas at Austin, where he studied with Gregory Allen, the Grand Prize winner of the 1980 Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Competition. Francis was always influenced by a variety of musical genres, which formed the foundation of his future musical style. Francis ignited his passion for jazz music in Austin, “the live music capital of the world.” While continuing his classical piano studies, he took up jazz piano with Jeff Hellmer and started playing with many musicians on the Austin jazz scene. He also worked as the Assistant Artistic Director and Lead Pianist for “Life in the City,” a weekly concert with jazz music and other genres. Francis’ final doctorate thesis in the work of Nikolai Kapustin solidified his interest in combining elements of classical music with the jazz idiom.

Vel Lewis

Born: November 30, 1954

Vel Lewis (Velbert Lewis, Jr.) is an award-winning American contemporary jazz recording artist, Hammond organist, composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist whose career spans more than six decades. Known for his distinctive Hammond organ sound, soulful melodies, and groove-driven approach to contemporary jazz, Lewis has built a career encompassing recording, international touring, television composition, production, and performance.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Lewis began his musical journey in 1965 as a first soprano vocalist with the Philadelphia All-Boys Choir under the direction of Dr. Carlton J. Lake. As a featured soloist with the choir's Small Ensemble, he performed internationally, including an appearance at Expo '67 in Montreal, Canada. He studied voice and piano at Settlement Music School and later focused on organ, studying under Milton Myers and Dr. E. Woodley Kalehoff, who had served as a White House pianist under President Harry S. Truman.

Smooth Jazz

Label: Higher Octave Jazz
Released: 2003