Results for "straight ahead jazz"

Nina Beck

Born: October 28, 1955

These recent statements from several industry pros could sum it up "in a nutshell" about Nina Beck's piano playing and singing: "With so much jazz mistaking excess for invention and hyperactivity for dynamism, Nina Beck and her groups display genuine heart with no bells and whistles. Nina is a pianist/singer worthy of much more attention." -Roger Crane, Jazz Writer for such publications as Jazz Improv and All About Jazz. "You're very good, and you know how to swing. I can't say that about every pianist; but you definitely can swing." -Marty Harris, prominent pianist/recording artist. "Nina Beck is a polished jazz pianist with absolute pitch. Beck is a solid performer who knows all the tunes and plays them superbly." -John Gilbert, Staff Writer for Sony/Columbia Records, Euro Club De Jazz, All About Jazz, and JazzReview.com Magazine.

Donovan Haffner

Born: September, 2001

Donovan Haffner is an alto saxophonist. He graduated with a first class BMus degree in Jazz at the Royal Academy of Music.

He has had the opportunity to collaborate with notable musicians, including Shane Forbes and Jay Phelps. He also toured around Italy with Moses Boyd at only 18 years old and at various places around the UK. During his formative years, he received mentorship from figures like Gary Crosby OBE, Alex Davis, and Binker Golding of Tomorrow’s Warriors. Through this organisation, Donovan has been fortunate to be a part of the Jazz House Kids Summer Programme in New Jersey a number of times which helped him further improve his musical skills

April Varner

Award Winning NYC-based jazz vocalist and composer, April Varner, has often been described as a “direct, authentic singer…”, demonstrating “vocal dynamism… authentic jazz phrasing…electrifying numbers…” and possessing a “profound command of deep scat and vocalese…” (Marilyn Lester, The New York City Jazz Record). 

Recognizable by her curly red hair and voice of an “old soul”, April brings her listeners to another place- one long ago when the giants of jazz were still gracing the stage. Amassing several viral videos of 1 million+ views on her social media of her challenging solo transcriptions, cleverly crafted vocaleses and acapella renditions of the Great American Songbook, April’s voice can fit itself into a myriad of different molds. 

Dexter Stanley-Tauvao

Born: May 8, 1995

Dexter Stanley-Tauvao is a Sāmoan jazz drummer, composer and educator currently based in New York, USA. Born in Wellington, New Zealand, Dexter studied at the New Zealand School of Music and graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor's Degree in Jazz with First Class Honours.

His musical career has taken him to Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, the USA and Germany, and he has performed alongside jazz icons such as Alex Sipiagin, Antonio Hart, Rufus Reid and Scott Wendtholt. While he is most passionate about big band and straight-ahead jazz, (Alex Sipiagin, Roberto Manzin, Umar Zakaria, New Zealand Youth Jazz Orchestra, Lauren Nottingham) he also loves Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, funk, indie-pop and folk music. Dexter’s willingness to learn has led to engagements with a wide range of musical ensembles, including:

Hyeonseon Baek

Born: December 30, 1991

Hyeonseon Baek is A New York-based Jazz vocalist/songwriter from South Korea who focuses on striving to create music that transcends cultural and generational boundaries, blending traditional Jazz with a modern approach for our diverse and vibrant audience. At the age of 8, he discovered his love for music when he sang in the school choir group. Hyeonseon was obsessed with soul and rhythm and blues musicians like Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross, Donny Hathaway, Ledisi, Aretha Franklin, and countless pop musicians. After some years, he listened to some jazz recordings by Mel Torme and Mark Carmen McRae one day and was immediately fascinated by jazz. Most of the sounds from those recordings were so new to him and made him curious about jazz music. He wanted to find out what they were doing and why it was too good for him.

Paul Tafoya

Born: June 3, 1990

Award winning trumpeter, composer, band-leader, and arranger.

Paul Tafoya is a talented trumpeter, composer, and bandleader with a decade of professional experience in the music industry. He developed a passion for music in his pre-teen years, later being awarded "Marine Musician of The Year" in the MARFORPAC band in the Marine Corps, where he honed his skills while travelling abroad performing. After his time in the military, Paul attended college and studied with some of the most renowned musicians in the industry, including Lew Soloff, Jeremy Pelt, Ralph Alessi, Ingrid Jensen, Jon-Erik Kellso, and more. 

Angelo Velasquez

Angelo Velasquez is a proud Los Angeles based Jazz drummer, composer, and band leader. He is a graduate of California State University Northridge Jazz Department, the 2021 Downbeat winner for best composition, and the Disney scholarship winner at Cal arts where he received his MFA in jazz performance. The leader of “YOCOYA”, Angelo blends, musical styles from all over the world with jazz, in both his playing and compositions to create a powerful, unifying, and emotional musical experience. Angelo has performed with the likes of Dontae Winslow, Logan Richardson, Luis Conte, Sasha Berliner, Nick Mancini, Steve Lehman, Larry Koonse, Alphonso Johnson, Eric Marienthal, Wayne Bergeron , Brian Scanlon, Ira Nepus, Gary Pratt, Bob Sheppard, Bobby Shew, and John Daversa

3Divas Jazz Trio

Born: July 27

3Divas Jazz Trio Fiercely swinging on purpose, with purpose this powerhouse trio plays original, traditional and contemporary standards from all genres of music. Their unique style and innovative arrangements are always super-charged by their boundless musical joy. Sherrie, Amy, and Jackie met in May of 2014 at the Cleveland Playhouse while playing in The DIVA Jazz Orchestra as part of Maurice Hines’ award-winning show Tappin’ Thru Life. From their first shared downbeat, they became kindred-swinging spirits and the resulting musical synergy was fast and fierce...or as the New York Times said…"Blistering Hot!" Since its inception the trio has played at many of the country’s most prestigious venues including: Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola (NYC,) Mezzrow (NYC,) New World Stages (NYC,) Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors (NYC,) National Sculpture Gardens (D.C.,) Washington Women in Jazz Festival (D.C.,) the Cleveland Playhouse (Clvd, Oh) Tri-C Jazz Festival (Clvd, Oh,) Blu Jazz (Akron, Oh) The Bop-Stop (Clvd, Oh) Nighttown (Clvd, Oh.,)The Delaware Theater Company (Wilmington, DE,) True Blue Jazz Festival (Rehoboth Beach, DE.,) World Café Live (Phila, PA) Maple City Jazz Festival (Honesdale, PA,) The Deer Head Inn (DWG, PA,) COTA Jazz Festival (DWG, PA,) South (Phila, PA) and The Penn’s Landing Playhouse (Phila

Peter Ponzol

Peter is a well-known American jazz saxophonist.  He  grew up in the Philadelphia area and had the good fortune to study with some of the teachers of the great players such as John Coltrane, Benny Golson, Wayne Shorter, Hank Mobley and many other greats.

Peter spent time in Miami, and San Francisco before settling in NYC in the 70's, where he was a very active jazz and studio player. After receiving a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Performance Grant in 1977 he recorded his first solo album, Prism, and began playing in Europe. He received a grant from the German Academic Exchange Service in 1980 to come to Germany as a visiting artist. He moved to Germany in 1981 where he remained until returning to the US in 1993. While in Germany he was often a guest with the Radio Frankfurt Jazz Ensemble and played in many European  Jazz clubs and festivals.

Francesco Crosara

Born: September 13, 1960

Francesco Crosara is a Seattle based Italian jazz pianist, composer and educator, typically performing in a range of formats, from solo, duet, trio, quartet, or more.  Originally from Milan, Italy, Crosara’s music melds an impressive mix of jazz improvisation, a romantic vein from his classical training, along with Latin influences.  His major piano influences are Chick Corea, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, and Herbie Hancock.

Crosara stands among the European-bred jazz greats, performing over the years with the likes of Lionel Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Hargrove, Richie Cole, Von Freeman, Bobby Shew, Ira Sullivan, Bruce Forman, Barbara Morrison, Don Menza,  Lilian Terry, and more. His recordings have featured a multicultural and international array of musicians.