Results for "Straight Ahead"

Nat Steele

Born: July 17, 1985

Nathaniel Steele is a jazz vibraphone player and drummer based in London. Since his arrival on the scene, he has quickly gained a reputation as a talented musician to watch out for, described by Clark Tracey as "one of the best vibes players this country has ever produced." Following in the style of Milt Jackson, Nat takes a two mallet approach to improvisation, focusing on melodic interpretation and a great swing feel. He released his debut album "Portrait of the MJQ" on Trio Records (Proper) in 2017 with a launch at Ronnie Scott's, receiving critical acclaim in the national and jazz press

Yasushi Gonjo

Born: May 24, 1985

Yasushi was born in Yamaguchi, Japan. He learned the cornet, alto saxophone and guitar at an early age. He switched to the contrabass when he became sixteen years old. In 2004, he studied at Osaka College of Music in Osaka and he took lessons from Mr. Terumasa Hino, Tomoyuki Kimura, Ken Sakakura. Yasushi started playing career as a professional from a student. He experienced performed with top musicians such as Othello Molineaux, Eddie Henderson, Lewis Nash. Yasushi has made 8 CDs as a leader. His own band “GINGERBREAD BOYS” got number one Japanese Jazz Band of “Jazz Page’s A Popularity Vote 2012” And he has recorded 10 CDs an a side man. In 2010, he started to produce concert event “CHANGES” series to introduce young jazz bands. He has made successful 10 times the event. And 2011, he founded the independent record label “OPEN E MUSIC”

Ed Bennett

Born: December 19, 1951

Ed Bennett has long been considered one of the West Coast's premiere string bass players. Living in Portland, Oregon since 1990, Ed's work has taken him virtually everywhere in the world. He has worked with, toured internationally, or recorded with many legendary jazz figures, including: Dizzy Gillespie, Curtis Fuller, Terell Stafford, Claudio Roditi, Jeremy Pelt, Joe Henderson, Sonny Stitt, Benny Golson, Frank Morgan, Richie Cole, Pete Christlieb, Bud Shank, Charles McPherson, Hadley Caliman, Bobby Watson, Harry Allen, Pete Jolly, Don Abney, Joe Albany, Dave Frishberg, James Williams, Mike Wofford, Pete Malinverni, Bill Mays, Dick Berk, Lawrence Marable, Frank Butler, Gene Stone, Joey Baron, Chuck Redd, Carmen McRae, Jimmy Witherspoon, Anita O'Day, Nancy King, Ernistine Anderson, Marlena Shaw, Karrin Allyson, Mary Stallings, Dee Daniels, Bill Henderson, The Modernaires, Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabakin Big Band and the Gerald Wilson Orchestra.

Haruna Fukazawa

Born: April 14

Haruna Fukazawa is a New York-based flutist, improviser, composer and a voting member of the Recording Academy, originally from Tokyo, Japan, Haruna blends classical training with a bold, joyful improvisational style deeply inspired by her mentor, Frank Wess.
Haruna is a 2026 GRAMMY® Nominee in Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for “SHAYAN” by Charu Suri.

​Haruna studied classical music at Musashino Academia Musicae before setting her sights on New York City, where she began studying with Frank Wess

Deelee Dube

Born: January 15

Deelee Dube (/'diːliː 'duːbɛ/), born Sithandile Agatha Dube on January 15, is a British vocalist, songwriter, and musician of Southern African lineage.

On November 20th, 2016, Dube became the first British winner and recipient of a Sassy Award at the 5th Annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition hosted by Rhonda Hamilton and held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, which landed her a Concord Records contract and a chance to appear at the Montreal International Jazz Festival. Onstage she was accompanied by a trio consisting of Sergio Salvatore (piano and musical director), Lisle Atkinson (bass), and Buddy Williams (drums). The panel judges included Sheila Jordan, Dianne Reeves, Christian McBride, Sheila E. Anderson, and Mark Ruffin. While in Newark, Deelee attended rehearsals and was greeted by co-producer of the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, Carl Griffin. This was followed by an interview with former WBGO radio broadcaster Nicole Sweeney before her triumph in the Sarah Vaughan Vocal Competition at the NJPAC, where she also met and befriended Dorthaan Kirk and Linda Moody (wife of the late jazz saxophonist James Moody) as part of the TD James Moody Jazz Festival held at the NJPAC. Dube was presented with the Sassy award by NJPAC President & CEO John Schreiber (formerly Sarah Vaughan's road manager) and signed to Concord Jazz via Mark Wexler (former Chief Operating Officer at the Concord Label Group).

Julian Hartwell

Born: September 12, 1989

Julian Hartwell is a sought-after jazz pianist, composer, bandleader, and educator based in Philadelphia, PA. Originally hailing from Birmingham, Alabama, for the past 18 years he has been performing throughout the Delaware Valley and beyond – making a name for himself and sharing his talents at jazz clubs to rock venues, high-class cocktail hours, local jam sessions and everything in between. In addition to an adjunct faculty role in the music department of his alma mater Temple University, some of Hartwell’s most recent career highlights include a solo performance at the Barnes Foundation presented through Philly Jazz Project, gracing the stage of the Media Theatre for the region’s inaugural TedX event, and performing as a sideman with Indian sitar and tabla virtuoso Ustad Shafaat Khan in his East Meets West fusion project

Charlie Harrington

Born: August 1

Charlie Harrington is a multitalented drummer whose artistic ability is seemingly limitless. As a bandleader and as a sideman he pushes the boundaries of swing and groove and has garnered critical acclaim for his ability to inspire and entertain. He's known for sophisticated rhythms, distinctive accompaniment, and powerful solos. "...his inimitable antagonistic percussive prodding, coupled with a dazzling display of virtuosic improvisational madness, was breathtaking," writes the San Mateo Daily News.

“A drummer can be one of three things: a technician, an entertainer, or a musician

Ben Hedquist

Born: April 20, 1988

Ben Hedquist is the clinical assistant professor of jazz bass at Arizona State University. He holds a doctorate in double bass performance from ASU where he studied under double bass virtuoso Catalin Rotaru. Hedquist is the education program coordinator at The Nash, Phoenix’s jazz performance and education center. As a double bassist, Hedquist is known for his versatility and feels at home playing classical or jazz music. As a classical musician, he has performed with the West Valley Symphony, Phoenix Opera, and as Principal Bassist for the Musica Nova Orchestra. Hedquist has also performed in chamber concerts with the ASU String Faculty as part of the Stradivarius Concert Series at the Musical Instrument Museum, with violinist Mark Fewer (McGill University) as part of the Lotus Land Project and performs solo recitals throughout the Phoenix Metropolitan area

David Larsen

Born: November, 1980

David Larsen is the director of instrumental studies at Spokane Falls Community College. He holds a PhD from Washington State University and degrees from Pacific University, University of Oregon, and Western Oregon University. David has been a presenter/performer for the Jazz Education Network, North American Saxophone Alliance, and several other conferences and festivals.

David is an active adjudicator and works with various festivals around the US.

David has performed with a variety of artists including Ken Peplowski, Francisco Torres, Dave Glenn, Ron Vincent, Bill Mays, Dean Johnson, and the internationally acclaimed jazz vocalist, Halie Loren.

Fred Haas

Born: July, 1951

Fred Haas, a Dartmouth graduate ('73), teaches Saxophone, Jazz Piano, Improvisation, Jazz History and Music Theory at Dartmouth College. He lives in Hartland, Vermont, and travels throughout New England and beyond performing and recording with a variety of musicians. Fred brings to each of his performances and workshops a depth of experience and knowledge from over thirty-five years as a jazz musician and educator. His goal is to communicate a broad range of emotions through music as well as share information about the history of jazz and the art of jazz improvisation. In 1997 Fred founded Interplay Jazz Camp, which provides an opportunity for musicians of all ages to participate in a relaxed and supportive learning environment with an experienced faculty that focuses on key aspects of the improvisational art of jazz