Jazz Artist Biographies
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The Midnight Serenaders
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New Orleans is often claimed to be jazz’s birthplace. While that point may be arguable to some, it was definitely, if not the birthplace, then the all important incubator. Being an active seaport and a multi cultural way station, it was the perfect place for an art form that would incorporate so many diverse elements. Initial jazz bands were... |
| Artist Biography by Maxwell Chandler |
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Jason Shand
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Ask newcomer Jason Shand what his musical influences are and he’ll answer with a single word, “broad.” The singer/songwriter’s smooth vocals and sophisticated songwriting make him an heir apparent to the adult contemporary throne formerly occupied by the likes of Seal and Annie Lennox. Yet, Jason is also quick to point out what makes him different,... |
| Artist Biography by Eva Dilmanian |
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George Shearing
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Born blind at birth in London, England on August 13, 1919, George Shearing went on to become one of the world's leading jazz pianists. Highly respected by his peers, Shearing has recorded with the greats of the music world. His internationally-known jazz composition, "Lullaby of Birdland," composed during 1952, is but one of his numerous works. He has... |
| Artist Biography by Lee Prosser |
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Jeff Shurdut
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PROPHETIC, charged, and challenging. "Unique… an intellect, provocateur," says Cecil Taylor. Shurdut is at times a study in contradiction. An abstract artist who considers himself a realist, Shurdut says, "Nothing is more abstract than reality." Jeffrey Shurdut's work is charged and challenging. It comes from the heart and the intellect. His subject is an... |
| Artist Biography by Innovators |
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Horace Silver
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Looking back over the last fifty years of jazz it is clear that few musicians have had a greater impact on the contemporary mainstream than Horace Silver. The hard bop style that Silver pioneered in the '50s is now dominant, played not only by holdovers from an earlier generation, but also by fuzzy-cheeked musicians who had yet to be... |
| Artist Biography by Katie Alvarez |
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Keely Smith
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Keely Smith and her lovely jazz vocals have endured for many a year now, and she has rightfully earned the title, "The Queen of Swing." Her voice is amazing, and the songs she sang in the 1950s with Louis Prima in Las Vegas are still in style!
In addition to her CD release, "Swing, Swing, Swing," she now has... |
| Artist Biography by Lee Prosser |
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Solar Wind featuring Sean Mason
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Solar Wind is a high-energy contemporary jazz band out of Los Angeles. With a perfect blend of smooth jazz, funk, new age and fusion, Solar Wind's sound transcends today's contemporary jazz.
The debut CD, "Grand Tour Alignment” 1999, received national and international airplay, and garnered rave reviews in several national publications including Jazziz, Jazz Times, Music Connection, Bassics, and Bass... |
| Artist Biography by Sean Mason |
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Omar Sosa
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Composer and pianist Omar Sosa was born on April 10, 1965 at Camaguey, Cuba where he spent his early years. He began his music studies at age eight with percussion and marimba at the music conservatory at Camaguey, Cuba. He was greatly influenced by jazz at an early age and influenced by the music of Thelonious Monk.... |
| Artist Biography by Lee Prosser |
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Melissa Stott
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Melissa Stott was born in England in 1972 to a Singaporean-Chinese mother and an English father. Her formal piano training began at the age of 6 and she went on to receive a diploma when she was 18, but it was in the years prior to this that her informal ear training started, thanks to her father, a... |
| Artist Biography by Nancy Low |
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Billy Strayhorn
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Billy Strayhorn was one of the finest impressionistic composers of the 20th Century. He was born at Dayton, Ohio on November 29, 1915. Strayhorn became associated with Duke Ellington during 1939 as a second pianist, collaborator, composer, and arranger. This collaboration and friendship with Duke Ellington lasted until Strayhorn's death in 1967. Much has... |
| Artist Biography by Lee Prosser |
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Rodney Taylor
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Recording artist Rodney Taylor is by far one of the most soulful saxophonists to come along in a long time. His solo CD releases on Equity Records entitled “Blow By Blow” and “Unwrapped For Christmas” are true testimonies to that fact.
His resume includes such artists as Brian McKnight, Doc Powell, and Chaka Chan to name a few. ... |
| Artist Biography by Melody McCloud |
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Mark Taylor
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Mark Taylor is one of a handful of talented young performers carrying on the improvisational tradition pioneered by the great (french) hornist, Julius Watkins. Taylor's sound has been described as "rapturous" and "golden" (Coda Magazine); "as fluid and limpid as (the) flute, and as gnarly as (the) alto." (JazzTimes). His innovative style has won him recognition by such legendary... |
| Artist Biography by Mark Taylor |
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The Allnighters
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During a time of crazy Karaoke wanna-be superstars. It's hard to find people that actually play live music in a real band setting. The Allnighters are one of those hard working groups and do it well. From Omaha, NE the band brings a fresh blast of old to the new millennium. The bands dedication to the long lost sounds... |
| Artist Biography by Travis |
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The Clovers
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One of the most overlooked of the 1950's acts that helped shape the coming Rock ‘n’ Roll explosion is The Clovers. Bill Lucas and friends--comprising of vocalists John “Buddy” Bailey, Matthew McQuater, Harold Winley, plus guitarist Bill Harris---would alter the entire R&B landscape. There were also delectable hints in their style of the Soul train that would eventually take flight.
Along with... |
| Artist Biography by Gary Tate |
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Toots Thielemans
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When most people think of the harmonica, they usually picture Ackroyd and Belushi soulin' it up in black suits, southern fried wah-wah blues or a scene from within a jail cell at state prison. Now that's not jazz. But, one man managed to create something unique with the harmonica that no one could ever imagine in the complex world... |
| Artist Biography by Lee Prosser |
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Chester A. Thomas
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My name is Chester Allen Thomas born 10-28-1957 in Wichita, Kansas. Parents are Helen & Ulysses Thomas. I am the fifth child of nine, Two sisters and Six Brothers. while growing up my mother would sing just about every song that came on the radio. My mother had a chance to sing but she was just to shy. In... |
| Artist Biography by Chester A Thomas |
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Phil Thomas
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The mood in and around Calahan Funeral Home on the South side of Chicago was at once somber, respectful, and celebratory. Outside the funeral home people smoked cigarettes, adjusted their ties, and traded their funniest stories of the deceased with each other, nodding their heads to everyone entering the building. Inside, I approached one of the ushers, exchanged pleasantries,... |
| Artist Biography by Charles Sudo |
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Dani Thompson
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There is an intriguing, sylphlike quality to London born Danielle Thompson, with a whisper of vulnerability dancing just below the surface. These are attributes that quite simply vitalize and enhance all of her performances. Solid British resolve and a firm belief in Kismet produce an energy and tender urgency that is hard to resist. Ballet at the age of... |
| Artist Biography by John Gilbert |
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Travis & The Flamekats
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With a new CD entitled "Easy Street" which is available on www.cdbaby.com/flamekats. The Nebraska based blues group Travis and the flamekats are making some noise in the Midwest blues scene. The bands unique lineup includes a female bass player who is gaining plenty of attention for her accomplished playing in the blues. She has already sat in... |
| Artist Biography by Travis Koester |
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Ronald Turner and the Fashion Statement
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Ronald Turner and The Fashion Statement is a 2003 Smoothie award winner from Smoothjazz.com. They are a professional, clean-cut group of musicians that give their musical best to put joy in the minds and hearts of listeners through our deeply felt creativity. Our group was established in 1990 as a jazz/funk ensemble. We consist of musically well-educated instrumentalists utilizing... |
| Artist Biography by Ronald Turner |
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Adam Unsworth
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The highly disciplined, truck driving, pavement pounding, nail banging, Civil War buff (His self-renovated fixer-upper even dates back to 1865), and proud papa of three debunks popular music mythology: classical musician does not equal jazz artist. Adam Unsworth, French hornist with The Philadelphia Orchestra since 1998 embraces the jazz idiom with the same guile and gusto as he does... |
| Artist Biography by Laura Henrich |
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Warren Vache
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Warren Vache is a supremely accomplished, versatile and rare performer. He has been astounding audiences worldwide for nearly three decades with his superb cornet, trumpet and flugelhorn stylings. Through live performances and recordings, along with stage, screen, radio and television appearances, Mr. Vache conveys incredible warmth through his burnished tone and intelligent improvisations.
Mr. Vache has performed... |
| Artist Biography by Jim Gorta |
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Rocco Ventrella
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A native south of Italy, Rocco Ventrella grew up in Bari. He began studying saxophone privately and after one year, enrolled into the Conservatory to study the clarinet. Immediately after the Conservatory, Rocco resumed to self-study the saxophone by also participating in various clinics of jazz music with famous musicians like David Liebman, Michael Brecker and Bob Mintzer.
Rocco began to play in... |
| Artist Biography by Rocco Ventrella |
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Didier Verna
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Born in 1970, Didier Verna gets quickly involved in music, since he enters conservatory at the age of 5 and studies music theory for 2 years. At the age of 7, he starts learning classical percussions while continuing his theoretical studies; an opportunity for him to discover group playing and enjoy his first on-stage experiences. From this first instrumental... |
| Artist Biography by Didier Verna |
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Fats Waller
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Fats Waller was born in 1904 and died in 1943 following a bronchial illness, and other physical problems. During that short, colorful lifespan he successfully created many songs and recordings. He was a master of the piano and the organ, was friends with George Gershwin and other composer-pianists of his era, and loved entertaining an audience. By 1930,... |
| Artist Biography by Lee Prosser |
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