Jazz Artist Biographies
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Larry Slezak
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Jazz Saxaphonist Larry Slezak was born in Manhattan in 1946. He gravitated to the saxophone after hearing Bill Doggett’s hit recording of “Honky Tonk.” Growing up in New York afforded him the opportunity, while still in his teens, to hear all the great musicians live: from Armstrong to Ellington and Basie. He was drawn to the music and was... |
| Artist Biography by Tierra Studios |
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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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Steve Weingart
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Steve Weingart is an acclaimed jazz/funk keyboard player, and has toured internationally with Steve Lukather's “El Grupo”, the Dave Weckl Band, and Virgil Donati.
In September 2007, Weingart announced a new jazz/funk band. The STEVE WEINGART BAND features Steve Weingart, keyboards; Eric Valentine, drums; Jimmy Earl, bass; Kevin Levi, saxophone; Toshi Yanagi, guitar. Steve Weingart's new band will be... |
| Artist Biography by Will Minting |
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Laura Welland
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Her name is Laura Welland, and if you’ve listened to jazz in Seattle in the last decade, you may have heard her playing bass—at Tula’s, the Seattle Art Museum, or Benaroya Hall. She’s played with Jay Thomas, Hadley Caliman, Julian Priester, Dawn Clement and other Seattle jazz greats; she’s studied under Chuck Deardorf, John Clayton and the late Ray... |
| Artist Biography by Rhonah Harvey |
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Bruce Wethey and Lisa LaCross
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Although this is their first recording as a duo, Bruce Wethey and Lisa LaCross both have extensive musical careers, primarily in the classical music world. Bruce performed as a violinist in the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra, the Florida Philharmonic and many others although he also has gigged with Natalie Cole, Ray Charles, Doc Severinsen, Ricky Martin, Michael Jackson and... |
| Artist Biography by Jo Ferrell |
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Richard Wiggins
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Richard R. Wiggins was born on October 7, 1933 in Greenwich, CT, graduating from Greenwich High School in 1952, and from RCA Institutes in 1960. He was employed by CBS News in 1964 as a sound tech for CBS Reports, and in 1968 for 60 Minutes with Harry Reasoner & Mike Wallace, retiring from CBS in 1989. ... |
| Artist Biography by Dae Vitale |
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