Jazz Artist Biographies
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Eric Brazier Trio
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Guitarist Eric Brazier has been on the local scene in Toledo Ohio, laying it down weekly at Rusty's jazz cafe for more than two decades now. Tuesdays, for the most part are slow compared to the weekends yet at Rusty's seats are hard to find.With an affinity towards straightahead standards, Eric a bassist and a drummer make a whole... |
| Artist Biography by Eric Brazier |
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Changamire
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Washington -- Let me begin with those rave reviews:
It's difficult to nail down just what makes her voice so darn compelling. Maybe it's the comfort and familiarity, maybe the confiding honesty. Whatever the case, it works exceptionally well.
-- Todd S. Jenkins, AllAboutJazz.com
A jazzy chanteuse with the pop sensibilities in the vein of Cassandra Wilson and Anita Baker, Changamiré has... |
| Artist Biography by K. R. Fletcher |
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Tony Marino
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Tony Marino (composer, pianist, leader) has created a loyal following and not all of his listeners are jazz enthusiast. His style seems to capture listeners from other genres continuously.
His first CD "Tony Marino & Havana Heat: The Latin Jazz Project" was released January 1997. The CD debuted original jazz compositions using a variety of latin styles.... |
| Artist Biography by Tony Marino |
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Chick Corea
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Thanks to the proliferation of jazz programs in high schools and Universities, the number of jazz pianists continues to grow at unprecedented rates. This growing population has a vast reservoir of musical devices from which to draw, and the ability to execute ideas with technique to spare. The one factor which seems to be much more difficult to acquire... |
| Artist Biography by Lee Prosser |
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Michel Petrucciani
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Michel Petrucciani’s music should be listened to and listened to. It must be understood, and that’s not the word either, rather felt through the heart. “Listen to that,” is all that can be said about his compositions, at least by those who really hear it.
Michel attempted to reconcile the idea of capturing a moment of feeling... |
| Artist Biography by Suzi Price |
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Dexter Gordon
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The only musician ever
nominated for an Oscar was, "Dexter 'LTD' Gordon (Long Tall Dexter)," for his
role in the most praised jazz film of all time, Bertrand Tavernier's, "Round
Midnight"; titled for Theolonius Monk's signature composition. In Tavernier's
jazz classic, Dexter plays expatriate, "Dale Turner," whose mission was to
depict a great creative artist, and reveal the pain... |
| Artist Biography by Richard V. Duffy |
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James Carter
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The first time I heard James Carter, he was performing at Yoshi's for the Eddie Moore festival in August, 1995 with the New York Organ ensemble. The group included Lester Bowie on trumpet, Amina Claudine Myers on organ, Frank Lacy on trombone, Kelvyn Bell on guitar, Don Moye on drums and Carter on all saxophones.
Carter's performance was high... |
| Artist Biography by Beatrice Richardson |
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Coleman Hawkins
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Jazz has been around long enough
for us to see it's most respected practitioners become gray, paunchy, and
venerable. The precocity of a Wynton Marsalis already famous by the age of
twenty-three is startling. But during the swing era, youth was the norm and the
advent of middle age a potential symptom of stagnation.
Nearly all the
prominent jazz musicians active in the 1930's (with... |
| Artist Biography by Beatrice Richardson |
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Walter Beasley
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Reedman Walter Beasley has become one of contemporary jazz extraordinary
saxman. Walter is an accomplished solo artist with eight-recorded CD's. Five
under the Mercury label, in addition to a solo project "Live and More". Walter
made his debut for Shanachie records April, 1997 with the CD entitled "Tonight
we love". This sultry saxophonist is not a newcomer to jazz, his earlier
influences has played... |
| Artist Biography by Jewel Shears |
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Miles Davis
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MILES DAVIS. When you hear his name, what do you think of first? Of course he was forefront in the jazz world, but what comes to mind? He did live in the fast lane, and he did make fantastic news for the media, and he was a ladies man, and he was controversial many times.......but again, what comes to... |
| Artist Biography by Lee Prosser |
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Gerry Mulligan
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Gerry Mulligan was born on April 6, 1927 in
New York and was one of the most versatile of all jazz musicians. With ease, he
could play many instruments, compose, and arrange for other jazz figures as
well as do his own solo work! Although associated with the baritone saxophone
of which he was its master, he was also... |
| Artist Biography by Lee Prosser |
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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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Django Reinhardt
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Django Reinhardt was born on January 24, 1910 in Belgium and became one of the first ground-breaking influences with lasting effect on the jazz guitar scene. His remarkable style influenced such contemporary jazz guitarists as Earl Klugh, Larry Coryell, George Benson and the late Wes Montgomery, among many others. He was born a gypsy of gypsy parents with a... |
| Artist Biography by Lee Prosser |
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John McLaughlin
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With his revolutionary Mahavishnu Orchestra, John McLaughlin became one of the most influential and individual fusion guitarists of the 1970s. His awesome, soaring, seemingly ever-ascending guitar lines- exploding in increasing mind-bending time signatures- tests the limits of human endurance for both player and listener.
Born in Yorkshire England, on January 4, 1942, McLaughlin was encouraged to learn piano... |
| Artist Biography by Yasir Agha |
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Bob James
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In addition to his world-wide reputation as an arranger and conductor, pianist Bob James has become a top figure in fusion with his own successful recordings.
Born in Marshall, Missouri, on Christmas day, 1939, James learned piano from age 4. His early inspiration was classical- Hindemith, before discovering the delights of jazz through Stan Kenton, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis,... |
| Artist Biography by Yasir Agha |
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Buddy Rich
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Born in New York, 1917, drummer Buddy Rich began in vaudeville at the age of 18 months, earning the nickname 'Baby Traps' by the time he was seven.
He worked with the bands of Bunny Berigan, Artie Shaw and Tommy Dorsey, developing into one of the best big-band drummers of the swing period. In 1946, he formed his... |
| Artist Biography by Yasir Agha |
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Joe Pass
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Guitarist Joe Pass has been on the scene since the 1940s, achieving widespread recognition in the '70s due to shrewd management by Norman Granz.
A veteran of countless sessions with a wide selection of musicians-Chet Baker, Bud Shank, Gerald Wilson, Les McCann, Earl Bostic and Duke Ellington - Pass is a complete professional. Since singing to Pablo, he... |
| Artist Biography by Yasir Agha |
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Stephane Grappelli
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Stephane Grappelli (originally surname was spelled with a 'Y') would have earned himself a place in Jazz History books if only for his important role in the Quintette of the Hot Club of France, featuring the dazzling virtuosity of Django Reindhart. Grappelli's violin was the perfect foil to Reindhart's guitar in this piano-less group.
Fired by Reindhart's tremendous... |
| Artist Biography by Yasir Agha |
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King Oliver
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Cornet-player Joe "King" Oliver was born in 1885, joining Kid Ory's Brownskin Babies in about 1914 or 1915, and developing great expressive skills in the use of mutes.
Oliver, like many New Orleans musicians, left for Chicago after the closure of Storyville in 1918, forming his own band, King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band. Clarinetist Johnny Dodds eventually replaced... |
| Artist Biography by Yasir Agha |
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Jan Garbarek
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The distinguished Norwegian tenor saxophonist Jan Garbarek has been describes by George Russell as 'just about the most uniquely talented jazz musician Europe has produced since Django Reinhardt'. Garbarek is undoubtedly one of the most original individualists on saxophone to have emerged since the '70s.
Born in Mysen, Norway, 1947, Garbarek taught himself to play saxophone at age... |
| Artist Biography by Yasir Agha |
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Keith Jarrett
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The celebrated pianist Keith Jarrett first established his reputation in the popular Charles Lloyd group (Dream Weaver) where he proved himself to be a dazzlingly gifted player. A period with Miles Davis in the early '70s (Live Evil and At Fillmore) did not lead- as with pianists Chick Corea, Joe Zawinul and Herbie Hancock- to the subsequent formation of... |
| Artist Biography by Yasir Agha |
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Ruby Braff
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A marvelously eloquent, always mellifluous player, Reuben 'Ruby' Braff (born Boston, Mass., 1927) is something of throwback to jazz of pre - World War II except that where Braff is concerned his music sounds fresh and despite strong influences is Armstrong, Berigan, Hackett, James, he does not slavishly copy any of the great trumpeters / cornettists of the past.... |
| Artist Biography by Yasir Agha |
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Ed Blackwell
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One of the greatest pioneers of free drumming in company with Sonny Murray and Milford Graves. Ed Blackwell's main body of work remains within the group context Ornette Coleman's Quartet and Don Cherry's units. Born in New Orleans, his drum concept fitted perfectly the needs of the new collective music-indeed, traditional New Orleans march rhythms combined with an African... |
| Artist Biography by Yasir Agha |
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Eric Darius
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There is a new sound of jazz being heard around Florida that is quickly blossoming. That sound emanates from 16 year old Eric Darius. It’s hard to believe such silky sounds come from an artist too young to vote.
Darius, a resident of Lutz, Florida attends Blake performing Arts High School where he plays with the Marching Band, a... |
| Artist Biography by Beatrice Richardson |
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Bill Evans
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Mile Davis has described young saxophonist Bill Evans as "One of the greatest musicians I've ever come upon" - praise indeed from a master musician and a suitable endorsement for one of the music's most original, inventive and exciting new entrants.
Born in Clarendon Hills, Illinois, in 1958, Evans studied classical piano from age 5. By age 12,... |
| Artist Biography by Yasir Agha |
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