Artists A-Z
 |
Teodross Avery
"Teodross Avery has ...also played and/or recorded in groups that were either led by or included jazz titans such as Hank Jones, Ben Riley, Harold Mabern, Cyrus Chestnut, Lewis Nash, Donald Harrison, Bobby Watson, The Roy Hargrove Big Band and Dee Dee Bridgewater, among many others. Teodross has also worked with the likes of Leela James, Roy Ayers, Mos Def, Lauryn Hill, Joss Stone, Talib Kweliand Matchbox Twenty. As a composer and producer, Teodross has amassed a stunning number of credits, which include the feature films Beauty Shop, Brown Sugar, and Love Jones. He has also written music for Amy Winehouse’s debut album, ‘Frank’ (Island Records).
Teodross received a Doctorate in Jazz Studies (DMA) from the University of Southern California in 2016. He holds a Masters degree in Music from the prestigious Steinhardt School of Education at New York University (2006). He is also the recipient of multiple awards, including The Sony Innovator Award (1992), The National Foundation for The Advancement in The Arts’ Clifford Brown/Stan Getz Fellowship (1992), and The NAACP ACT-SO Award (1991). Since 2017, Dr. Teodross Avery has been the head of Jazz Studies and Contemporary Music at the California State University Dominguez Hills (CSUDH).
|
 |
Cyrus Chestnut
"...The New York Daily News once heralded Chestnut as the rightful heir to Bud Powell, Art Tatum and Erroll Garner. In an interview on National Public Radio (NPR) for All Things Considered, Chestnut remarked, "If I can send one person home after a performance feeling better than when they arrived, then I've done my job, and I sleep good at night." To this day, Chestnut attends church every Sunday, and whenever he can he plays in the local church in Brooklyn, New York, where he lives with his family. He told CBS News, "If I'm not working, you'll find me in somebody's church." Chestnut continually tours with his trio, playing live at jazz festivals around the world as well as clubs and concert halls. His leadership and prowess as a soloist has also led him to be a first call for the piano chair in many big bands including the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band...."
|
 |
Ken Fowser
"Since his arrival on the New York scene in 2005, Ken Fowser has continued to steer traditional harmony in uncharted directions. His lyrical approach to line construction and depth of harmonic sensibility allow him to record and play all over the world with such master players and burgeoning stars as David Hazeltine, Ugonna Okegwo, Donald Vega, Willie Jones III, Rick Germanson, Quincy Davis, David Wong, Jason Brown, Dezon Douglas and Rodney Green...."
|
 |
Rick Germanson
"Rick Germanson is highly in-demand on the New York City Jazz scene for well over a decade now. A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rick moved to New York City after winning the GRAND PRIZE at The American Pianists' Association Jazz Piano Competition in Indianapolis, in 1996. He was also “Best of New Talent in 2004” by publication All About Jazz NYC.
Since 2001, Rick has been touring and recording with The Cannonball Legacy Band featuring the legendary Louis Hayes. From 2003-2008 Rick also toured with master guitarist Pat Martino. Currently, Rick is currently the pianist for guitarist Russell Malone, bassist Kyle Eastwood, vocalist Gregory Generet, trombonist Papo Vazquezʼs Mighty Pirates Troubadours, among many others.
...."
|
 |
Willie Jones III
"... Influenced by the rich soulful energy of the West Coast bop movement, Black Note's hard-swing sound propelled them to first place in the prestigious John Coltrane Young Artist Competition in 1991. Jones contributed his skillfulness as both musician and producer on all four Black Note recordings: 43rd & Degnan and L.A. Underground (World Stage Records), Jungle Music (Columbia) and Nothin' But the Swing (Impulse!). By 1994, the band had toured Europe and across the U.S. and was the opening act for Wynton Marsalis...."
|
 |
Jacques Lesure
"... Because of his diverse experiences and associations, Jacques is often called upon as a viable source of antiquity and has been featured in numerous national publications including the Oxford African American Studies title “Leimert Park, Jazz” and is the recipient of countless awards. He is the Musical Director for the Living Legends Foundation and is President of the African-American Jazz Caucus. Jacques is a national adjudicator, judging student competitions across the nation and he is an Artist/ Teacher for the Thelonious Monk Institute as well as the Los Angeles Bureau of Cultural Affairs and The Dolo Coker Jazz Foundation. ...."
|
 |
Ralph Moore
"Ralph Moore, who has lived in the U.S. since 1970, is a fine tenor saxophonist influenced by John Coltrane, but possessing a slightly softer tone. He attended Berklee (during that period he had opportunities to play with James Williams and Kevin Eubanks), moved to New York in 1981, and worked with many veteran players, including Horace Silver (1981-1985), Roy Haynes, Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, Jimmy Knepper, Bobby Hutcherson, and Kenny Barron. Ralph Moore debuted on record as a leader in 1985 for Reservoir, recorded several fine albums for Landmark, Criss Cross, Savoy, and Mons (with the L.A. Jazz Summit), toured extensively with J.J. Johnson, and since 1995, has been a member of the Tonight Show Orchestra in Los Angeles....."
|
 |
Eric Reed
"... Reed developed the core principles of his musical sensibility almost from the time he began to speak. “Before I could even reach the pedals,” he recalls, he was playing for and enhancing worship services for the congregants in the small Baptist storefront church in West Philadelphia where his father, a quartet singer, sang and preached. “My earliest experiences in the Holiness church were colored with charisma; people were moved largely by emotion,” he says of that functional setting. “Music played a major role in manipulating these emotions, even inciting people to dance. I developed my ear in an extraordinary way; if someone started to sing, I could quickly find their key and begin to accompany them.”..."
|
 |
Justin Robinson
"...Justin Robinson wields a hefty portfolio: joined Harper Brothers at 18, debuted on Verve at 22, a decade's-worth of star sideman gigs. All of that hang-time paid off with his 1998 recording The Challenge on Arabesque Records. Penning six of the compositions, selecting an inspired posse of young ringers (Ron Blake, tenor sax; Stephen Scott, piano; Dwayne Burno, bass; Dion Parsons, drums), Robinson also produced the whole shebang..."
|
 |
Gregory Tardy
"Saxophonist, multi-reedist, and composer Gregory Tardy is one of the most versatile jazz musicians of his generation, equally comfortable in a variety of musical and improvisational situations. Born into a musical family, he began his musical career studying classical clarinet. In his early 20s, while preparing for a symphony career he discovered jazz saxophone and hasn’t looked back.... His performance schedule has taken him all over the world, playing at all of the major jazz festivals and on some of the biggest stages in jazz. As a sideman, he has been featured on several Downbeat Albums of the Year and also several Grammy nominated recordings; including a Grammy winning CD with Brian Lynch in 2006. He also has recorded fourteen CDs under his own name featuring his unique compositions, blending his love of traditional jazz with a more modern seeking style. His latest release “Chasing After The Wind” was released in the fall of 2016."
|
 |
Isaiah J. Thompson
"Isaiah J. Thompson is a jazz pianist, bandleader and composer from West Orange, New Jersey....recently worked on the Golden Globe nominated soundtrack for Motherless Brooklyn, and has been awarded other accolades including receiving the 2018 Lincoln Center Emerging Artist Award and earning second place in the 2018 Thelonious Monk (now Herbie Hancock) Institute of Jazz Piano Competition. Isaiah believes that artistry is a direct channel into the mind and soul of an artist, and as such, feels that it is important to not lose sight of one’s individuality or that of others. This had led to his ardent advocacy for diversity both in and outside of his field. As a performer, he tries to emit a feeling of joy and convey his personal experiences through music, and through his everlasting love of jazz."
|
|
