Dionne Warwick
The great lady of Soul is already an institutionl. Dionne Warwick won
6 Grammies and all major music awards. She also sold more than 12 million
records and is the first black female singer with a dozen singles in the
top 100 in USA.
The Manhattan Transfer
For almost 30 years, the quartet of Tim Hauser, Janis Siegel, Alan Paul
and Cheryl Bentyne has combined its voices into an incomparable four–part
harmony that has set new standards for vocal music. Spanning over 22 albums,
they have earned a total of 8 Grammy awards and worldwide sales in the
millions. 2003 will mark The Manhattan Transfer‘s 30th Anniversary.
They are currently in pre–production for their next CD release, due in
2004.
Take 6
Alvin Chea voc., Cedrik Dent voc., Joel Kibble voc., Mark Kibble voc., Claude McKnight voc., David Thomas voc.
This seven–time Grammy Award–winning group broke new ground
in the 80‘s, paving the way for the popular revival of R&B vocal
groups. Their spiritual foundation, jazz harmonies, original songs and
vocal pyrotechnics represent some of the best a cappella ever recorded.
The latest CD, Beautiful world, produced by Marcus Miller was released
in 2002 and reprises some of the greatest music of the 20th century.
Take 6 – The Standard EPK (Secular)
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Patti Austin
The goddaughter of Quincy Jones and Dinah Washington, has become one
of the most popular singers of our time With her latest album, »For
Ella«, Patti Austin writes a musical love letter to the great Ella
Fitzgerald and provides an outstanding Tribute to the first lady of Jazz.
This can only be done by a special kind of artist, one who has the instinct,
the timing and the talent. The record was nominated for »Best Vocal
Jazzalbum« in 2003.
The Count Basie Orchestra
directed by Bill Hughes
The winner of 17 Grammy Awards, 2 Grammy Hall of Fame Awards and 9 Downbeat
Readers and Critics Poll Awards is that rarest of all jazz ensembles today:
a full–time touring jazz orchestra. Night after night, they let
audiences throughout the world experience that miraculous »Basie
Swing« and keep the music of their unforgettable leader alive with
fresh and expiring new elements.In the year of 2004 the band celebrates
worldwide the 100th birthday of Count Basie.
The New York Voices
Darmon Meader, Peter Eldridge, Kim Nazarian and Lauren Kinhan
They‘re singin‘ and they‘re swingin‘! New York
Voices is the Grammy Award winning vocal ensemble renowned for its excellence
in jazz and the art of group singing. The four singers live up to their
reputation as the most exciting vocal ensemble in current jazz. The album
»Brazlian Dreams« with Paquito D‘Rivera won the Latin
Grammy in 2003.
The Clayton-Hamilton Jazzorchestra
dir. by John Clayton
In 1985, drummer Jeff Hamilton joined bassist John Clayton and saxophonist
Jeff Clayton to form the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. Together
with an all-star line up of Los Angeles-based musicians (including
Snooky Young, Ricky Woodard, George Bohanon, Oscar Brashear, Bill Cunliffe,
etc.), the big band received an enthusiastic response from reviewers
and fans. Its first recording, Groove Shop (Capri), was named by CD
Review as one of the best recordings of 1990. It also earned a Grammy
Award nomination. Jeff received rave reviews for his dynamic drumming
on Heart and Soul (Capri). David Badham of Jazz Journal International
stated in his review: »This is one of the finest modern big band
issues I've heard«. Other CD releases include Absolutely! (1993,
Lake Street Records) and Explosive! featuring Milt Jackson (1998, Qwest)
and Shout Me Out (2000, Fable/Lightyear). Between 1999 and 2001, the
Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra was the in-residence ensemble for the
Hollywood Bowl Jazz series. The Orchestra was elected as Best Big Band
in the 2003 Downbeat Magazine Readers Poll.
The Three Ladies of Blues
Joan Faulkner, Harriet Lewis, and Joanne Bell
The Three Ladies of Blues
are a total knock out! They sing the same way they look: powerful, swinging
and sexy! Power and range, vocal and emotional virtuosity, intense–,
simply grand! Three different, but outstanding voices, Eye– and
earcatching, a real trip!
Rhoda Scott
Rhoda Scott is known as the »barefoot lady of the Hammond organ«
and considered the worlds greatest jazz organist. Performing on a »prehistoric«
organ (the Hammond B3), she »cooks« with her hands and feet
also using her beautiful voice, raised in the best church and soulful
tradition in the USA.
Scott Hamilton
Scott Hamilton s., John Pearce p., Dave Green b. and Steve Brown d.
Scott Hamilton is one of the leading saxophonist in today‘s jazzworld.
His playing is a breathy swing–to–pop tenor recalling the
musical tradition of Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster and Illinois Jacquet.
The worldwide high acclaimed tenorist has recorded over 30 albums and
is touring Europe successfully with his Trio.
Mezzoforte
Funk Masters “MEZZOFORTE” became the overnight world hit makers of 1983 in the UK with a single called “Garden Party” taken from the album Surprise Surprise which was a Mega selling track and chart hit all over the world. Since that time the group has been a Marathon Runner in the contemporary Jazz Scene. They toured nearly forty countries, released 11 albums and consistently impressed audiences and critics alike. With three of the four Icelandic founding members (Eythor Gunnarsson key., Johann Asmundsson b. and Gulli Briem d.) plus Icelandic reedman Oskar Gudjonsson ts., the distinctive Mezzoforte - sound has developed and matured through time without loosing the original sparkle that created their international reputation. With new band members Bruno Müller g., and Sebastian Studnitzky tp., key and/or Thomas Dyani perc., the Sextet/Septet always delivers stunning live performances with fresh sound and creative solos. Fridrik Karlsson the fourth initial band member remains fully active in the writing and recording part of the bands activities and performs with them at special occasions.
Harry Allen & Band
With his elegant and tasteful style, the new star among the saxophonists of swing is celebrating huge successes in the US, Japan, and Europe at the moment.
American Swing All Stars
(Scott Hamilton ts., Warren Vache tp.,co., flh., Ken Peplowsky cl.,ts., Jiggs Whigham tb., Richard Wyands p., Reggie Johnson b., Jake Hanna d.) Every single musician of the band belongs to the leading interpreters of the US swing scene on their instruments.
Joanne Bell and Trio
The voice of Joanne Bell is enormous and sensitive, powerful and emotional and her rhythm feeling and showtalent are unique. She catches her audience with every programm she performs no matter if it is gospel, Blues, Jazz, Soul and even Opera.
Café Du Sport
The young trio with bass player, Christian v. Kapphengst, belongs to Germany‘s elite up–and–coming jazz. In 2001, the trio was presented with the Hennessy Jazz award.
Freddy Cole
Freddy Cole has an impeccable sense of swing...he is, overall, the most
maturely expressive male jazz singer of his generation, if not the best
alive. - The New York Times
Freddy Cole, singer, pianist and younger brother of Legend Nat King Cole
and uncle of Natalie is one of the last great male jazz singers of his generation
and a true legend.
He has that combination of talents that makes a great singer: a wonderful
choice of material, phrasing that makes a song believable, and a voice that
creates a »deep purple« mood in his ballad singing. Freddy Cole
has long struggled to get out from under the shadow of his more famous older
brother, Nat, even going so far as to write »I'm Not My Brother, I'm
Me,« a song about their dissimilarities. What is striking at first,
however, is just how much alike they are: Their voices have a husky, smoky
timbre, and Freddy also plays piano with a guitar trio. While the vocal resemblance
is paramount, it's in his playing that Freddy asserts his individuality;
whereas Nat came out of the swing era, Freddy, who's 14 years younger, grew
up when bebop burst on the scene, and his playing has a more modern focus.
He plays piano and sings and performs live with guitar and upright bass,
just like Nat. Yet his voice is raspier, smokier, jazzier even. But he has
emerged from the awesome shadow cast by his elder brother. In truth, his
phrasing is far closer to that of Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday than that
of his brother and his timing swings a little more. His vocals—suave,
elegant, formidable, and articulate—are among the most respected in
jazz. Cole’s career continues to ascend as he’s moved into the
front ranks of America’s homegrown art form with a style and musical
sophistication all his own.
David Sanborn
Multi Grammy Award-winning (Jazz, R& B & Pop!!) and Saxophonist Icon David Sanborn is considered as one of the most popular and influential saxophone players of all time and has built an impressive reputation.
He is an artist whose music has inspired countless other musicians while creating a body of work that spans the genres of rock ‘n’ roll, R&B, pop and jazz. As a naturally gifted performer, David has helped defining the saxophone’s modern sound of contemporary jazz and instrumental pop while influencing a generation. The music of Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Paul Simon, James Brown, Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton and The Rolling Stones all has a similar tone running throughout. It's no coincidence that saxophonist David Sanborn has played with all of them.
Although he's acknowledged as having been influenced by Hank Crawford, Charlie Parker and Jackie McLean, he's not easily categorizable. In his remarkable three-and-a-half-decade recording and performing career, he's consistently embodied the dual ideals of virtuosity and versatility, revealing a one-of-a-kind talent on his own much-loved releases while building a singularly impressive resume that includes work with everyone from Gil Evans to Bruce Springsteen.
Sanborn’s new album Here & Gone (his 23rd album) , produced by Phil Ramone is close to his roots — and to his heart. It is a tribute to the music of Ray Charles and his arranger, saxophonist Hank Crawford. This 9 track album features a number of special guests, including Eric Clapton, Sam Moore and Joss Stone. "Hank just had this great quality to his playing," Sanborn says. "It was just elegance and simplicity — it was such a direct emotional thing. He seemed to be the instrumental side of what Ray was doing vocally. That music was everything to me: It kind of combined jazz, gospel and rhythm and blues. It wasn't any one of those things, but it was all of them kind of mixed together. And that, to me is, like, kind of the essence of American music."
Peter Eldridge voc., p.
The singer and pianist of the New York Voices has now also delivered a fascinating solo project. A sweetly melancholy and gently swinging group of well–known and not–so well–known standards entitled Stranger In Town.
METRO
Metro is a Power Fusion group created in 1994 by Chuck Loeb and Mitchel Forman, who are friends since their work for Stan Getz. The group was joined by German drummer Wolfgang Haffner. In this constellation the group exists till today. First bassist of Metro was Anthony Jackson (1994), followed by Victor Bailey (1995), Mel Brown (2002) and now Will Lee (2007). After their debut album Metro (1994) the band has released Tree People (1995), Metrocafé (2000), Grapevine (2002), Live At The A-Trane (2006) and Express (2007). The group Metro is a constant factor in the contemporary jazz scene. It's power-fusion at it’s best, unique and memorable.
Who better to create definitive 21st century fusion than Mitchel Forman and Chuck Loeb - virtuoso musicians who know no stylistic boundaries. Forman played with John McLaughlin and Wayne Shorter (Weather Report), Loeb's career as a musician and producer spans decades and genres. Add drummer Wolfgang Haffner and bassist Will Lee (most familar as the bassist with Paul Shaffer and the "CBS Orchestra" on the "Late Show with David Letterman') and you have a power quartet to reckon with. It's obvious that these sessions reverberated with the joy of playing with no commercial restraints. They all throw a stunning arsenal of solos, ensemble work, rhythmic and textural shifts, and unbounded influences. Here you have a consortium of fabled solo artists who seem to do everything just right. Yet unlike many projects of this ilk, these musicians inject a deeply personal slant into the grand scheme of things, abetted by ongoing affiliations and the 1994 advent of the Metro collective. In effect, they skirt and overcome that sometimes opaque delineation of contempo, radio-friendly jazz-fusion with enviable chops, flash and some razzle-dazzle. However, the tall order of the day equates to the group’s strong compositions, generally tinged with melodic hooks and multi-textural sound designs. It’s a study in contrasts, where Mitch Forman employs electric keys and acoustic piano, to coincide with guitarist Chuck Loeb’s distortion-laced heroics and jazzy chord progressions. Metro has consintenly pushed the envelope for the fusion style of music. It continues to make highly innovative music while still keeping it funky.
In 2007, the band recorded their sixth CD called "Express" again on the Marsis Jazz label. This time the great NY bassist Will Lee lent his extraordinary talents to the band as a player, composer and even vocalist.
Bill Evans/Randy Brecker
Soulbop Band
Multi award winners Randy Brecker and Bill Evans joined forces in
2003 to form a new group they billed as THE SOULBOP BAND. Co-led by
trumpeter Randy Brecker and saxophonist Bill Evans, this superband
can easily shift gears from swinging uptempo burners to slamming funk,
from soulful R&B to soothing ballads and scintillating rock-tinged
jams.
After a highly successful European tours in the Summer of 2003 (23 concerts in 29 days!) and 2004, Randy and Bill toured Europe again in July and August of 2004, fronting and all-star band featuring Hiram Bullock. This proved to be an even more successful tour, and led them to record »live« in the US.
Featuring an all-star cast of stellar sidemen in bassist Victor Bailey (Weather
Report, Steps Ahead, Madonna, Zawinul Syndicate), pianist Dave Kikoski (Roy
Haynes, Mingus Big Band, Randy Brecker Quintet), and the ubiquitous session
man and in-demand guitarist Hiram Bullock (David Sanborn, Brecker Brothers,
Gil Evans Big Band, Jaco Pastorius, Carla Bley, Marcus Miller), the exhilarating
Soul Bop Band »Live« captures the group in full stride during
a whirlwind summer tour in 2005.
M-Pact
Ivan Lins
Joan Faulkner & Gustav Csik Trio
The daughter of a preacher goes back to her roots singing gospel with her unique voice that powerfully comes right from her heart. Joan Faulkner has the rare ability to convey the secret of gospel music to her audience.
Herb Geller Quartet
Through his work in big bands, combos and studio orchestras including numerous recordings, Herb became known as one of the leading exponents on alto sax of the so–called West Coast style of jazz.
oscar williams & perfected praise
The Gospel concert of Oscar Williams jr. and Perfected Praise is a rousing, intensive expression of energy-giving love combined with unique vocal ability, harmony and precision. They do reach their audience in e-very show. At the beginning, the audience just look at them, then they start to move their legs and clap their hands. At the end everybody is up on their feet!!
This is an ensemble of worshippers who have been called since birth to praise god and deliver the message of god around the world. Many of these group singers are solo artist having performed on international stages. Perfected Praise holds the honor of being only the third gospel group to perform before the Pope at the Vatican Christmas Celebration.
Oscar Williams is a musician, choreographer, producer, clinician, orches-trator and teacher. He holds a Bachelors degree in Music from the Uni-versity of MO - St. Louis, and has been trained in all styles of music from classical to ragtime.
Oscar has served in several roles of the music industry as music director, conductor or song writer for such organizations as: St. Louis Black Reper-tory Company, Unity Ensemble, Saint Louis University Theater Depart-ment, Golden Gospel Singers of Harlem, NY, Dallas Black Academy of Arts and Letters, Dello Thedford and the Symphonic Choir, YMCA Boys Choir of St. Louis, NGCC, Gospel Music Workshop of America, Hampton Minister’s Conference, Gospel Heritage Foundation and many others.
His formal training began at the age of 8. He is a well accomplished and decorated pianist with styles ranging from Classical music, Jazz, Gospel, Ragtime and Broadway. He holds many prestigious awards and honors and has performed before vast audiences including Pope John Paul II, performances at the White House and continuous demand performances in Europe. He has toured extensively throughout Jamaica, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, France and Austria performing his own music . Oscar has shared the stage with such artist as; Dionne Warwick, Lionel Richie, Lau-ren Hill, Kirk Franklin, Richard Smallwood, Clifton Davis and many more.
He is a national recording artist, composer, producer and clinician, having released his debut CD "Unstoppable" in September of '05 nationwide on RyKo/Warner/Aleho Records. This debut smash spent time on the Top 40 Gospel Billboard Charts and was very successful with radio and retail. He currently serves as the Director of Music and Arts at the Hamilton Park UMC in Dallas, TX where he overseas 5 choirs, a full musician staff, the technical ministry, the dance ministry, the sign language ministry and the instrumentalist ministry and is working on a sophomore project due out in the Summer.
Houston Person Quartet
Saskia Laroo tp., & Band
This groovy trumpet player can be described in only one word: fantastic!! Although her roots lay in straight ahead jazz, the attractive bundle of energy celebrates huge success with hip hop jazz and her funky band.
Jacques Loussier Trio
»Play bach«
The world famous pianist and founder of the unique »Play bach« – Sound sold more than 6 millions of records with his first trio. Today with André Arpino d. and Vincent Charbonnier b. is he on the road in the whole world and the succes continues.
Markus Reinhardt Ensemble
Martin Sasse Trio
The young and talented German pianist is on his way to the top!
Diane Schuur
Two–times Grammy winner Diane Schuur (in 1987 she won although competing with Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen Mc Rae and Sarah Vaughan!!) is equipped with one of the best jazz voices ever heard. She fascinates both, jazz– and pop–fans with her overwhelming voice.
Janis Siegel
The voice of Janis Siegel–a nine–time Grammy winner with the Manhattan Transfer–has been an undeniable force in the groups musical catalogue. Alongside her career as a member of this musical institution, Janis has also sustained a high acclaimed international solo career with a half dozen excellent solo albums and numerous collaborative projects.
The BBC Big Band
This is the best Big Band in the British Jazz Awards (‘92, ‘94, ‘97 and ‘99) and no doubt UK`s, or even Europe‘s, leading Big Band. It has a long history in jazz and has roots dating back to the »post war« era. The BBC Big Band brilliantly continues the tradition of Big Band music and reaches worldwide audiences via the BBC World Service, satellite radio and Internet on its regular Radio 2 show for Monday night listeners.
The Vanguard Jazzorchestra
For over three decades the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra has been committed in engaging audiences in jazz and related American music experiences. The orchestra serves as a creative outlet for some of the US nation‘s foremost performers, composers, and organizers. One of the driving forces behind the artistic excellence of this ensemble is a commitment to the original Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra precepts of sound.
The Voices of Praise
This strong voiced ladies, Cynthia Utterbach, Joan Faulkner and Vanda
Guzman, promise an outstanding Gospel program. They re–tell the
history of black church music from the beginnings to the contemporary
gospel.