Daily Dose Of Jazz…
David Sanchez was born on September 3, 1968 in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico and from an early age took up the conga when he was eight His earliest influences were Afro-Caribbean, danza, European and Latin classical. By age 12 David began playing the saxophone, attending La Escuela Libre de Musica, which emphasized formal musical studies.
Around the time he turned 14 he heard Miles Davis’ Basic Miles and Billy Holiday’s Lady In Satin. A few years later faced with college he chose Rutgers over Berklee for a better scholarship and nearer to New York City. While at Rutgers he studied with Kenny Baron, Ted Dunbar and John Purcell.
After a period freelancing in New York with many top Latin players including Paquito D’Rivera and Claudio Roditi, Sanchez joined Dizzy Gillespie’s United Nations Orchestra in 1990 and Dizzy became his mentor. With Dizzy’s group he toured 27 countries and 100 U.S. cities in 31 states.
Leaving the United Nation Orchestra, Sanchez continued to play in Dizzy’s trio until Dizzy’s death in 1993. He has toured with the Philip Morris Superband, recorded with Slide Hampton and his Jazz Masters, Roy Hargrove, Kenny Drew Jr., Ryan Kisor, Danilo Perez, Rachel Z and Hilton Ruiz.
The tenor saxophonist is well known as a leader with seven albums under his belt for Columbia Records. He won a Grammy for the “Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album” in 2004 for Coral. David Sanchez continues to compose, record, perform and tour.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Clifford Laconia Jordan was born on September 2, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois and began his musical studies on the piano at an early age. While still in his hometown he took up the saxophone and had the opportunity to play with Max Roach, Sonny Stitt and a few rhythm and blues groups into the 50s. By 1957 at the age of 26, he made his move to New York City where he recorded three albums for Blue Note.
Over the course of his career Clifford recorded with Horace Silver, J. J. Johnson, Kenny Dorham, Lee Morgan, Max Roach and Paul Chambers. In 1964 he joined the Charles Mingus Sextet along with Eric Dolphy for the European tour. For a while he lived in Belgium, performed in Paris and toured Africa with Randy Weston.
Jordan’s later years saw him leading his own groups, performing with Cedar Walton’s Eastern Rebellion and even led his own big band. He recorded eighteen sessions as a leader and another 28 as a sideman. Saxophonist Clifford Jordan passed away on March 27, 1993 in Manhattan.
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The Jazz Voyager
Hot Clube de Portugal: Praça da Alegria, 39, 1250 Lisboa, Portugal / Phone: 213467369 & 213619740 Fax: 213619748 / Contact: Luís Hilário
This small jazz club has been located in Lisbon since 1948. One of the oldest in the world, they present modern jazz played by local and foreigner musicians. Hours of operation are from 10pm to 2am. Closed Sunday and Monday. No dinner, just drinks and sandwiches. The club includes a small open air area.
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Gene Harris was born on September 1, 1933 in Benton Harbor, Michigan where he was first drawn to music at the age of four. He was attracted to the music of local bandleader Charles Metcalf’s group and was inspired to try to pick out songs on the piano. He also enjoyed the music he heard in church and the boogie-woogie records of his parents.
Gene quickly developed as a pianist, having many opportunities to play music while serving in the Army from 1951 – 54. Following his discharge, he originally formed The Four Sounds, but by 1956 abandoned their original plan to include a tenor-saxophonist and renamed themselves The Three Sounds. Joining Harris in the original line up of the band was bassist Andy Simpkins and drummer Bill Dowdy.
For the next 15 years, the trio made many notable recordings for Blue Note and other labels as well as supporting such musicians as Lester Young, Lou Donaldson, Nat Adderley, Johnny Griffin, Anita O’Day, Stanley Turrentine and Sonny Stitt, among others. In 1973, The Three Sounds disbanded, leaving Harris to pursue a solo career until he semi-retired in 1977, playing sometimes only in Boise, Idaho.
In the early eighties Ray Brown convinced Gene to tour with his trio and then led his own groups once again, recording mostly on Concord. Gene Harris was one of the most accessible jazz pianists and his soulful sound was immediately likable as he returned to the spotlight. He was widely associated with the Philip Morris Super Band for many years. The Grammy winning artist, whose music was infused with blues and gospel, left a legacy of sixty albums as a leader, 34 as a sideman and nine compilations before his passing away on January 16, 2000 of kidney failure at the age of 66.
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