The Jazz Voyager
Back in the States from a whirlwind roundtrip across the pond to France and back on the east coast, heading south and bundled up and landed in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Jazz Voyager is on his way to Middle C Jazz tonight to be in the audience to check out a young, talented pianist and provocateur by the name of Connie Han. She is a member of this new wave of jazz artists who are bringing an edgy brand of modern and traditional energy to jazz.
I am excited to hear what she has to say musically on this one night opportunity. It all happens tomorrow but as usual when I have friends in town I always fly in early to hang out with them. This Jazz Voyager doesn’t waste a trip and not break bread.
Located at 300 S Brevard Street 28202. As always for more information visit notoriousjazz.com/event.
More Posts: adventure,album,club,festival,genius,jazz,museum,music,piano,preserving,restaurant,travel
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Mathias Rüegg was born on December 8, 1952 in Zurich, Switzerland and began playing jazz in secondary school. Trained as a schoolteacher, he taught for a while in special-needs schools. From 1973 to 1975 he attended the Musikhochschule in Graz, Austria, studying classical composition and jazz piano. While in Vienna, Austria he performed in a nightclub as a solo jazz pianist, joined later by saxophonist Wolfgang Puschnig. The duo formed the core of an ensemble that in 1977 became the Vienna Art Orchestra (VAO).
His distinctive, often humorous compositions have drawn on a range of influences, from traditional folk music to classics. He has also led the VAO to explore the big band repertory of American jazz composers such as Duke Ellington. Besides the traditional big-band complement, his orchestrations have prominently featured such instruments as the tuba, piccolo, bass clarinet, alphorn, exotic percussion, and wordless vocals. Beyond jazz, Mathias has composed for big bands, and classical orchestras, as well as theatre music, film music, soloist and chamber orchestra.
Rüegg has conducted workshops, worked as artistic director for music festivals, and headed multimedia and music-related projects. Rüegg founded the Porgy & Bess music club in Vienna and the Hans Koller Prize for Austrian jazz.
Composer, bandleader and educator Mathias Rüegg continues to compose and direct orchestras.
More Posts: composer,director,educator,history,instrumental,jazz,music
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Sonny Phillips was born on December 7, 1936 in Mobile, Alabama. Phillips began playing jazz organ after hearing Jimmy Smith in his twenties. He studied under Ahmad Jamal, and played in the 1960s and 1970s with Lou Donaldson, Nicky Hill, Eddie Harris, Houston Person, and Gene Ammons.
His debut album Sure ‘Nuff was released on the Prestige Records label in 1969. He released several records as a leader in the Seventies before suffering a long illness in 1980. He also recorded twenty-three albums as a sideman with Harris, Person, Ammons, Rusty Bryant, Billy Butler, Willis Jackson, Etta Jones, Boogaloo Joe Jones and Bernard Purdie.
Electric organist and pianist Sonny Phillips went into semi-retirement after suffering a long illness. He moved to Los Angeles, California and has since performed and taught occasionally.
More Posts: bandleader,history,instrumental,jazz,music,organ,piano
Three Wishes
Nica inquired of Sam Woodyard what three things he would wish for if they could come true and his response was:
- “To keep living! That’s all there is. Because we don’t come through here but once.”
More Posts: drums,history,instrumental,jazz,music
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Ulysses Owens Jr. was born December 6, 1982 in Jacksonville, Florida and began playing the drums at the age of 3. He played many types of music in his younger years, centering on his experience in the church. By the time he was in his early teens, he realized that he would become a jazz musician and received a full scholarship to study at the Juilliard School, in its inaugural jazz program.
After graduating from Juilliard in 2006, Ulysses traveled the world as a jazz drummer. After hearing about Jacksonville’s high dropout rate and other problems with struggling youths, he and his family designed a program to help suspended youths stay in school.
Owens was vocalist Kurt Elling’s drummer on Dedicated to You: Kurt Elling Sings the Music of Coltrane and Hartman, and on bassist Christian McBride’s The Good Feeling, both of which won Grammy Award. He has also played and recorded with pianist Joey Alexander, Gregory Porter and Matthew Whitaker. His composition The Simplicity of Life was commissioned by the string quartet ETHEL for their multimedia show ETHEL’s Documerica.
Drummer and percussionist Ulysses Owens Jr., who is co-founder and artistic director of the charity, Don’t Miss A Beat, continues to perform and compose.
More Posts: bandleader,drums,history,instrumental,jazz,music