Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Edward Simon was born July 27, 1969 in Punta Cardón, Venezuela and when he was ten years old came to the United States to study at the Performing Arts School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After graduating, he attended the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where he studied classical piano, then the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied jazz piano.
In 1988, he recorded as a sideman with Greg Osby, then worked as a member of the band Horizon led by Bobby Watson. For the next eight years he was a member of Terence Blanchard’s band. He has also worked with Herbie Mann, Paquito D’Rivera, Bobby Hutcherson, Jerry Gonzalez, John Patitucci, Arturo Sandoval, Manny Oquendo, and Don Byron.
Simon recorded Beauty Within in 1994), his debut album as a bandleader, with Horacio Hernández and bass guitarist Anthony Jackson. That same year, he was a finalist in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition. Then the following year he composed Rumba Neurotica for the Relache Ensemble.
In 2003 Simon formed Ensemble Venezuela to combine jazz with the music of Venezuela. Given a commission by Chamber Music America to write Venezuelan Suite and recorded the album in 2012 with musicians from Venezuela, Colombia, and the U.S. He has played on several Grammy-nominated jazz albums. Besides his trio he leads the Sexteto Venezuela, the Afinidad Quartet, and the group Simon, Simon, & Simon with his brothers.
Wearing his educator hat he has taught at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City and has been artist in residence at Western Michigan University.
Pianist and composer Edward Simon continues to perform, compose and record.
More Posts: bandleader,compose,educator,history,instrumental,jazz,music,piano
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Gary Tole was born on July 26, 1951 and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and began playing the trombone at the age of twelve. By the age of sixteen, he was working with all the shows that came into the Pittsburgh area. After attending Duquesne University School of Music, he was offered the first trombone position with the world renowned Glenn Miller Orchestra. After four years of world tour he then toured with Harry James, Tex Beneke, Les Brown and Jimmy Dorsey, the latter he served as road manager and featured trombonist.
By 1978 he relocated and made his permanent residence in Southern California. Whether on stage or in the recording studio, Gary’s smooth, dynamic style has him in constant demand having performed with Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mathis, Bernadette Peters, Kenny Rogers, Rita Moreno, Melissa Manchester, James Ingram, and Phil Collins. He has backed television appearances of Diana Ross, Sammy Davis Jr., Bob Hope, Pia Zadora, Sheena Easton, Peabo Bryson, The Pointer Sisters, and many more.
As an active clinician for Yamaha, he finds time to participate in music education programs as a judge for jazz festivals, band and orchestra festivals, private teaching of the low brass instruments and traveling throughout the country conducting various clinics.
Trombonist Gary Tole, who also plays bass trombone and euphonium, continues to perform, compose, tour and record.
More Posts: educator,history,instrumental,jazz,music,trombone
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Alan Gaumer was born on July 25, 1951 in Bethelehem, Pennsylvania. He began playing the trumpet when he was eight and was a member of Kal’s Kid’s that appeared on the Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour as well as numerous other television shows. Throughout elementary, junior and high school he participated in band, orchestra, and stage bands and graduated from Freedom High School in 1969.
He studied with John Nero and Willard Schissler and performed with the Allentown Band before attending the U.S. Navy School of Music. Upon graduation he spent the next three years living in Gaeta, Italy touring Europe, Africa and Asia with the Navy Show Band. Offered the jazz trumpet position at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis before his discharge, from 1973-75 he toured first as trumpeter and later as drummer with the well known group KATO.
Settling back in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania he was an integral part of a popular group P.F. & the Flyers and his own A.G.Q. After attending Rutgers University, Alan spent two years touring South America and West Africa with the U.S. Navy Show Band. When he got out in 1982, he worked for several years at well known hotels and resorts.
He has performed with a long list of jazz musicians which include Randy Brecker, Phil Woods, Al Cohn, George Young, Bob Dorough, Tom Harrell, Bill Watrous, Urbie Green, Kim Parker, Vic Jurris, Charles Fambrough, Bill Washer, John Swanna, David Leonhardt, Steve Gilmore, Bill Goodwin, Bobby Routch, Tom Schuman of Spyro Gyra and others.
As an educator Gaumer has been the jazz trumpet Artist/Lecturer at Moravian College since 1994 and served as Fusion ensemble director in 1998-99, 2003-04 and 2005-06. He is Artistic Director of the Pennsylvania Jazz Collective, a Lehigh Valley based non-profit jazz organization.
Trumpeter and educator Alan Gaumer continues to perform, teach and produce jazz events.
More Posts: bandleader,educator,history,instrumental,jazz,music,trumpet
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Larry Washington was born on July 24, 1956 in Detroit, Michigan. His passion for music began in the Motor City and he started playing drums at a very young age. He knew even then that music and performing would become his career. Graduating from Southwestern High School in 1974, the following year he went on to matriculate through Wayne County Community College District.
Larry has recorded, performed and toured throughout the United States and internationally. He has performed on MTV, BET, ABC, NBC, Billboard Music Awards, Trumpet Awards, Diversity Awards, The Princess Diaries, Showgirls, The Whitehouse, and The Apollo (London), just to name a few.
Building on his success as a drummer, as a producer he has been featured in commercials, television and film. As a music composer, sound designer, and foley artist. The History Detectives, America’s Most Wanted, Drive, Social Studies, Fox Sports, Section 8, Sister Act 2 (Back in the Habit), Good Burger, Rainbird Sprinklers, Hotel Planner.com, Urban Combat,
In the studio he has worked with Louis Gossett Jr., Deniece Williams, Jeffrey Osborne and several Los Angeles, California based charities. Larry is actively developing and participating in drum clinics and music workshops for educational institutions throughout the country. He is focused on reaching out to younger musicians, and sharing his knowledge and experiences in a positive and motivational workshop environment.
Drummer, sound designer, music producer, composer, recording artist and educator Larry Washington currently lives in Los Angeles, California and continues to compose, perform, record and produce.
More Posts: bandleader,composer,drums,history,instrumental,jazz,music,producer
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Clarence Holiday was born Clarence Halliday on July 23, 1898 in Baltimore, Maryland and attended a boys’ school with the banjo player Elmer Snowden. Both of them played banjo with various local jazz bands, including the Eubie Blake band. At the age of 16, he became the unmarried father of Billie Holiday, who was born to 19-year-old Sarah Fagan, but rarely visited them. He moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania when he was 21 years old.
Holiday played rhythm guitar and banjo as a member of the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra from 1928 to 1933. He went on to record the following year with Benny Carter, then Bob Howard in 1935 and worked with Charlie Turner, Louis Metcalf, and the Don Redman Big Band between 193 and 1937.
Exposed to mustard gas while serving in World War I, he later fell ill with a lung disorder while on tour in Texas. Refused treatment at a local hospital when he finally managed to see a doctor, Clarence was only allowed in the Jim Crow ward of the Veterans Hospital. By then pneumonia had set in and without antibiotics, the illness was fatal.
Guitarist and banjoist Clarence Holiday died in Dallas, Texas on March 1, 1937.