Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Tim Berne was born on October 16, 1954 in Syracuse, New York. Though a music fan, he had no interest in playing until his matriculation through college, when he bought an alto saxophone. Even then he was more interested in rhythm and blues following Stax Records releases and those of Aretha Franklin until he happened upon Julius Hemphill‘s album “Dogon A.D. recorded in 1972.

Berne moved to New York City in 1974 and took lessons from Hemphill who was integrating soul and funk with free jazz, and then later recorded with him. In 1979, he founded Empire Records, released his own recordings, then recorded Fulton Street Maul and Sanctified Dreams for Columbia Records, generating discussion and controversy by straying away from the neo-traditionalist hard-boppers of the 80s into the avant-garde.

By the late Nineties Tim founded Screwgun Records, released his own recordings, as well as others musicians. He has played in the sideman seat with guitarists Bill Frisell and David Torn, composer/saxophonist John Zorn, violinist Mat Maneri, and cellist Hank Roberts, trumpeter Herb Robertson, bassist Michael Formanek, trombonist Ray Anderson , saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock and has been a member of the group Miniature.

Wearing his composer hat, Berne creates complex, multi-section compositions are often quite lengthy, often twenty to thirty minutes. However, utilizing brilliantly creative and experienced musicians who don’t get lost or make their audiences never grow tired. He has been a part of nine different groups and has recorded forty-one albums. Alto saxophonist and bandleader Tim Berne continues to compose and perform prolifically.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Bill Charlap was born William Morrison Charlap on October 15, 1966 in New York City. Coming from a musical background and a distant cousin to famed jazz pianist Dick Hyman. His mother, singer Sandy Stewart had the hit “My Coloring Book”, his father, Broadway composer Moose Charlap.

Charlap began playing piano at age three. He later studied classical music but remained most interested in jazz. Over his career he has worked with Gerry Mulligan, Benny Carter, Tony Bennett, Phil Woods, Scott Hamilton, Ron Carter, and others. In the mid-90s, he was the musical director of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, A Celebration of Johnny Mercer, part of New York’s JVC Jazz Festival. In 1995 he joined the Phil Woods Quintet.

Charlap has recorded seven albums as a leader or co-leader for Blue Note, has had two Grammy nominated CDs: “Somewhere” and “The Bill Charlap Trio, Live At The Village Vanguard”. He has recorded two albums as a leader for Venus Records, as well as eight albums as a member of the New York Trio.

Bill appears at least twice a year for lengthy runs at some of the world’s major jazz clubs with his rhythm section, consisting of double bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington. He became the Artistic Director of New York’s 92nd Street Y “Jazz in July” six program series in 2004. In 2008, the pianist became part of The Blue Note 7, celebrating the 70th anniversary of the label, recording Mosaic with promotion tour around the world. He continues to compose, record and tour.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Matthew Parrish was born on October 14, 1969 in Fresno, California. Traveling with his parents most of his formative years, the bassist developed a wide appreciation for culture and arts and his family finally settled in New Jersey for his high school years. This led to his tenure at Rutgers Mason Gross School of the Arts. From there he moved to Philadelphia where his music studies really began at Ortliebs Jazz Haus.

At Ortliebs, Parrish played with Mickey Roker and Shirley Scott, backing everyone from Cecil Payne, Johnny Coles and Danny Turner to Sylvia Simms. He was soon partnered with Al Grey and while touring hit with Clark Terry, Marian McPartland, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Lou Donaldson, Joe Cohn, Savion Glover, Bill Charlap and many others.

Considering himself an East Coast player his list of accolades is more than sufficient to fall in the lineage of great Philly players. He has toured all over the world and his beautiful, warm and complex sound has earned him an impressive reputation in the music community. He has toured with Greg Osby, Stefon Harris and Regina Carter among others and continues to tour with the Dave Leonhardt group, Houston Person as well as the Vana Gierig Trio with Paquito D’Rivera. Bassist Matthew Parrish also continues to perfect his arrangements and compositions – a true passion for the music.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Johnny Lytle was born John Dillard Lytle on October 13, 1932 in Springfield, Ohio, the son of a trumpeter father and an organist mother. He began playing the drums and piano at an early age. Before studying music in earnest, he was a boxer and was a successful Golden Gloves champion. During the late ’50s, Lytle continued to box, but landed jobs as a drummer for Ray Charles, Jimmy Witherspoon and Gene Ammons.

Switching from drums to vibraphone Johnny toured with organist Hiram “Boots” Johnson in 1955 and then formed his first group in 1957 with saxophonist Boots Johnson, organist Milton Harris and drummer William “Peppy” Hinnant. He so impressed Grammy winning producer Orrin Keepnews who signed him to his Jazzland label in 1960.

Known for his great hand speed and showmanship, Lytle was also a songwriter, penning many of his own hits, including “The Loop,” “The Man,” “Lela,” “Selim” (honoring Miles Davis), and the jazz classic “The Village Caller”. He recorded more than 30 albums for various jazz labels including Tuba, Jazzland, Solid State and Muse. Throughout his career he performed and recorded with a host of jazz greats including Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, Miles Davis, Nancy Wilson, Bobby Timmons and Roy Ayers.

Johnny never recorded with any of the major record labels fearing loss of control of his music and creative development, thus never gaining the status of a jazz icon like some of his peers, but finding success early in his career with chart-topping albums like A Groove, The Loop, and Moonchild. Nicknamed “Fast Hands,” he always kept an audience’s attention, was popular on the jazz circuit and built a respectable catalog of music with recordings in the ’70s,’80s and ’90s. Johnny toured throughout the U.S. and Europe, with his last performance one month before his passing on December 15, 1995 in his hometown of Springfield. The street where the vibraphonist and drummer used to live was renamed Johnny Lytle Avenue in his honor.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Ed Cherry was born on October 12, 1954 in New Haven, Connecticut. Learning to play guitar as a child by the time he moved to New York in 1978 he was playing with  Dizzy Gillespie. This relationship lasted until 1992, performing in Gillespie’s quartet, big band and with The United Nation Orchestra, which recorded the Grammy Award-winning “Live at Royal Festival Hall”.

In 1993 Cherry released his first recording as a leader, “First Take” as well as performing with Paquito D’ Rivera’s small group and recording “Havana Cafe”. He worked with composer/saxophonist Henry Threadgill for two years with the group “Very Very Circus”, and released his second project as a solo artist titled “A Second Look”. During that same period worked with Hammond B3 organist John Patton recording 3 critically acclaimed sessions.

From 1997 to 1998, Ed worked in Roy Hargrove‘s “Crisol” Latin jazz band, which performed in Havana, Cuba, worked with baritone saxophonist Hamiet Bluiett, and toured Europe in 2001 with his own group. He has performed at numerous festivals around the world, backs vocalist Paula West, leads his own trio, has been an educator at Essex Community College, the Henry Street Settlement in New York City, Montclair State University and currently at the Jazzmobile.

Guitarist Ed Cherry continues to perform and record.

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