Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Bill Easley was born in Orlean, New York on January 13, 1964 and began playing saxophone professionally with his parents at the age of thirteen. He moved to New York City in 1964 and was a part time student at the Julliard School of Music while getting his feet wet in the uptown Jazz Scene. The U.S. Draft Board had other plans and Bill did his military service with the 9th Army Band in Fairbanks Alaska.
He worked with George Benson in the late 60s closing out the decade playing such legendary jazz spots as Minton’s Playhouse, the Plugged Nickel, The jazz Workshop and The Hurricane. He would move to Memphis working and recording with Isaac Hayes in the 70s, and performing other studio work at Stax and Hi Records, big bands, show bands and jazz clubs during which he continued his formal education at Memphis State University.
It was in the mid 1970s that Easley first toured with the Duke Ellington Orchestra under Mercer Ellington. By 1980 he was back in New York City with the promise of a job on Broadway. His Broadway credits include; Sophisticated Ladies, The Wiz, Black and Blue, Jelly’s Last Jam, Swingin’ On A Star, Play On, Fosse, and most recently, The Wild Party.
The move to return to New York City provided recording sessions for Sunnyside and Milestone playing with the likes of Sir Roland Hanna, Jimmy McGriff, Jimmy Smith, Ruth Brown, James Williams, Mulgrew Miller, Grady Tate and Billy Higgins among others. Saxophonist, Flautist and clarinetist Bill Easley continues his legacy of recording and performing.
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Ingrid Jensen was born on January 12, 1966 in North Vancouver, British Columbia but grew up Nanaimo, Canada. She began playing trumpet as a child and after receiving several scholarship offers she matriculated through Malaspina University and Berklee School of Music.
In her early days Jensen played in the New York subways on her way to establish herself as a leader and soloist. Since her rise to prominence on the jazz scene she has signed, recorded and released albums with Enja, Justin Time, Universal and Artist Share.
She has been nominated for several Juno Awards, winning one with her first release, Vernal Fields with featuring Lenny White, George Garzone and Larry Grenadier. Ingrid spends much of her time touring with her own projects and playing with the Grammy award winning Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra. Ingrid also guests at prestigious universities around the world and occasionally performs with her sister, saxophonist Christine Jensen.
She has performed with a wide array of musicians including but not limited to Steve Wilson, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Gary Bartz, Bob Berg, Terri Lyne Carrington, Geoffrey Keezer, Chris Connor, Clark Terry, Frank Wess, Dr. Billy Taylor and the DIVA Big Band.
Trumpeter and Flugelhornist Ingrid Jensen has performed with Corrine Bailey Rae on Saturday Night Live, has backed comedian Denis Leary and continues to perform, record and tour.
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Jazz In Film
The Out-Of-Towners is a 1969 film directed by Arthur Hiller and it starred Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis. Quincy Jones composed the music score.
Up for a promotion, George Kellerman with wife Gwen are being flown to New York City on an all expenses paid trip to interview with the top brass. They plan to arrive the night before to enjoy dinner and a show but the plane gets diverted to Boston. George’s carefully planned dream trip turns into a nightmare which features, among other misadventures, a hellish train ride to New York, a mugging, a police chase and a broken tooth.
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