Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Ambrose Akinmusire was born May 1, 1982 and raised in Oakland, California. A member of the Berkeley High School Jazz Ensemble, he caught the attention of saxophonist Steve Coleman who was visiting the school to give a workshop. Coleman hired him as a member of his Five Elements band for a European tour and the young trumpeter was also a member of the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Next Generation Jazz Orchestra.

Ambrose studied at the Manhattan School of Music before returning to the West Coast to obtain a master’s degree at the University of Southern California and attend the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz in Los Angeles. In 2007, he won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition, the Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Solo Competition and released his debut recording Prelude…To Cora on the Fresh Sound New Talent label.

Moving back to New York City he began performing with Vijay Iyer, Aaron Parks, Esperanza Spalding and Jason Moran, taking part in Moran’s innovative multimedia concert event In My Mind: Monk At Town Hall, 1957. It was also during this time that he caught the attention of Bruce Lundvall, President of Blue Note Records. Akinmusire released his sophomore album as a debut on the Blue Note label in 2011 titled When The Heart Emerges Glistening, featuring his quintet of tenor saxophonist Walter Smith III, pianist Gerald Clayton, bassist Harish Raghavan and drummer Justin Brown. His third album, The Imagined Savior Is Far Easier To Paint was released in 2014.

Trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire has won the North Sea Jazz festival Paul Acket award and has worked with Kendrick Lamar, Aaron Parks, Sara Gazarek, Alan Pasqua, Mike Ladd, Josh Roseman, David Binney, John Escreet, Le Boeuf Brothers, Vince Mendoza, Jack DeJohnette and Dana Stephens. He continues the tradition of performing and recording.

Inspire A Young Mind

More Posts: trumpet

Requisites

Once You’ve Been In Love by Marjorie Barnes was originally produced with twelve classic standards in the 1990s as a promotional piece to get gigs in Europe, it has since been made available to a wider audience. The vocalist was born and raised in New York City, has had starring roles on Broadway in Hair and Dreamgirls, sang with the Fifth Dimension for two years, and then made Europe her home – living in London, Paris, Vienna and Holland from 1978 to 2000. She moved back to the States working alongside Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Lena Horne, Billy Eckstine, Marcus Miller and Mel Lewis. In 2012 she returned to Europe making her home once again in Holland.

A rare find, temporarily unavailable on major purchase sites, however, there are a few available online from different sellers that can be snatched up.

Producer: Marjorie Barnes

Playing Time: 47.5 Minutes

Songs: Watch What Happens, Fascinating Rhythm, Once You’ve Been In Love, The Surrey With The Fringe On Top, He’s My Guy, Isn’t It A Pity, I’ve Got The World On A String, The Beauty And The Beast, A Little Tear, I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me, No More Blues, Never Will I Marry

More Posts: collectible,vocal

Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Frank LoCrasto was born and raised in Texas on March 7, 1983. Studying piano during his childhood, his influences include Erroll Garner, Raymond Scott, Ennio Morricone, Kraftwerk and Brian Eno. After moving to New York in 2001 to attend the New School, he went on to work as a sideman with jazz musicians such as Pat Martino, Greg Osby and Jeremy Pelt.

At twenty-three he released his debut album When You’re There on the Maxjazz label and his second release five years later, El Dorado, which he recorded in his Brooklyn basement apartment, is layered with vintage synthesizers and old timey pianos.

An accomplished composer and arranger, he is a member of the Jeremy Pelt Quartet, Frank is also a member of Rumblefoot, Breastfist, Yost, and plays regularly with Kat Edmonson and James Iha. His solos exhibit his ample technique and unfettered expressiveness. At 32, he continues to build his talent as a sideman profusely performing, recording and touring.

Give The Gift Of Knowledge

More Posts: piano

Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Nina Moffitt was born on March 3, 1987 in Brooklyn, New York and began piano lessons at the age of five. She took up percussion in her father’s church ensemble and finally became a vocalist by leading the church congregation throughout her formative years. Attending the LaGuardia Arts High School of Performing Arts in Manhattan, she studied classical music, gospel, jazz, and new music composition. Simultaneously she studied jazz voice privately at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music.

By 2005 Moffitt was singing with the All City Jazz Band at Lincoln Center, was granted an Honorary Mention from the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts in the category of jazz voice, and performed as a backup singer with pop star Josh Groban.

Graduating from Oberlin College with honors for her work in cultural and linguistic anthropology, not only did Nina study with world renowned Oberlin Conservancy professors like Lorraine Manz and Marcus Belgrave, she performed with the Oberlin Jazz Ensemble for four years, led jazz worship services at First Church of Oberlin and Trinity Church in Cleveland.

She cites Joni Mitchell, Sarah Vaughan, Wayne Shorter, and Nina Simone as her influences and has added bossa nova phrasing to her arsenal having studied Portuguese in Brazil. Vocalist Nina Moffitt has recorded her debut album Where I Have Been with her quintet and continues to perform with her band in the New York area.

Give A Gift Of Jazz – Share

More Posts: vocal

Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Gavin Barras was born on March 2, 1981 in Kendal, Cumbria in Northwest England. Due to his tuition benefactors, Roberto Carillo-Garcia and Corin Long, he was afforded the opportunity to study music at the University of Manchester. Whilst studying classical music, he continued developing his love for jazz and received lessons from Steve Berry in jazz bass.

Barras notes his bass influences include Ray Brown, Paul Chambers, Wilbur Ware, Charlie Haden, Christian McBride, George Mraz, Hein van de Geyn and electric bassist Jaco Pastorius. Notwithstanding, he is heavily influenced by Chet Baker, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Enrico Pieranunzi and Billy Higgins.

Performing around the world has lent his talents to play jazz festivals and clubs Ronnie Scott’s, Dizzy’s Jazz Club and the Royal Festival Hall with the likes of Tim Garland, Iain Dixon, Ed Jones, Neil Yates, Steve Waterman, Les Chisnall, Dan Whieldon, Zoe Rahman, Mike Walker, Stuart McCallum, Gary Boyle Luke Flowers, Dave Walsh and Eryl Roberts to name a few.

A founding member of the jazz quartet EU4, Gavin is currently a member of the Dan Whieldon Trio, Jadid Ensemble, Sarah Ellen Hughes Band, 6Pac Jazz Sextet, Nat Birchall Band, Matthew Halsall Band, Unfurl and Steve Plews Trio.

Keeping busy is not an option for Gavin having recorded as a leader his debut album in 2008, and a second in 20011 while taking the sideman chair on bass for recordings on three albums with the Matthew Halsall Quintet that required him to put on his composer hat. He has appeared on Jamie Cullum’s BBC Radio 2 jazz show, been involved in several live sessions for BBC 6 Music and for Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Show on BBC Radio One with both the Matthew Halsall and Nat Birchall Bands.

In between performing, recording and touring Gavin is committed to teaching and, in addition to a large portfolio of students at his home, he has worked as a tutor at the Dartington Jazz Summer School for the last five years and has been involved in Live Music Now as a member of 6Pac Jazz Ensemble delivering regular education workshops in schools, prisons, young offenders institutions and hospitals.

Jazz Is Global – Share

More Posts: bass