Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Leah Souza was born in Plymouth, Massachusetts on May 8, 1982 and began singing at a very early age. She started performing at functions and outdoor concerts when she was thirteen. At 16, she was the lead vocalist of a seven piece band that was selected in a national talent search to perform in California. In high school she was the jazz band’s featured vocalist and played the tenor saxophone in multiple bands. She got her big break nationally singing on a song with her flugelhornist father, appropriately titled A Song for My Father.
Leah studied with jazz singer and vocal coach Rebecca Parris while in high school. For several years she regularly attended a Jazz All-Stars show at “Ricky T’s Jazz Club” on the South Shore. There she listened to the top jazz musicians in New England on a weekly basis and eventually began sitting in with the different All-Star bands. Studying these musicians helped her develop as a musician herself, as well as, the opportunity to meet and perform with many wonderful and often legendary performers.
She crafts her duo, trio, quartet or quintet to the venue she is playing with performances that may be lively and exciting, or romantic and full of standard ballads. Souza has performed at the cream-of-the- crop venues in Boston, Massachusetts and throughout New England.
Vocalist Leah Souza continues to pursue her burgeoning career as she expands her reach.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
August Rosenbaum was born on April 30, 1987 in Copenhagen, Denmark into a family of artists. He has had an eclectic and passionate vision since he first started learning to play the piano. As the only one at elementary school recitals who would perform Thelonious Monk, Wu Tang Clan and Erik Satie, the piano prodigy shows with equal conviction many sides of his talent.
Rosenbaum has won two Danish Music Awards for his composing, performed at the acclaimed Sónar Festival, and has been shortlisted for both the Nordic Music Prize and the National Danish Critics’ Award. He has wona Grammy for Best Alternative Album at the 2018 Danish Music Awards.
He is also known for collaborations with artists like Quadron, Rhye and MØ, Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon and visual artist Jesper Just. He has been commissioned for works in film, theatre and performances at a.o. Palais De Tokyo, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Brooklyn Academy of Music and The Royal Danish Ballet.
Pianist, composer and record producer August Rosenbaum continues to explore and record music.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Roy Assaf was born on April 10, 1982 in Beersheba, Israel and studied at Tel Aviv Conservatory. Coming to America he continued his studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts and then migrated to New York City and while earning his Master of Art at the Manhattan School of Music, he established his reputation as one of the most sought-after young pianists in the New York jazz scene.
After a meeting with legendary bassist and producer John Lee soon found Roy touring around the world and playing the most prestigious festivals, clubs, and concert halls with the Dizzy Gillespie All Stars, a band that included James Moody, Jimmy Heath, Paquito D’Rivera, Roy Hargrove, Lewis Nash, Randy Brecker, Antonio Hart, and other jazz masters.
Before long, Assaf was getting calls from some of the world’s most influential contemporary jazz bands that included the Slide Hampton Sextet, The Mingus Big Band, Steve Turre’s bands, Roberta Gambarini Quartet, David Sanborn Group, Claudio Roditi Quartet, and many others.
In 2012, he released his debut album, Respect, on Jazz Legacy Productions accompanied by bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Greg Hutchinson. The following year he formed a trio with Raviv Markovitz on bass and Jake Goldbas on drums and together they began to establish the unique voice of the Roy Assaf Trio.
Pianist and composer Roy Asssaf, who has released two albums and has won several awards including one from ASCAP, a Eubie Blake and two from DownBeat and others, continues to perform across the globe.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Kenji Yoshitake was born on April 5, 1985 in Sakura, Chiba, Japan on April 5, 1985 and started playing electric bass when he was 12 years old. After he graduated from high school, he entered Senzoku Gakuen College of Music in Yokohama studying acoustic bass, jazz theory, ear training, jazz arranging and ensemble.
In 2007, after receiving a scholarship he moved to Boston, Massachusetts for Berklee College of Music. During his tenure he studied with musicians such as John Lockwood, Greg Osby, Dave Santro, Victor Mendoza, Dave Samuels, Oscar Stagnaro, Marcello Pellitteri and Whit Brown.
Upon his graduation from Berklee College of Music graduation, he moved to New York. He has since been playing around the New York area. Though he hasn’t recorded as a leader at present, bassist Kenji Yoshitake has been playing with legendary singer Tony Middleton at Kitano every Sunday.
Requisites
Epistrophy: The Last Concert ~ Charlie Rouse | By Eddie Carter
Charlie Rouse was one of jazz’s great musicians, but he is best known as the tenor saxophonist in The Thelonious Monk Quartet for eleven years. He enters this morning’s spotlight with Epistrophy–The Last Concert (Landmark Records LLP-1521). The album honors the pianist and was recorded live at The Thelonious Monk Birthday Tribute during the Jazz in The City Festival. His bandmates for this exceptional performance are Don Cherry (tracks: B1, B2) on trumpet, Buddy Montgomery (B1, B2) on vibes, George Cables (A2, A3, B1, B2), and Jessica Williams (A4) on piano, Jeff Chambers on bass, and Ralph Penland on drums. Orrin Keepnews is the host. My copy is the 1989 U.S. Stereo release.
Orrin opens with a few words about Charlie Rouse before introducing him; then, the two men share Some Words About Monk that are just as entertaining as the music that follows. Nutty is taken at a medium tempo, and Charlie swings easily on the theme and the first solo. George picks up the groove and gets into something interesting; then Ralph shares the finale with Rouse and Cables preceding the ending. Ruby, My Dear is named after Monk’s first love, Rubie Richardson and is one of his most beautiful tunes. Charlie and the trio tenderly begin the melody. Rouse continues delivering the opening solo with sultry notes from his tenor sax. George compliments him with elegant execution in a short statement. Charlie adds a few final gentle touches before the closing chorus and the delight of the crowd.
Blue Monk was Monk’s personal favorite of all his compositions. Jessica takes over on piano and opens with a quirky introduction to the foursome’s bluesy melody. Charlie takes the lead solo with a relaxing informality that flows naturally. Jessica takes a comfortable ride in the second reading, and Jeff has an enjoyable moment in the closer, preceding the theme’s restatement and close. ‘Round Midnight by Thelonious Monk, Cootie Williams and Bernie Hanighen is Monk’s best-known and most recorded creation. George starts with a lengthy introduction, segueing into the trio’s gorgeous melody and the pianist’s opening solo. Buddy comes in next for a touching interpretation, and then Don expresses his thoughts in a haunting, muted performance. Charlie provides the pretty exclamation point ahead of the climax.
Epistrophy by Thelonious Monk and Kenny Clarke was the pianist’s closing number at each live set. George sets everything in motion for the ensemble’s lively melody. Don opens with a few twists and turns; then Charlie wails with ease next. Buddy answers with a spirited performance. George adds to the excitement, and Don, Charlie, and Buddy swap notes with Ralph ahead of the reprise and close, which receives abundant applause from the audience. Orrin Keepnews produced the album, and Ron Davis was the recording engineer. David Luke was the digital engineer, and the mastering was by George Horn. The album’s sound quality is stunning with an excellent soundstage that takes the listener to the club to enjoy the musicians as they are performing.
Epistrophy-The Last Concert is dedicated to Charlie Rouse’s memory and is the last album he recorded before his death from lung cancer seven weeks later on November 30, 1988. He was only sixty-four but leaves behind a legacy of thirteen albums as a leader. He also co-founded and recorded six albums with the group Sphere (Thelonious’ middle name). He also made quite a few titles as a sideman, including twenty-four with Thelonious Monk during his lifetime. Palo Alto was recorded in 1968 but not released until 2020. If you’re a fan of Monk’s music or Post Bop, I offer for your consideration, Epistrophy–The Last Concert by Charlie Rouse the next time you visit your favorite record shop. It’s one of the most enjoyable albums I’ve heard and is a title I’m sure you won’t regret adding to your library!
~ Palo Alto (Impulse B0032181-01) – Source: Discogs.com ~ Blue Monk, ‘Round Midnight – Source:JazzStandards.com ~ Epistrophy, Ruby, My Dear – Source: Wikipedia.org © 2024 by Edward Thomas Carter***In Like Bud which is included in the YouTube version of the album, is only available on compact disc and not on the original wax recording.
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