Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Mark Simon was born in Chicago, Illinois on September 26, 1959 and by age 13 he was listening to Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Roy Eldridge and other jazz legends, and playing along with old Jazz At The Philharmonic records from his father’s massive and eclectic record collection, which ran the gamut from early jazz master Louis Armstrong to avant-garde Cecil Taylor.
His high school jazz band director Don Owens was an important part of his jazz education. Mark soon graduated to jazz sessions, further honing his keyboard skills while beginning to play occasional jazz gigs. From sitting in with the JATP, he enrolled in a youth summer jazz camp at the University of Illinois, where he was exposed to the live side of jazz. Mark would sneak out of the dorm at night to sit in with the faculty on jam sessions,
Simon’s influences were grounded by jazz artists such as pianists Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, McCoy Tyner, Charles Mingus, Gary Burton and Sonny Rollins. Growing up in jazz, He gained experience playing extensively with Leroy Vinnegar, Hadley Caliman, Bud Shank, Jeff Clayton, Joshua Breakstone, Julie Kelly, Teddy Edwards, Red Holloway and Herb Ellis.
Bassist Mark Simon continues to compose and perform solo piano gigs, accompanying vocalists, playing with jazz groups including his self-named trio, as well as teaching piano.
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Bill Pierce, known to many as Billy Pierce, was born September 25, 1948 in Hampton, Virginia. He studied with Joe Viola and Andy McGhee at Berklee College of Music, and with Joe Allard.
In the early 1980s he was recruited by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. Through the late Eighties and into the late 1990s he recorded simultaneously as a leader while also in Tony Williams’s quintet in the mid-1980s to early 1990s.
As a leader he has recorded seven albums and another 18 as a sideman with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Geoff Keezer, Kevin Eubanks, Makoto Ozone, Superblue, Tony Williams, and Lazlo Gardony.
As an educator Billy says he likes seeing music being carried on by young people developing, achieving their dreams, and being a part of history. Many of his students have made a name for themselves: Antonio Hart, Mark Gross, Javon Jackson, Walter Smith, Mark Turner, Miguel Zenon.
Saxophonist Billy Pierce, who is the former chair of the Berklee woodwind department, continues to perform, tour and educate.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Doug Beavers was born September 22, 1976 in Bellflower, California. He received a BA in music from California State University, East Bay, an MA in composition from the Manhattan School of Music. He is the founder of the music production company and record label, Circle 9.
As a performer Doug has worked with Eddie Palmieri, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Mingus Big Band, Christian McBride, Paul Simon, and others. He also served as an adjunct professor at Los Medanos College and music faculty of Jazz Trombone at California State University, East Bay.
His most recent album recording,Sol, was released in 2020. In 2021, he received a New Jazz Works grant from Chamber Music America. Trombonist, arranger, composer and producer Doug Beavers, a Grammy Award-winning musician, is currently an adjunct faculty member at the College of New Jersey.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Frank Orchard was born on September 21, 1914 in Chicago, Illinois. He studied at Juilliard from 1932-33 and performed for a year with Stanley Melba’s band, but then worked outside of music altogether, mostly as a salesman until 1941.
Orchard became a part of the New York Dixieland scene in the 1940s, working with Jimmy McPartland, Jimmy Dorsey, Louis Armstrong, Bobby Hackett, Max Kaminsky, Wingy Manone, Joe Marsala and the Eddie Condon gang.
The mid-1950s saw Frank’s move to Dayton, Ohio and eventually to St. Louis, Missouri and still playing trombone although out of the spotlight. He never led his own record date and returned to New York in the 1960s. He worked regularly at Jimmy Ryan’s from 1970-71 and with Billy Butterfield in 1979.
Trombonist, violinist, banjoist and tubist Frank Orchard, who also played in the Willie “The Lion” Smith band with Jack Lesberg, Mac McGrath, Max Kaminsky, Rod Cless, died December 27, 1983 in Manhattan, New York City, New York.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
David Chevan was born on September 19, 1960 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and grew up in Amherst, Massachusetts. He was musically active from an early age and led synagogue services from the age of 10. His double-bass education has mostly been self taught, but credits bassist, Lisle Atkinson for showing me the pathway to self-education.
As a composer, Chevan focused on works for improvisors, writing for a wide range of artists and ensembles, including collaborations with dance and film. He performs regularly in a duo with pianist Warren Byrd and co-leads The Afro-Semitic Experience.
As an educator he is an Associate Professor of Music at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven. David is currently studying the music of bassist Slam Stewart and is a board trustee of the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation.
He has performed and recorded with Ali Ryerson, Joe Beck, Jaki Byard, Harold Danko, Ellery Eskelin, Giacomo Gates, Frank London, Andrea Parkins, and Cookie Segelstein. Bassist David Chevan tours when time permits in his teaching schedule.
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