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…
Bob Meyers was born on March 31, 1945 in Courtlandt Manor, New York. His early influences were classical and chamber music. When he was five he first heard the music of Kenny Clarke, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk. It was at that age he began his music studies.
He attended George Washington University in Washington, DC earning his BA in History with minors in Music and Geology. He went on to study with Jack DeJohnette, Frank Dunlop, Henry Adler and Jim Chapin as well as extensive private study as an adult.
As an educator he has taught on both coasts focusing on technique, mechanics, musical application and interpretation on the drum set. Though specializing in jazz many of his students have gone on to be professionally active in jazz, rock and funk.
He has performed with Joe Lovano, John Abercrombie, Judi Silvano, Sheila Jordan, Ray Nance, Jaki Byard, Julian Priester, Gary Peacock, Diane Schurr, Mal Waldron, Kirk Lightsey, Avishai Cohen, Essiet Essiet, Santi Debriano and Vic Juris among numerous others.
As a leader he has recorded eighteen records. Drummer Bob Meyers continues to teach and perform as a leader and a sideman.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Dave Stryker was born March 30, 1957 and grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. At ten years old he was inspired by the Beatles to start playing guitar. His interest was rock and roll until he heard the albums My Favorite Things by John Coltrane and Beyond the Blue Horizon by George Benson. By seventeen, he was a jazz guitarist in town.
In 1978 he moved to Los Angeles, California where he took lessons from another Omaha native, Billy Rogers, and met organist Jack McDuff. After moving to New York City, he toured with McDuff in 1984 and1985, then spent ten years with saxophonist Stanley Turrentine.
Forming a band with Steve Slagle and a trio with Jared Gold and Tony Reedus he went on to work with Kevin Mahogany as sideman, composer, and arranger. Dave appeared with him at Carnegie Hall, and toured with him in Europe and Japan. He has also worked with Eliane Elias, Javon Jackson, and Andy LaVerne.
As an educator he teaches jazz guitar at Indiana University, Montclair State University, at the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshop, the Litchfield Jazz Camp, and the Veneto/New School Workshop in Italy.
He recorded 38 albums as a leader, 5 with the Stryker/Slagle band, 2 with Trio Mundo and as a sideman he recorded 34 albums with Jared Gold, Steve Slagle, Allan Botschinsky, Don Braden, Kendall “Keyz” Carter, Rondi Charleston, Royce Campbell, Mike Freeman, Spellbound, Giacomo Gates, Craig Handy, Javon Jackson, Matthew Kaminski, Andy LaVerne, Pete Levin, Kevin Mahogany, Jorge Nila, Tony Reedus, Larry Schneider, Stanley Turrentine, Charenee Wade, and Matthew Whitaker.
Guitarist Dave Stryker, who has been named Top Ten Guitarists and Rising Star by Down Beat magazine, continues to perform and record.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Brian Colin Dee was born in London, England on March 21, 1936. He came to prominence in 1959 playing at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London. At that time he was playing with Lennie Best, Dave Morse and Vic Ash.
He later joined the Jazz Five and played opposite Miles Davis on a nationwide tour and was voted Melody Maker’s ‘New Star of 1960’. Brian also appeared at the Establishment Club in 1962 where his trio played opposite Dudley Moore.
Throughout an uninterrupted career, Dee has played with many jazz musicians, including Ben Webster, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Benny Carter, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Chet Baker, Al Grey, Sonny Stitt, Victor Feldman and Joe Newman.
From the late 1960s onwards, Dee was in demand as a session musician, appearing on many orchestral recordings. Subsequently, he went on to play with the Ted Heath Orchestra, for the last 10 years of its existence and was also a member of Laurie Johnson’s London Big Band.
Renowned as a fine accompanist to singers, Brian has recorded or appeared alongside Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Johnny Mercer, Elton John, Peggy Lee, Frankie Laine, Joe Williams, Jimmy Witherspoon, Mark Murphy, Cleo Laine and Annie Ross. He was musical director for Lita Roza, Cilla Black, Rosemary Squires, and Elaine Delmar.
Working with Irving Martin they composed the theme for Return of the Saint. In 1978, their Good Times album was released on Bruton Music BRG 4.
Pianist and musical director Brian Dee, who played organ and/or harmonium on four of Elton John’s early albums, at 87 years old, continues to perform.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Steve Davis was born March 14, 1929 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The youngest of 10 children, he became interested in music as a young teenager and was inspired by his older brother who also played the bass. He was part of a group of young Philadelphia jazz musicians that included saxophonists Benny Golson and John Coltrane. At age 16 he began playing with local big bands and dropped out of high school a year later to pursue a music career.
During the 1940s and 1950s he worked frequently playing with Philly Joe Jones and Jimmy Oliver among others. In 1960, he was briefly a part of the John Coltrane Quartet, before being replaced temporarily by Reggie Workman and permanently by Jimmy Garrison. He was the double bassist on the recordings of My Favorite Things, Coltrane Plays The Blues and Coltrane’s Sound.
He also recorded as a sideman with Chuck and Gap Mangione on Hey Baby! In 1961 and with quartet fellow and brother-in-law McCoy Tyner on the 1963 album Nights of Ballads & Blues. Davis went on to play on several of James Moody’s groups. He worked throughout the 1960s as a freelancer in New York and as a side man appearing on albums by Kenny Dorham and others.
Moving to Rochester, New York in 1970 Steve played bass with the Gap Mangione Trio, Spider Martin Group and other local bands. He was a mentor to younger jazz musicians in Rochester and enjoyed passing on his knowledge. 1980 saw him beginning to suffer from emphysema and returned to Philadelphia.
Bassist Steve Davis, who was also known by his Muslim name Luquman Abdul Syeed, died on August 21, 1987 at the age of 58.
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