Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Ed Cherry was born on October 12, 1954 in New Haven, Connecticut. Learning to play guitar as a child by the time he moved to New York in 1978 he was playing with Dizzy Gillespie. This relationship lasted until 1992, performing in Gillespie’s quartet, big band and with The United Nation Orchestra, which recorded the Grammy Award-winning “Live at Royal Festival Hall”.

In 1993 Cherry released his first recording as a leader, “First Take” as well as performing with Paquito D’ Rivera’s small group and recording “Havana Cafe”. He worked with composer/saxophonist Henry Threadgill for two years with the group “Very Very Circus”, and released his second project as a solo artist titled “A Second Look”. During that same period worked with Hammond B3 organist John Patton recording 3 critically acclaimed sessions.

From 1997 to 1998, Ed worked in Roy Hargrove’s “Crisol” Latin jazz band, which performed in Havana, Cuba, worked with baritone saxophonist Hamiett Bluiett, and toured Europe in 2001 with his own group. He has performed at numerous festivals around the world, backs vocalist Paula West, leads his own trio, has been an educator at Essex Community College, the Henry Street Settlement in New York City, Montclair State University and currently at the Jazzmobile. He continues to perform and record.

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