CYRUS NABIPOOR
Oregon trumpeter Cyrus Nabipoor on his West Coast ‘Known Entity’ tour is a distinctive voice both on the horn and in his songwriting, His singular sound has garnered him international acclaim. He has been a featured festival artist at PDX Jazz, Cathedral Park, Montavilla Jazz, New Orleans French Quarter, and Chicago Instigation.
To date, he has released 2 albums under his own name, and collaborated on numerous more. Cyrus has served on faculty at Loyola University New Orleans. He is an artist-in-residence at multiple Portland Public Schools, and runs a private trumpet studio.
Cover Charge: $18.00~$23.00
More Posts: adventure,bandleader,club,genius,instrumental,jazz,music,preserving,travel,trumpet
BILL BANFIELD
Jazz guitarist Bill Banfield’s father just turned 100 years old. At a recent celebration, family and friends gathered virtually and in person to celebrate his life and ask his advice. Bill had been learning his father’s lessons for years, but a recent phone conversation led his dad to give him the title for his new Mesa/Bluemoon Recordings album. As Bill tells it, he was speaking with his dad when he suddenly realized that he had something else that he needed to do. His father said, “Bill, I will talk to you, but you must TAKE TIME TO LISTEN.” The words hit Bill like a thunderbolt, as his album was designed as encouragement to concentrate on the stories found deep in his music.
Born and raised in Detroit, Banfield attended the prestigious arts magnet school, Cass Tech. He was mentored by two of the city’s finest jazz guitarists, Kenny Burrell and Earl Klugh. He also learned from the examples of masters George Benson, John Scofield, Emily Remler, Pat Martino, and Jack Wilkins. Banfield calls his approach “solo-voiced guitar,” reflecting his belief that imagination and emotion are essential ingredients in all great music, and that his playing comes directly from his heart. Banfield dedicates Take Time To Listen to Burrell and Klugh “to lift up these jazz guitar icons who greatly inspired and coached me as an early teen as I aspired to be like my heroes.”
Cover: $20.00
More Posts: adventure,bandleader,club,genius,guitar,instrumental,jazz,music,preserving,travel
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Paul Wertico was born January 5, 1953, in Chicago, Illinois. He began his professional career as a member of the Chicago based Simon & Bard Group. When Pat Metheny heard him play in 1983, he invited him and bassist Steve Rodby to join his band. During his time with Metheny, he played on ten albums and four videos, appeared on television, and toured around the world. He won seven Grammy Awards for Best Jazz Fusion Performance, Best Contemporary Jazz Performance, and Best Rock Instrumental Performance, as well as magazine polls, and several gold records.
Paul left Metheny in 2001 and formed the Paul Wertico Trio with John Moulder and Eric Hochberg. He collaborated with Larry Coryell, Kurt Elling, and Jeff Berlin. From 2000 to 2007, he was a member of SBB, the platinum-record-winning Polish progressive rock band. Wertico was a member of the Larry Coryell Power Trio until Coryell’s death in 2017.
He went on to create or gain membership in several groups Marbin, Paul Wertico’s Mid-East/Mid-West Alliance, Wertico Cain & Gray, and has won several awards. He has worked with Frank Catalano, Eddie Harris, Lee Konitz, Dave Liebman, Sam Rivers, Bob Mintzer, Terry Gibbs, Buddy DeFranco, Roscoe Mitchell, Evan Parker, Jay McShann, Herbie Mann, Randy Brecker, Jerry Goodman, Fareed Haque, Ramsey Lewis and the list goes on.
As an educator Paul has taught drums privately for 55 years, conducted clinics and masterclasses in addition to writing educational articles for Modern Drummer, DRUM!, Drums & Drumming, Drum Tracks, and DownBeat, and online for Musician.com. He is an Associate Professor of Jazz Studies at the Chicago College of Performing Arts of Roosevelt University, and also headed the school’s Jazz & Contemporary Music Studies program for five years. He served on the faculty of the percussion and jazz-studies programs at the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois for 16 years, and taught at the Bloom School of Jazz in Chicago for several years.
Drummer and percussionist Parl Wertico continues to perform, record and educate.
More Posts: bandleader,drums,history,instrumental,jazz,music,percussion
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Al Belletto was born on January 3, 1928 and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. He graduated from Warren Easton Charter High School before entering Loyola University New Orleans studying music and then earning a master’s degree from Louisiana State University.
Belletto played with Sharkey Bonano, Louis Prima, Wingy Manone and the Dukes of Dixieland in the 1940s and 1950s. He went on to lead his own band and record several albums on Capitol Records from 1952. Along with his ensemble they became part of Woody Herman’s band for U. S. State Department tours of South America in 1958 and 1959.
In the Sixtiess, Al worked at the New Orleans Playboy Club fronting the house band and serving as Musical/Entertainment Director, booking nationally known acts into the venue.
Saxophonist and clarinetist Al Belletto, who recorded six albums as a leader, died on December 26, 2014 in Metairie, Louisiana.
More Posts: bandleader,clarinet,history,instrumental,jazz,music,saxophone
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Naomi Taylor was born January 2, 1967 in Nassau, Bahamas and was the last of four girls born to missionary parents. Absorbed in gospel and classical music before she was able to talk at the tender age of six, her musical talents surfaced when she and her sisters performed as an “a cappella” quartet. Her rich alto/tenor blend and her ability to harmonize at such a young age came as a pleasant surprise to many. She discovered that she was able to pick up just about any musical instrument for the first time and play away, even though she was never taught.
With her musical talents growing, Naomi spent countless hours listening to singing quartets, captivated by the close harmony and often adding her own creative synchronization to compliment a tune. Her early singing career encompassed performances with various local choirs and musical groups, including The Bahamas National Youth Choir, the Renaissance Singers and Bel Canto.
She developed her musical talent under the mentorship of Mr. Cleophas Adderley. Though very talented, she shied away from solo performances, opting for singing within the security of a line-up or choir. Taylor sought out private lessons from pianist and vocal coach Lee Callender. This serendipitous meeting, then catapulted her into the world of jazz by reconnecting with bassist and bandleader Adrian D’Aguilar.
In 2008 she released her first recording The Other Side of Love, a compilation of warm and beautiful jazz standards. The recording features pianist Lou Rainone, saxophonist Ralph Munnings, percussionist Neil Symonette, bassist Adrian D’Aguilar and composer/guitarist Fred Ferguson.
Today, vocalist Naomi Taylor’s committed to jazz has her performing with Lee Calendar or Jazz Etcetera at the Oyster Bar in Nassau.
More Posts: bandleader,history,instrumental,jazz,music,vocal