Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Tom McEvoy was born on February 13, 1981 into a non-musical family but discovered his passion for music by chance. Early in his life he was mesmerized by Beethoven’s Pathetique Sonata played in a Peanuts cartoon, and immediately went to his toy piano to try and figure it out. He had a similarly powerful reaction to a video of Louis Armstrong he saw a few years later. He had his first ensemble experience in kindergarten, when his teacher played the piano in class and led the students in song and knew he wanted to be a musician.
His formal training began with classical piano at six, adding the cello at age nine and gaining an appreciation for ensemble playing. His skill and musicality led to McEvoy receiving top marks in state piano judgings and invitations to play cello with the state honors youth orchestra. His life changed when he bought Ahmad Jamal’s Pershing: But Not For Me and Monk’s Straight, No Chaser. Immersing himself, he began to experiment with composition and improvisation. Joining his high school jazz band in his senior year, they went on to win awards for best band and best rhythm section at the tri-state competition at James Madison University that year.
Tom’s first college stop was at Virginia Tech majoring in engineering but he couldn’t leave the music and changed his major to jazz piano. He began playing professionally in the area, but left Tech with a scholarship to study at the University of North Florida with renowned pianist Kevin Bales. Distinguishing himself he represented the school in performances in Europe and North America.
While still a student, Tom established himself as a first-call pianist and performed extensively with some of the best musicians in the southeast, including Delbert Felix, Ben Tucker, Von Barlow, and Kebbi Williams. Moving to New York City in 2006, the following year at Juilliard he played a piano duo with Kenny Barron every week for two years. He studied and/or performed with Benny Golson, Mulgrew Miller, Christian McBride, Terence Blanchard, Gerald Wilson, Joe Wilder, Benny Green, Kenny Washington, and Steve Turre.
Presently pianist Tom McEvoy stays busy performing with his own groups, working as an in- demand sideman, and sharing his knowledge with the next generation.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Ernst “Nesti” Landl was born February 12, 1914 in Vienna, Austria. He studied at the New Vienna Conservatory in the 1930s and soon made a name for himself on the Viennese music scene.
In Vienna he accompanied the singer Adelaide Hall and was soon active as a musician in North Africa and Portugal. From 1943 he played in the Steffl Diele with Italian singer and guitarist Vittorio Ducchini, violinist Herbert Mytteis and French drummer Arthur Motta. Due to the audience response, recordings were made for Odeon, but due to the ” jazz focus ” there were initially almost no releases.
After the defeat of National Socialism he played in the Vienna Dance Orchestra and also founded the Hot Club Vienna as a studio band to record jazz songs for Elite Special with musicians such as Hans Koller and Viktor Plasil. Until 1958 Landl performed in Vienna mainly as a bar pianist . He then moved to Stockholm, Sweden where he worked until his death.
Pianist, bassist and drummer Ernst Landl died on December 4, 1983 in Stockholm.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Don M’Orton was born on February 10, 1942. Having landed the gig as the resident reedman at the famous Boston, Massachusetts Lincs Jazz Club , in Europe during the 70s and 80’s he played with many British jazz musicians like Digby Fairweather and Roy Williams among others. He also played with many visiting Americans as well, including Thomas Jefferson, Wingy Manone, Alton Purnell, Al CAsey and Benny Waters, the latter with whom he played several tours.
By the mid 1990’s he was off again first to London and then Europe, the Middle East, the USA and the Caribbean. He had a trio in London with bassist Paul Godfrey and Ray Dempseywho was replaced by Cedric West on guitar. New York City saw him meet up with Al Casey again and played alongside him and tenor saxophonist George Kelly.
He went on to play with Michael Boothman and Kysufusion in Trinidad, before returning to the East Midlands. Since returning to the UK, Don has spent much of his time composing new tunes which vary from ballads to jazz tunes, including Caribbean and Latin American rhythms, and arranging material for his bands.
Tenor saxophonist Don M’Orton is still active as a player, performing regularly with the Red Hot Chillies, Dave Gladdish’s Irregulars, and the Big Wheel Quartet, in addition to his own swing trio.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Ernest “EC3 Coleman III was born a second generation musician in Naples, Italy on February 9, 1963 to Ernest and Rebecca Coleman. His father, Ernest Jr. was a jazz musician who played tenor saxophone and was a great arranger and composer.
He studied at the Naval Conservatory of Music in Norfolk, Virginia and was awarded a special honor for being the youngest student to graduate from this conservatory. Moving to Los Angeles, California after his tour with the Navy Band, EC began his true musical quest performing for Guys & Dolls, Ain’t Misbehavin, and A Chorus Line.
Getting the call to work with Loretta Holloway in Las Vegas, Nevada he opened for Jay Leno, Bill Cosby, David Brenner, Yakov Smirnoff, Whoopi Goldberg, Don Rickles and many many more. Coleman took over as Loretta’s musical director and traveled around the world. For twelve years.
He eventually got called to play with jazz bassist Al McKibbon. Excited to get the call, he auditioned and got booked for The Bourbon Street Review show. For three years this was his training ground. Al being like a second father to him, they lived together for many years and this was where he attained most of his great knowledge of music.
When the show closed Billy Higgins was there to offer EC work with saxophonist Azar Lawrence and for the next year and a half they were on the road. A move to Las Vegas, Nevada saw him working with Frank Sinatra’s pianist and conductor Vincent Falcone. Meeting jazz pianist Kevin Toney led him to play with Kevin bassist Brad Bobo.
He went on to work with Kenny Burrell, Russell Malone, Lorendo Alameida, Lorez Alexandria, John Clayton, George Cables, Herman Riley, Charlie Owens, Frank Sinatra, Vic Damone, Diahann Carroll, Pudgy, and the orchestras of Caesar Palace, Harrah’s Tahoe and Reno, and The Las Vegas Symphony.
Since then he embarked on a solo career as a leader, recording eight albums and producing thirteen records for Misha, Wendy C, Wendy B, Rayshun Lamarr, Zac Williams, Fabian, and Troy “Sol” Edler.
Drummer, producer and bandleader Ernest “EC3” Coleman continues to expand the language of his musical talent.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Terry Vosbein was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on February 8, 1957. He received his Masters in Composition from James Madison University and his Doctorate in Composition from the Cleveland Institute of Music. He has composed works for orchestra, wind ensembles, chamber ensembles and choirs. He has written works for jazz bands of all sizes and his compositions have been performed all over the world.
His latest release with the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra is titled Fleet Street and is infused with a sense of humor, adding a special dimension that is too often missing in contemporary big band writing. His 2009 Progressive Jazz album also with the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra has garnered critical acclaim.
He has been awarded seven residencies and a fellowship at University College in Oxford, where he composed Masque for Cello and Orchestra. Terry also teaches music composition at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.
For over twenty-five years Vosbein was an active jazz bassist and arranger, performing and arranging for a variety of ensembles, including the Glenn Miller Orchestra and the Atlanta Pops. He has performed in a wide range of genres from country western twang to big band swing, disco and country club wallpaper, and continues to play a never ending assortment of jazz combos and studio sessions.
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