JORGE GARCIA BAND
Guitarist Jorge Garcia brings all the richness and melodic soul of Latin rhythms from his birthplace of Cuba. His intense passion for his instrument is immediately visible and colorfully audible through his unique original compositions, impeccable solos and supportive, rhythmic guitar. He has performed across the globe with the renowned and impressive talents of Tony Bennett, Richie Cole, Patti Page, Andrea Bocelli, Bucky Pizzarelli, Joel Grey, Enrique Iglesias, Trini Lopez, The Drifters, and Bobby Riddell.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Wilhelm Josef Grah was born on June 24, 1928 in Bergisch-Gladbach, Germany. He led his own quintet from 1949 to 1953, then performed and recorded with Fatty George 1954-1959. I
During the 1960s he moved to Austria where he hosted a radio show in Vienna. He officially became a citizen in 1970. In the 1970s he played with the Austrian Barrelhouse Jazz Band and also led his own quintet.
Pianist and vibraphonist, who led a trio, quintet, sextet, big band and orchestra, transitioned on September 17, 1996 in Vienna.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Luther Thomas was born on June 23, 1950 in St. Louis, Missouri. Known for his free jazz playing and drawing from funk. Coming out of the Black Artists Group (BAG) of St. Louis in the late Sixties, he was one of the original voices from a scene that also bred such names as Oliver Lake, Julius Hemphill, Baikida Carroll, John Zorn and Joseph Bowie.
Luther played in the Human Arts Ensemble with Charles Bobo Shaw in the 1970s, and led a group called Dizzazz in the early 1980s. He played saxophone for James Chance and the Contortions.
As a leader he had recording sessions from the early 1970s he has recorded eleven albums. They have been reissued on CD as part of Atavistic Records’ Unheard Music Series. In 1998 he settled in Denmark and became a cult musician in Christiania Freetown, performing there weekly.
Alto saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist Luther Thomas was a completely intuitive improvisor and a free spirit who reached a level of intensity on the saxophone reached by very few others, transitioned at the age of 59 on September 8, 2009 in Denmark.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Julia Feldman was born on June 22, 1979 in Samara, Soviet Union to Israeli parents and into a family with a large musical background; her father wa ajeweler who played jazz piano, and a grandfather who was an accomplished conductor and a leader of the city philharmonic orchestra. Classically trained by studying the piano from the age of 5 until the family’s immigration to Israel in 1990 where she continued her piano studies along with jazz improvisation at the High School Of Arts in Jerusalem.
Becoming interested in jazz singing in the last year of her high school studies Feldman began studying voice technique and jazz improvisation along with intensive studies of jazz with the saxophonist Arnie Lawrence at the International Music Center of Jerusalem. While there she studied and performed with known American jazz musicians, such as Evelyn Blakey, Larry Goldings, Armen Donelian, Bob Meyer, Sheila Jordan, Judi Silvano and composer Allen Gershwin, performing the latter’s Walk In The Wilderness.
The late Nineties had her continuing her education and performing with a host of musicians. She has put together her self-titled ensemble and quartet with the former releasing a tribute album in 2006 Words Are Worlds inspired and featuring many standards by Billie Holiday. Other projects she has worked on as a vocalist have delved her into progressive rock Musicca Ficta, vocalist in Radical Shlomo, as pianist, vocalist, co-composer and co-lyricist in Ayulyul and collaboration with ethno-core Jerusalem band Shoom.
Vocalist, composer and educator Julia Feldman, whose singing combines elements of multiple jazz genres, free improvisation and modern classical music, continues to explore, perform and record.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Jackie Coon was born in Beatrice, Nebraska on June 21, 1929 and grew up in Southern California. He was inspired to play trumpet after hearing Louis Armstrong’s West End Blues. He spent a few months with Jack Teagarden’s band and had gigs with Charlie Barnet, Louis Prima, and Earl Hines.
Making his recording debut with Barney Bigard in 1957 and he also played the mellophone on Red Nichols’ version of Battle Hymn of the Republic. Jackie’s decision to stay in California cost him the fame that eluded him, but he worked at Disneyland for nine years, and performed regularly in local clubs and jazz festivals.
It was until 1986 that Coon led his first record session for Sea Breeze. Since 1991 he has recorded fairly often for Arbors. Trumpeter, flügelhornist and cornetist Jackie Coon has become less active in his Eighties.
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