JEFF “TAIN” WATTS
Kick off the New Year by celebrating drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts’ 65th birthday at Dizzy’s Club. This multi-Grammy winner and Guggenheim fellow leads an all-star band for a high-energy, four-night run. Tain’s distinct blend of swing, innovation, and soul, honed through collaborations with legends like Wynton Marsalis and McCoy Tyner. The nights are sure to ignite the stage on fire.
Performance Lineup: Jeff “Tain” Watts, drums | Ravi Coltrane, saxophone | Paul Bollenback, guitar | James Francies, piano | James Genus, double bass
Tickets: $25.00~$60.00 | Some performances Sold Out
More Posts: adventure,bandleader,club,drums,genius,instrumental,jazz,music,preserving,travel
SUPERBLUE | NEW YEAR’S EVE
Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Kurt Elling and visionary hybrid guitarist Charlie Hunter reignite their funk, soul, and fusion–inspired partnership in SuperBlue—a fierce collection of new songs and surprising covers. They’re joined by dynamic jazz/R&B/funk drummer Nate Smith and the high-energy Huntertones Horns.
Tickets: $79.00 ~ $103.00
More Posts: adventure,bandleader,genius,instrumental,jazz,music,preserving,travel,vocal
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
George Connell Elrick was born on December 29, 1903 in Aberdeen, Scotland. His first ambition was to be a doctor but financial constraints prevented this. Still in his teens, he began playing drums for local dance bands and by 1928 had formed his own band, the Embassy Band. The group swept the prizes in the All-Scottish Dance Band Championship that year.
Turning professional, George moved to London, England where he became friends with the crooner Al Bowlly, and began singing himself. He joined the Henry Hall Orchestra as a vocalist and drummer and their 1936 recording of The Music Goes Round and Round made him a star. Leaving Hall in 1937 he formed his own band, and two years later began his solo career, which was moderately successful through the years of World War II.
In 1948, he took a touring revue around Britain, and was asked by the BBC to stand in for two weeks as disc-jockey on the morning record request show Housewives’ Choice. The temporary job lasted almost twenty years, as his Scottish accent and liberal use of catchphrases became highly popular.
In later years, he became something of an impresario and acted as an agent for numerous musicians such as Mantovani. He was a member of the Grand Order of Water Rats, and was also a life member of the Variety Club of Great Britain.
Drummer George Elrick, who published his autobiography titled Housewives’ Choice: The George Elrick Story, died on December 15, 1999.
More Posts: bandleader,drums,instrumental,jazz,music,vocals
DailyDose Of Jazz…
Leonard Ware was born in Richmond, Virginia on December 28, 1909. He went to college at the Tuskegee Institute and learned to play the oboe.
By 1938 Ware was playing electric guitar on recordings by Sidney Bechet. He then started working with Jimmy Shirley, who was one of the first groups to have two electric guitarists.
In December 1938, he played at Carnegie Hall with the Kansas City Six alongside Lester Young and Buck Clayton. 1939 saw him recording Umbrella Man with Benny Goodman. He performed in a trio during the 1940s and recorded as a leader in 1947. Leonard also recorded with Don Byas, Albinia Jones, Buddy Johnson, and Big Joe Turner.
Ware was the co-composer of Hold Tight, which he recorded with Bechet and I Dreamt I Dwelt in Harlem with Jerry Gray and Buddy Feyne, which was recorded by Glenn Miller and The Delta Rhythm Boys in 1941.
Dropping out of music a few years later, guitarist Leonard Ware, who was one of the first American jazz guitarists to play electric guitar, died at the age of 64 on March 30, 1974.
More Posts: bandleader,guitar,history,instrumental,jazz,music
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Greg Hyslop was born in Montgomery, West Virginia on December 27, 1951 but grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina since 1957, He graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts in 1977 and returned to his hometown to settle down and raise a family.
With his hollow-bodied electric guitar, Hyslop performs straight ahead jazz with a bebop flavor. To date he has released two recordings, his debut with Kenny Werner on piano and John Riley on drums is titled Manhattan Date in 1987. His sophmore recording, The Greg Hyslop Trio features pianist David Fox and bassist Charles Gambetta.
Guitarist Greg Hyslop, who has been a member of the groups Peace Chant and The Third Floor Orchestra, continues to be a long standing member of the piedmont North Carolina jazz community.
More Posts: bandleader,guitar,history,instrumental,jazz,music