MICHELA MARINO LERMAN & RUSSELL HALL QUARTET
Michela Marino Lerman, recipient of the Hoofer Award and Flo-Bert Award, is a world-renowned tap dance artist, performer, choreographer, band leader, educator and all-around creative spirit dedicated to the bridging the gap between tap dance and jazz music and the inclusivity of tap being recognized as music. The Huffington Post has called her a “hurricane of rhythm” and the NY Times has called her both a “prodigy” and has described her dancing as “flashes of brilliance.” Quincy Jones has said she is an “absolute tap dancing star who knows her roots.” She very proudly, was mentored by some of the innovators of tap dance including Gregory Hines, Buster Brown, Leroy Myers, Peg Leg Bates, Marion Coles, Jeni LeGon and Mable Lee. Most recently Michela can be seen featured in the new US Postage Stamp series dedicated to the art form of Tap Dance. Michela has had the honor of working with and collaborating many master artists throughout her career some of whom include Wynton Marsalis, Anna Deavere Smith, Roy Hargrove, Jon Batiste, Quincy Jones, Steve McQueen and many more. www.michelataps.com @michelataps
Whether it’s a swanky, sophisticated jazz club or a boozy, bombastic rock joint, one thing is for certain, Russell Hall is bringing the party with him wherever he goes. Born in Kingston, Jamaica and raised in Miami, Florida, Russell has been playing and recording music since the tender age of 13. He furthered his study of music at the most prestigious conservatory in the world, The Juilliard School under the tutelage of Ben Wolfe, Ron Carter and Wynton Marsalis. He is currently a preeminent bassist in New York City where his session and freelance work has allowed him to work in virtually every facet of the New York music scene.
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JIM FERGUSON
Having had a long career in the Nashville music industry as both vocalist and bassist, in 1999 Jim returned to his roots and released his first jazz CD, Not Just Another Pretty Bass, a quartet with saxophonist Chris Potter, pianist Pat Coil, and drummer Jim White. That was followed by Deep Summer Music with the same lineup with the exception of pianist Stefan Karlsson, and Haunted Heart, a duo recording with the master guitarist Mundell Lowe.
Some of the many artists Jim has performed and/or recorded with include Teddy Wilson, Phineas Newborn, Jr., Marian McPartland, Jay McShann, Steve Allen, Bob Dorough, Clark Terry, Red Rodney, Nat Adderley, , Tim Hagans, Randy Brecker, Terell Stafford, Chris Potter, Bob Mintzer, Joel Frahm, Eric Alexander, Benny Golson, Benny Goodman, Lee Konitz, Jimmy Heath, Lew Tabackin, Ira Sullivan, Eddie Daniels, Bill Watrous, Urbie Green, John Pizzarelli, Jr., Kenny Burrell, Jimmy Raney, Lorne Lofsky, Lenny Breau, Howard Alden, Gene Bertoncini, Martin Taylor, Ed Soph, Harold Jones,Bernard Purdie, Louie Bellson, Duffy Jackson, Jackie and Roy, Al Jarreau, and Joe Williams.
For nearly 30 years, Joel Frahm has lived in New York City, working in jazz clubs, collaborating with other musicians, and honing his craft. His bold, inventive tenor sound has won fans in the U.S. and across the world. He has worked alongside Betty Carter, Kenny Barron, Freddy Cole, Dianne Schuur, Kurt Elling, Jane Monheit, Bill Charlap, Brad Mehldau, Matt Wilson, Cyrille Aimee, and many other top artists. He has played as a leader or sideman on more than 100 recordings and has appeared at jazz festivals in the United States, Europe, Israel, Canada and South America. In addition to his work as a performer, he has taught jazz classes in clinics at the University of North Carolina, the University of Connecticut, New York University, Wichita State University, the University of North Texas, Baylor University, Colorado State University, Furman University, the University of Toronto, the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, the University of Manitoba and others. He also has worked at the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Next Generation program; the Sant Andreu Youth Jazz Orchestra in Barcelona, Spain; the Dave Brubeck Institute in Stockton, California; the Center for Jazz Studies at the Israel Conservatory in Tel Aviv; the Czech Jazz Workshop in Prague; and the Siena Jazz Workshop in Italy.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
George Andrew Tucker was born on December 10, 1927 in Palatka, Florida. He studied bass at the New York Conservatory of Modern Music in the late 1940s. Early in his career, he played with Earl Bostic, John Coltrane, and Jackie McLean. He worked in the house bands of several lauded New York jazz venues and played and recorded with Eric Dolphy, Clifford Jordan, Horace Parlan, Booker Ervin, Jerome Richardson, and Junior Mance during this time.
In 1958, he recorded with Melba Liston on her jazz classic Melba Liston and Her ‘Bones. 1960–61 saw him recording with Stanley Turrentine, Horace Parlan, Ervin, Dexter Gordon, and Shirley Scott. Over the next two years he toured and recorded with the trio of Dave Lambert, John Hendricks and Yolande Bavan. Near the end of his life Tucker recorded with Coleman Hawkins and Jaki Byard.
He recorded at total of fifty-eight albums as a sideman with Ted Curson, Walt Dickerson, Lou Donaldson, Booker Ervin, Curtis Fuller, Bennie Green, Slide Hampton, John Handy, Willis Jackson, Etta Jones, Gildo Mahones, Charles McPherson, Jackie McLean, Oliver Nelson, Dave Pike, Pony Poindexter, Sonny Red, Freddie Redd, Zoot Sims, Johnny “Hammond” Smith, Buddy Tate, Lucky Thompson, Jimmy Witherspoon and Jimmy Woods.
Double-bassist George Tucker transitioned from a cerebral hemorrhage while performing with guitarist Kenny Burrell on October 10, 1965 in New York City.
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MILESTONES
Jeremy Pelt – trumpet | Vincent Herring – alto saxophone | Wayne Escoffery – tenor saxophone | Eric Reed – piano Buster Williams – bass | Al Foster – drums
The two nights before New Year’s Eve are dedicated to Countdown Festival Sextet III, which includes two more special guests who also happen to be two of the all-time greats: Bassist Buster Williams and drummer Al Foster. These two masters join esteemed co-musical directors Eric Reed and Vincent Herring along with the powerful duo of trumpeter Jeremy Pelt and saxophonist Wayne Escoffery. It is a stunning group to close out the year, to say the least. The Guardian calls Williams “one of the great acoustic bassists,” and JazzTimes adds, “Williams’ résumé ranks with that of any bassist in the modern era.” JazzTimes also says that Al Foster—well-known for his work with Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner, Sonny Rollins, and many more—“is a not-so-secret special groove ingredient enlivening performances and sessions by a long list of heavy hitters,”
~ Please Note: All 7PM and 9PM shows at Smoke are Dinner Shows
~ Friday & Saturday Shows Only: 10:30pm
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Harvie S was born Harvie Swartz on December 6, 1948 in Chelsea, Massachusetts. He learned piano as a child and did not begin playing bass until 1967, when he was nineteen years old. He attended Berklee College of Music and played in and around Boston, Massachusetts with Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Mose Allison, and Chris Connor.
Moving to New York City in 1972 he worked with Jackie Paris, Thad Jones, Gil Evans, Lee Konitz, Barry Miles, David Friedman, Double Image, David Matthews, Steve Kuhn and Paul Motian. He has recorded extensively as a duet with Sheila Jordan, and has released numerous albums as the leader of his own ensembles, including Urban Earth and the Harvie S Band.
He has recorded fiteen albums as a leader, co-led two sessions with Sheryl Bailey, thirteen as a sideman, and has performed and produced music exclusively as Harvie S since 2001. He has recorded with Alan Broadbent, Sinan Alimanović, Art Farmer, Urbie Green, Jackie and Roy, Eric Kloss, Steve Kuhn, Anders Mogensen and Roseanna Vitro. In 2008, he released a duo album with pianist Kenny Barron, Now Was The Time, on HighNote/Savant Records.
Double bassist Harvie S has been a member of the Westchester Jazz Orchestra since 2007 and continues to produce, compose, arrange and educate.
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