Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Mark Jay Levine was born on October 4, 1938 in Concord, New Hampshire and began playing the piano at the age of five, trombone in his early teens. Attending Boston University, graduating with a degree in music in 1960, he also studied privately with Jaki Byard, Hall Overton and Herb Pomeroy.
Moving to New York City in the Sixties he freelanced and then played with musicians Houston Person, Mongo Santamaría, and Willie Bobo from 1971 to 1974. Levine then moved to San Francisco, California and played with Woody Shaw for two years. His debut album was made as a leader for Catalyst Records in 1976.
He went on to play with the Blue Mitchell/Harold Land Quintet, Joe Henderson, Stan Getz, Bobby Hutcherson, Luis Gasca, and Cal Tjader. From 1980 to 1983, he concentrated on valve trombone, but then returned to playing mainly the piano. He then led his own bands, and recorded for Concord as a leader in 1983 and 1985. From 1992 Mark was part of Henderson’s big band. He created a new trio in 1996 and recorded it for his own, eponymous label. His Latin jazz group, Que Calor, was formed in 1997.
He put on his educator hat in 1970, teaching in addition to private lessons at Diablo Valley College, Mills College, Antioch University in San Francisco, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Sonoma State University, and the JazzSchool in Berkeley. Levine wrote two method books: The Jazz Piano Book, and The Jazz Theory Book.
Pianist, trombonist, composer, author and educator Mark Levine, whose album Isla was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album, died of pneumonia on January 27, 2022 at the age of 83.
Get a dose of the musicians and vocalists who were members of a global society integral in the making and preservation of jazz for over a hundred and twenty-five years…
Mark Levine: 1938~2022 | Clarinet, Composer, Educator, Director, Producer
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Avery George Sharpe was born on August 23, 1954 in Valdosta, Georgia. His first instrument was the piano, which he started playing at eight years old. His mother was a pianist and church choir director and gave him lessons. In his youth he studied the accordion, electric bass, then double bass at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He studied double bass with Reggie Workman, and also studied with Max Roach, Archie Shepp, Horace Boyer and Fred Tillis.
He came to prominence under the tutelage of Archie Shepp and Art Blakey, played as a sideman with Yusef Lateef, Ricky Ford, and Joe Ford, among others. As an educator he is Artist Associate and Jazz Coach at Williams College. In addition he serves as Faculty Advisor for the Williams Gospel Choir, and has an affiliation with the Africana Studies department.
In 2004, he wrote a musical portrait for the stage for Chamber Music, and was featured with Jasmine Guy in the stage production of Raisin’ Cane. His composition January in Brazil is on McCoy Tyner’s Grammy winning big band album Journey.
Double and electric bassist, composer, educator and founder of the artist-owned record label, JKNM Records Avery Sharpe, who has released 14 albums as a leader and 40 as a sideman, continues to utilize all of his talents.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
James Benjamin Sherman was born on August 17, 1908 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. He played piano in dance bands in the late 1920s and played on and off with Jimmy Gorham in the metropolitan Philadelphia area. In 1930 he began playing on a steamboat in Alphonso Trent’s band, then played in the 1930s with Peanuts Holland, Al Sears, Stuff Smith, Lil Armstrong, Putney Dandridge, Mildred Bailey, and Billie Holiday.
From the mid- to late ’30s Jimmy played in various swing groups but is best known for his hand in composing the jazz standard Lover Man, co-written with Jimmy Davis and Roger Ramirez, and was first recorded by Billie Holiday
He became the pianist and arranger for The Charioteers in 1938, remaining with the group until 1952. Following this he played primarily locally in eastern Pennsylvania. In 1960 he took up a residency at Miss Jeanne’s Crossroad Tavern in Chester County, Pennsylvania, where he played until shortly before his death.
Pianist and arranger Jimmy Sherman died on October 11, 1975 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Anthony Dowd was born on August 14, 1957 in Richmond, Virginia and started playing piano by ear at age six. Listening to what he heard on television he figured out on the piano before beginning formal lessons at age 12, studying for about five years. During high school he came across his parent’s big band records and got hooked on swing and looked for more jazz piano.
A few weeks after graduating Benedictine High School, Anthony got a job playing piano with a local big band, The Kings Of Swing, at Kings Dominion Amusement Park. That led to jobs with Busch Gardens and Carnival Cruise Lines. In the early 80s’ he moved to Hartford, Connecticut and honed his solo piano skills at local restaurants, modeling his playing after pianist Dave McKenna.
Returning to Richmond in 1985 he landed a residency leading the house trio at Benjamin’s Restaurant until 1992. In 1994, while playing at the Jefferson Hotel, he hit a high point. Frank Sinatra was in town for some concerts, and after finishing his dinner, joined Dowd at the piano and sang a few tunes. After playing in the mid-Atlantic region, he took a break from playing piano, moved to Tennessee and spent time raising his daughter.
He returned to Virginia in 2003 and found his reputation as an all-around pianist as strong as ever. His style mixes the playing of Oscar Peterson and Bill Evans. His debut release as a leader was Can’t Sleep in 2009. He is featured on bassist Jason Jenkin’s albums and with Roger Carroll on their duet release. He recorded with the Children’s Miracle Network
As an educator he has lectured on jazz piano history for the Retired City of Richmond Employees, Rappahanock Community College and the Northumberland Library System. He formed the Richmond Association of Jazz Artists to promote concerts.
Pianist, singer and songwriter Anthony Dowd, who has composed close to 60 songs, continues to perform, record, compose and sell his tunes to publishers.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Andrew James Quin was born August 12, 1960 in London, England. Not from a musical family, he was offered a scholarship to study classical piano at the Royal College of Music, but turned down the place in order to pursue his growing interests in improvisation, composition and music technology.
He works in TV and film and his music has appeared in Hollywood movies, advertising campaigns, and television programs. His work has appeared in British TV shows such as Coronation Street and Holby City.
Pianist, theatre organist and composer Andy Quin, who has well over one thousand published tracks, continues to perform, compose and record.
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