Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Gustavo Casenave was born on November 10, 1971 in Montevideo, Uruguay where he studied classical piano from age 6 with Maestro Hector Tosar, who was Aaron Copland’s student. He led the group Kongo Bongo and recorded two albums, however, following a conversation with Hugo Fattoruso he decided to study in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1994 received a full scholarship from O.A.S. to study at the Berklee College of Music and two years later he graduated magna cum laude.

During this period he was awarded the Professional Music Achievement, and his composition Fragiltimer for the Past Future for piano was selected as one of the ten best original compositions coming out of Berklee in the last 30 years, 1966-1996. In 1995 he was accepted as a private student by the legendary jazz vibraphonist Gary Burton.

1997 saw Gustavo settling in New York City and creating a name for himself. He has been awarded three Grammys as a producer, composer and performer, Best Latin Jazz Album (producer), Best Tango Album, and Best Instrumental Album that showcased his ability to create compositions that resonate with audiences worldwide. He has also had six Latin Grammy nominations and three nods for Best Contemporary Classical Composition.

As an educator, Casenave has held positions as Jazz Department Director at the Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts and has conducted Tango Master Classes as well as being a guest artist lecturer at The Juilliard School, Yale University, Eastman School of Music, Oberlin Conservatory and Indiana University.

Pianist Gustavo Casenave continues to contribute to jazz as a performer, composer, educator, and scholar, having published his first music theory book, “The Harmonic Structure Levels.

More Posts: bandleader,composer,educator,history,instrumental,jazz,music,scholar

Daily Dose Of Jazz…

John Barry was born John Barry Prendergast in York, England on November 3, 1933 the youngest of four children, his mother, a classical pianist, his father a projectionist.  Raised in and around cinemas, this childhood background influenced his musical tastes and interests. He was educated at St. Peter’s School, York, and received composition lessons from Francis Jackson, Organist of York Minster.

Spending his national service in the British Army playing the trumpet and working from a correspondence course with jazz composer Bill Russo, after his service he worked as an arranger for the orchestras of Jack Parnell and Ted Heath. Forming his own band, the John Barry Seven, in 1957, they recorded hit records on EMI’s Columbia label. By 1959 he gained commissions to arrange music for other acts, and his career breakthrough was the BBC television series Drumbeat, when he appeared with the John Barry Seven.

He was employed by EMI from 1959 until 1962 arranging orchestral accompaniments for the company’s singers. He began composing songs and scores for films and when Adam Faith made his first film, Beat Girl in 1960, Barry composed, arranged and conducted the film score, his first. His music was later released as the UK’s first soundtrack album. His composition and orchestration caught the attention of the Bond producers and he went on to have an accomplished career as a composer and arranger with the series.

In 2001, the University of York conferred an honorary degree on Barry, and in 2002 he was named an Honorary Freeman of the City of York. Fiancial issues in Britain forced him to emigrate to the United States where he lived for many years mainly in Oyster Bay, New York, in Centre Island on Long Island

He suffered a rupture of the esophagus in 1988, following a toxic reaction to a health tonic he had consumed. The incident rendered him unable to work for two years and left him vulnerable to pneumonia.

Composer, arranger and conductor John Barry, who won five Academy Awards and four Grammy Awards with scores for Born Free, The Lion in Winter, Midnight Cowboy and Somewhere in Time, died of a heart attack on January 30, 2011 at his Oyster Bay home, aged 77.

More Posts: arranger,composer,conductor,history,instrumental,jazz,music

Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Trilok Gurtu was born October 30, 1951 to Hindu Brahmin parents in Mumbai, India. His mother was a famous classical vocalist who encouraged him to learn to play the tabla. He attended Don Bosco High School in Mumbai and he received formal training in percussion from Shah Abdul Karim.

Gurtu began playing a western drum kit in the 1970s, and developed an interest in jazz. Not understanding overdubbing he learned multiple parts which most musicians would have never attempted. In the 1970s, he played with Charlie Mariano, John Tchicai, Terje Rypdal, and Don Cherry.

In 1977 he recorded Apo-Calypso, an album by the German ethnic fusion band Embryo. His mother also sang on that record, and later joined him on his first solo CD, Usfret. The 1980s saw Trilok playing with Swiss drummer Charly Antolini and with John McLaughlin in McLaughlin’s trio. He joined Oregon and played on three of their records. In the early 1990s, he resumed his career as a solo artist and a bandleader.

By the end of the decade he was a member of Tabla Beat Science, collaborated with the Arkè String Quartet in 2007, and in 2012 with the electronic folk duo Hari & Sukhmani. He has worked with Terje Rypdal, Gary Moore, John McLaughlin, Jan Garbarek, Joe Zawinul, Michel Bisceglia, Bill Laswell, Maria João & Mário Laginha, Stefano Bollani and Robert Miles.

Drummer, percussionist, tabla player and composer Trilok Gurtu continues to compose, perform and record.

More Posts: composer,drums,history,instrumental,jazz,music,percussion,tabla

JIVA

The Sous Vide Trio opens the night of great music with a 30 minute set. This will be followed with the headliner consisting of the 10-piece Soul band JIVA returns with an amazing performance. They will be performing their unique blend of upbeat soul and Brazilian-inspired songs.

Cleveland Jones, Lavahi and Chanda Leigh will be the singers on the show.

Cover Charge: $20.00 Adv | $25.00 at Door
Doors @ 7:30pm | Show @ 8:00pm

More Posts: adventure,arranger,bandleader,bass,club,composer,genius,instrumental,jazz,music,preserving,travel,vocal

Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Ivan Jullien was born on October 27, 1934 in Vincennes, France. He found work early on arranging for the Barclay label in the 1960s and later released many of his own big-band albums on Riviera, including his own 1971 fusion-infused take of George Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess.

Jullien played with Claude Bolling and Jacques Denjean early in his career, and was the bandleader for a year with the Paris Jazz All Stars in 1966. He recorded as a leader and also worked as a sideman for Lester Bowie, Maynard Ferguson, and Ben Webster. In the 1980s, he became an arranger for Studio Brussels’ CIM Big Band.

He was a member of several groups, such as 9 Plus, Alix Combelle Et Son Orchestre, Benny Bennet Et Son Orchestre De Musique Latine-Américaine, Big Jullien And His All Star, Grand Orchestre De L’Olympia, Ivan Jullien Big Band, Le Bobby Clark’s Noise, Ivan Jullien Et Son Orchestre, Jacques Denjean Et Son Orchestre, Joey And The Showmen, Les Baroques, Los Cangaceiros, and Synthesis.

Primarily a behind-the-scenes presence, Jullien arranged, played and/or conducted recordings by Charles Aznavour, Henri Salvador, Elton John, Nicoletta, Baden Powell, Didier Lockwood, and many more.

In his later years, the jazz-oriented trumpeter continued to be active, arranging and performing with his big band. His over-50-year career spanned various genres from jazz to pop, and included numerous scores for film and television.

Trumpeter, arranger, composer, conductor and bandleader Ivan Jullien, known as Big Jullien, died of respiratory failure at 80 years old on January 3, 2015.

More Posts: arranger,bandleader,composer,conductor,history,instrumental,jazz,music,trumpet