ARTEMIS
Fresh off their 2nd consecutive win for “Jazz Group of the Year” in the Downbeat Readers Poll, Aretemis returns with their third Blue Note album Arboresque. The album and the group features the quintet helmed by pianist and musical director Renee Rosnes, trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, tenor saxophonist Nicole Glover, bassist Noriko Ueda, and drummer Allison Miller.
A paean to the sheer joy of collaboration and creativity, the album also explores a theme of natural and environmental beauty. This is the debut performance of Artemis and celebration of their album release at the legendary New York City venue.
Tickets: $40.00 + fee
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Barry Martyn was born Barry Martyn Godfrey in London, England on February 23, 1941. He began learning drums in 1955 and was leading his first band the following year. His first recordings were made in 1959.
His first visit to New Orleans, Louisiana was in 1961 where he studied under Cie Frazier, and founded Mono Records. He toured Europe with many famed New Orleans jazz personnel, including George Lewis, Albert Nicholas, Louis Nelson, Captain John Handy, and Percy Humphrey.
Moving to Los Angeles, California in 1972 he founded the Legends of Jazz, an ensemble which made several worldwide tours and recorded extensively. Returning to New Orleans in 1984 he worked with George Buck, reissuing much of the Circle Records back catalogue. He played with Barney Bigard in 1976, and recorded many dates as a leader.
Drummer Barry Martyn died on July 17, 2023 at the age of 82.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Ronald Thomas Verrell February 21, 1926 in Rochester, Kent, England. He initially showed little interest in music until he saw the Benny Goodman Quartet perform in the film Hollywood Hotel in 1938. From that point on he wanted to be a drummer, he taught himself how to play after only one lesson. In 1940, after the outbreak of World War II in Europe, the 14-year-old was evacuated to Porthcawl in South Wales, where he made his first public appearances drumming with local bands in the area.
Returning to Kent in 1943 he worked professionally for a while with the Claude Giddins band, before being conscripted to work as a Bevin Boy in the coal mines for the remainder of the war. Following the war Ronnie began performing with Scottish saxophonist Tommy Whittle and Belgian trumpeter Johnny Claes. Then between 1947 and 1951 he played with several big bands, including those led by Carl Barriteau and Cyril Stapleton.
In 1951 Verrell joined the Ted Heath Orchestra and remained with the band until Heath’s retirement in 1964. They toured America and became the first British big band to break into the US big band arena. His next move focused on session work where he backed Winifred Atwell, Jack Jones, Tony Bennett, Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, Jonathan King, Petula Clark and Strawbs. He would go on to join Jack Parnell’s house band and Syd Lawrence’s band in the 80s.
Ronnie performed in several television shows, including The Muppet Show where he played drums for the show’s manic puppet drummer, Animal. He dueled Buddy Rich on the show as Animal and won after Animal smashed a snare drum over Rich’s head.
The mid-1990s had him forming his own quintet he modelled after Benny Goodman’s band. Then a serious road accident forced him to stop performing for almost a year. After his recovery he continued to play, touring with an all-star band, Best of British. His final appearance was on The Frank Skinner Show in 2001.
Drummer Ronnie Verrell died on February 22, 2002 in Kingston-upon-Thames, England from a chest infection he contracted during an operation to fix a crushed vertebra resulting from a fall down some stairs.
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LIFE, LOVE & LENNY
A Celebration of the life and music of Lenny White
The iconic Grammy-winning drummer, who is among jazz music’s most prolific and celebrated artists, producers, composers and sidemen — will be fêted at a one-night-only celebration filled with music and memories at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall.
Presented by Tzedakah 4 All, the event will feature performances in multiple combinations – Return to Forever w/ Stanley Clarke, Al DiMeola and orchestra conducted by Maestro Steve Mecurio, Miles Davis Bitches Brew, Red Clay, Echoes of an Era, as well as exploring material from his illustrious five + decade career. Laurence Fishburne will serve as emcee with appearances from fellow artists Buster Williams, Omar Hakim, Patrice Rushen, Al Foster, Mike Clark, Billy Hart, and Billy Drummond.
Tickets: $175.00~$250.00
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Gerald “Jerry” Segal was born on February 16, 1931 and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He majored in music at Mastbaum High before graduating and working with Bennie Green and Pete Rugolo in local clubs.
In the late 1950s he played with Johnny Smith, Terry Gibbs, Teddy Charles, Stan Getz, Charles Mingus, Herbie Mann, Lennie Tristano, Bob Dorough, Teo Macero, Curtis Fuller, Hampton Hawes, Dick Cary, Mal Waldron, Addison Farmer, the Australian Jazz Quintet, and Mose Allison.
From 1958 to 1960 he played with Bernard Peiffer and with the composer Edgar Varese in the 1950s. The 1960s saw him with Dave McKenna.
Raising his children he primarily became the big act show drummer for the honeymoon resort, the Mount Airy Lodge in the Poconos through the 60’s.
Drummer Jerry Segal, who never recorded as a leader, eventually disappeared from the jazz scene and died in August 1974. He was 43 years old.
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