Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Ric Powell was born on August 19, 1942 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He attended and initially studied music at St. Augustine High School in New Orleans, before his family moved to the Bronx, New York where he went to Morris High School. Upon graduating he went on to study at New York School of Music in Manhattan, then in the U.S. Naval School of Music in Washington, D.C. and finally matriculated through Howard University in Washington, D.C.
He beganhis professional life as a member of the youth percussion ensemble Kalypso Kids, then became a member of the Apollo Theatre House Band under the direction of Ruben Philips. He toured with the Jimmy Castor Band before becoming a studio and freelance musician in New York City and Chicago, Illinois.
He formed a trio under his own name featuring Donny Hathaway, became a member of the CBS Staff Orchestra in Chicago, and then a record producer for Atlantic, Atco and Stax. Drummer Ric Powell, who formed Don-Ric Enterprises and is an Adjunct Professor of Percussion at Northwestern University, continues to perform.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Monk Hazel was born Arthur Frank Hazel to a drummer father on August 15, 1903 in Harvey, Louisiana. Early on he played drums with Emmett Hardy, who gave him his first cornet, and then with Stalebread Lacombe. In the 1920s he worked with many bands including the Halfway House Orchestra led by Abbie Brunies, Tony Parenti with whom he recorded in 1928, and Johnny Wiggs.
From the late 1920s to the early 1930s, Hazel led his own Bienville Roof Orchestra which played atop the Bienville Hotel at Lee Circle, and made recordings in 1928 and then spent time in New York playing with Johnny Wiggs, Jack Pettis and with his own group from 1929 to 1931.
Hazel relocated to Hollywood in Los Angeles, California for a period working with Gene Austin but eventually returned to New Orleans, Louisiana performing with Joe Caprano in 1937 and the Lloyd Danton Quintet. He spent 1942-43 in the Army and then worked for a time outside of music.
During his final twenty years, Hazel was once again active in New Orleans, recording with his own band in 1945 and performing with Sharkey Bonano from 1949 to 1952, George Girard, Mike Lala, Santo Pecora and virtually every other important name in New Orleans jazz.
As a leader, Monk recorded four titles in 1928 for Brunswick Records and a full album for Southland Records in 1954; Pete Fountain and Al Hirt were among his sidemen on the latter recording.
Drummer and cornetist Monk Hazel, who occasionally took cornet and mellophone solos, died on March 5, 1968 in New Orleans.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Chris Wallace was born on August 9, 1971 in Regina, Saskatchewan. A self taught drummer he rose to professional status through relentless self study. As he developed as a musician he began to add jazz music to his already large repertoire of pop, rock, r&b and funk. He moved to New York City and studied with drum clinician and educator Dom Famularo.
In the late 90s he relocated to the United Kingdom and became a central figure in the jazz scene in Scotland. He put together two trios, NeWt which was awarded the 2012 Scottish Jazz Ensemble, and Breach, and he formed a quartet named Loose Grip that released the album Looking Glass. Wallace has appeared with countless international jazz musicians as a sideman.
Becoming more active on the jazz scene, he began performing with many of the nation’s top players such as Graeme Stephen, Paul Harrison, Phil Bancroft, Steve Hamilton, Kevin Mackenzie, Mario Caribe and many others. As a sideman he performed with international artists such as Jamie Oehlers, Jim Mullen, Silke Eberhard, Alan Barnes, Louis Durra, Damon Brown, Ulf Wakenius, Anders Bergkrantz and others.
Chris has backed many singers as well including Lady Rizo, Ali McGregor, Julienne Taylor, Lillian Boutee, Niki King and Holly Penfield. Not limiting himself to jazz, the rock field has Chris sharing stages across Europe with bands such as Asia, King Crimson, Uriah Heep, Saga and many others. He has performed with world class cabaret artists in the UK and has toured Australia twice.
As an educator he has a long teaching history as well, with many years of private students of all ages under his belt. More formally, he was head drum tutor at Stevenson College in Edinburgh, Scotland for three years beginning in 2009.
Drummer Chris Wallace, now based in Toronto, Canada, continues to perform and record.
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OKAN
Fusing Afro-Cuban roots with jazz, folk and global rhythms in songs about immigration, resistance and love, OKAN takes their name from the word for heart in their Afro-Cuban religion of Santeria. With vocals in Spanish, Yoruba and Spanglish, OKAN is led by the Cuban-born violinist and vocalist Elizabeth Rodriguez and percussionist and vocalist Magdelys Savigne, both Grammy and Latin-Grammy nominees.
Having performed and recorded with Bomba Estereo, Lido Pimienta, The Halifax Symphony Orchestra, Hilario Duran and Dayme Arocena, OKAN’s recent release Okantomi was awarded the 2024 Juno Award (the band’s second Juno recognition) and included in NPR Alt Latino, Le Monde, and CBC Music’s “Best of 2023” lists, garnering critical praise from Songlines UK, Billboard, Pop Matters and JAZZIZ.
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BILL CHARLAP TRIO
Grammy Award-winning pianist Bill Charlap has performed with many of the leading artists of our time, from Phil Woods and Benny Carter to Gerry Mulligan and Wynton Marsalis. He is acclaimed for his interpretations of the American popular songbook, and has recorded albums featuring the music of Hoagy Carmichael, Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers and Duke Ellington.
The Bill Charlap Trio, with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington, marks its 23rd year together this season, and is recognized as one of the leading ensembles in jazz.
Bill Charlap, piano
Peter Washington, bass
Kenny Washington, drums
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