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.
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ED CHERRY QUARTET
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JIMMIE HERROD
Herrod, an alum of the Cornish College of the Arts and Portland State University, first came to worldwide prominence as a finalist on the NBC nationally broadcast television show, “America’s Got Talent,” earning the rare “Golden Buzzer” recognition from actress Sofia Vargara and returning the following year on the AGT All-Stars series.
Traversing many musical styles and genres in many languages, including jazz, pop, funk, Broadway, and his own original songs, Herrod has headlined concerts at The McCallum Theatre (Palm Desert, CA), The Luxor Theater (Las Vegas), The Royal Room, La Jolla Music Society, and Portland’s Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Since 2017 he’s toured to hundreds of venues across the globe as a featured vocalist with world-pop band Pink Martini and appears on several albums and EP’s with the band.
With two solo EP’s under his belt – his debut Falling in Love and Learning to Love Myself and 2022’s Elated, his singular style and unique voice is poised to make an ever-larger impact in the world of music and entertainment. His 2023-24 season highlights included global touring dates from Paris to Seattle with acclaimed jazz pianist Cedric Hanriot, headlining the inaugural Seaside Jazz & Blues Festival, debuting a new symphonic pops show as co-headliner with vocalist Storm Large, and beginning work on his forthcoming full-length jazz album, scheduled to be released in winter of 2024.
Tickets: $25.00 advance | $30.00 doors
Cover: $29.01
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MEL BROWN B3 ORGAN GROUP
In fact, this true all-star band has been a sensation going back to 1997, when they began a 20-year run on Thursdays at Portland’s legendary “Jimmy Mak’s” music venue (The Oregonian dubbed them “Jimmy Mak’s signature group”). With a collective resume that reads like a “Who’s Who” of NW jazz, blues, and soul, this group has the talent and confidence to be completely spontaneous–from their blistering solos to their improvised arrangements and segues. No wonder they’ve thrilled audiences wherever they’ve played. Count among the band’s fans jazz great Christian McBride, host of National Public Radio’s “Jazz Night In America.” In an October 2021 broadcast, McBride played several excerpts from a Mel Brown B-3 Organ Group festival set.
The Band: Mel Brown~Drums | Renato Caranto~Tenor Saxophone | Dan Balmer~Guitar | Louis “King Louis” Pain~Hammond B3
Tickets: $20.00~$25.00
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EMMETT COHEN
Emmet Cohen has emerged as one of his generation’s pivotal figures in music and the related arts. A recognized prodigy, Cohen began Suzuki method piano instruction at age three. He quickly became a mature player, melding musicality, technique, and concept. Downbeat observed that his “nimble touch, measured stride and warm harmonic vocabulary indicate he’s above any convoluted technical showmanship.”
In the same spirit, Cohen himself notes that playing jazz is “about communicating the deepest levels of humanity and individuality; it’s essentially about connections,” both among musicians and with audiences. Moreover, he leads his namesake ensemble, the Emmet Cohen Trio, is a vibrant solo performer, and is in constant demand as a sideman. Also, he possesses a fluid technique, an innovative tonal palette, and an extensive repertoire. Further, Cohen plays with the command of a seasoned veteran and the passion of an artist fully devoted to his medium.
Emmet Cohen’s exacting keyboard artistry has garnered numerous accolades from the international jazz community. To that end, he placed first in both the American Jazz Pianists competition (2014) and the Phillips Piano Competition (2011). Additionally, he was a finalist in the prestigious American Pianists Association’s Cole Porter Fellowship (2015, 2011) and the Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition (2011).
Besides leading the Emmet Cohen Trio, Cohen has appeared regularly with Ron Carter, Christian McBride, Benny Golson and Jimmy Cobb. Further, he’s worked with George Coleman, Jimmy Heath, Tootie Heath, Houston Person, Kurt Elling, Billy Hart and Brian Lynch.
Finally, Cohen commits fully to the intergenerational transfer of artistic knowledge, history, and traditions. His Masters Legacy Series is a celebratory set of recordings and interviews honoring legendary jazz musicians.
COVER: $35.00~$40.00
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