LORI WILLIAMS
Acclaimed international jazz vocalist Lori Williams has a most impressive resume as a performing artist, veteran music educator and choral director, songwriter, producer, musical theater actress, jazz radio host on JazzRadioWETF.org, a business owner at PositiveMusicPM.org, and artist-in-residence with over 30 years of experience.
It is her work as a vocalist and clinician that most satisfies her and has brought the widest amount of recognition. With each performance in a new country comes fresh admirers. Her annual vocal jazz tour and performances at music festivals have taken her all over the world. Her vocal jazz artist residencies have allowed her to work with and mentor students on college campuses in the United States and abroad.
For over three decades, Lori Williams has worked with many notable artists including Oleta Adams, The Blackbyrds, Tom Browne, Jonathan Butler, Terri Lyne Carrington, Will Downing, Nathan East, James Genus, Marcus Johnson, Stanley Jordan, Maysa, Najee, Phil Perry, and more.
The Band:
Lori Williams ~ vocals
Tracey Cutler ~ saxophone
Benjie Porecki ~ piano
Michael Bowie ~ bass
Mark Prince ~ drums
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CYRUS CHESTNUT WITH EKEP NKWELLE
A masterful jazz pianist and Baltimore native, Cyrus Chestnut balances his lithe technical skill with a robust, soulful style that speaks to his deep gospel roots and love of swinging hard bop. Raised in the church, he learned how to infuse his swinging, classically trained style with a warm gospel sound, a style that first marked his work as a sideman, backing legendary vocalists Jon Hendricks and Betty Carter, as well as with instrumentalists like Donald Harrison and Wynton Marsalis. The future is bright with great possibilities for Cyrus.
Ekep Nkwelle is a 24-year-old, Cameroonian-American, jazz vocalist from Washington, DC, living in New York City. A part of the promising future of jazz, Ekep Nkwelle is one of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s latest rising stars, and with her artistry, she strives to display her passion for music all around the world. She has worked with jazz masters such as Russell Malone, Cyrus Chestnut, Wynton Marsalis, and Peter Washington, as well as young, well-respected musicians such as Emmet Cohen and Endea Owens.
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MALA WALDRON QUARTET
Pianist, vocalist and educator Mala Waldron comes to Stony Brook, NY for the Harbor Jazz Festival and hits the Jazz Loft Lawn for an evening performance with her quartet.
A native of NYC whose first paid gig was playing keys and singing back-up vocals with a local R&B band, “Liquid Pleasure” at the Elk’s club at age 15. Shortly after joining, the band was signed to RCA records Midland International.
She later enrolled at SUNY, Old Westbury study African-American Music Makanda Ken McIntyre, Richard Harper, Andrei Strobert, Warren Smith and Amina Claudine Myers, earning a Bachelors Degree.
The Band: Mala Waldron ~ Piano | Michael T.A. Thompson ~ Drums | Marcus McLaurine ~ Bass | Steve Salerno ~ Guitar
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KEBBI WILLIAMS
Grammy award winning tenor saxophonist Kebbi Williams is one of contemporary music’s whirlwind improvisers. The imaginative multi-instrumentalist/ composer/producer/arranger/teacher resists categorization. His innovative sound dives, blends and jumpstarts all music genres. Kebbi bends it to his will with his robust, distinct blasts. His playing and compositions create a sound that is uniquely and undeniably his own. Avant-garde jazz, hip-hop, Afro-beat, gospel, electronica, classical and fiery rock are all loops that Kebbi interweaves with passion and edge.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Michael Patrick Dease was born August 25, 1982 in Augusta, Georgia. He attended John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet High School where he studied saxophone and voice. He achieved all-state vocal honors for three consecutive years.
At 17 Michael taught himself to play trombone and was soon invited to join the inaugural class of the Juilliard jazz studies program by Wycliffe Gordon. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees while at the school. While at Juilliard he won many awards, including the Frank Rosolino Award, J.J. Johnson Award, the Sammy Nestico Jazz Composers Award, ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award, and the Fish Middleton Jazz Competition.[2]
He began his career in Illinois Jacquet’s Big Band in 2002, and has performed as a featured member of the big bands of Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, Nicholas Payton, Jimmy Heath, Charles Tolliver and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars. He also performs with small groups led by Claudio Roditi, Rodney Whitaker, Wycliffe Gordon, and David Sanborn. He has toured extensively throughout Europe, Asia, North America and Latin America. In addition to performance, Dease serves as president and producer at his jazz record label, D Clef Records.
Dease conducts master classes and workshops at universities and conservatories around the world, holds the position of Associate Professor of Jazz Trombone at the Michigan State University College of Music. He has held similar positions at Queens College, CUNY, and The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City.
Tenor and bass trombonist, composer, producer and educator Michael Dease continues to perform, compose, record and educate.
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