TONY HIGHTOWER
Tony is a veteran professional. As a seasoned percussionist, songwriter, recording artist, vocalist, and producer, he has worked with many artists on a variety of projects. Tony has played drums for the following: Jomandi Productions, the Atlanta production of “Queen of the Blues” – The Life Story of Dinah Washington, Goodie Mob, Outkast, Pebbles, and Xscape. He has also done session work for several Organized Noize Production artists, including Goodie Mob and Outkast. Tony has contributed vocals to the successful projects of Gerald Levert, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, the soundtrack for “Money Train,” Goodie Mob’s certified gold album “Soul Food,” Society of Soul’s album “Brainchild,” Pebbles’ album “Straight From My Heart,” Lionel Richie’s album “Louder Than Words,” and Outkast’s certified double platinum album “Aquemini.” Tony was also an artistic contributor to the song “Together We Can,” which was a project by The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (also known as the N.A.R.A.S. or The Recording Academy) to raise funds for the victims of the Columbine shooting.
Cover: $40.00
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The Jazz Voyager
The Jazz Voyager is leaving the Midwest for Bull City in the Mid~Atlantic state of North Carolina. The city is Durham and the Bull Durham tobacco brand is synonymous to the city. However, not to be distracted, this voyager is going to the social hub for music in the heart of downtown, Missy Lane’s Assembly Room, for an evening of jazz.
Bassist Butler Knowles is leading the jazz jam sets into the night and I am always curious to discover what new and established talent will turn out to perform. This is always one of my favorite expeditions as I always catch a different groove in each city I visit.
The vibe is cocktail lounge with plush couches, candlelit tables, chandeliers and baby grands coupled with late night bites for fingering. The $20.00 reservation deposit is applied towards the minimum, with no refund for any unspent portion.
Missy Lane’s Assembly Room is located at 310 E. Main Street 27701 For more information contact the venue at https://www.missylanes.com.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Joseph Albert Morello was born July 17, 1928 in Springfield, Massachusetts of French and Italian ancestry. Suffering from partial vision from birth, he devoted himself to indoor activities. He began studying the violin when he was six and three years later, he was a featured soloist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, playing Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, and again three years later.
By fifteen he met the violinist Jascha Heifetz, decided that he would never be able to equal Heifetz’s sound and switched to drumming. He first studied with show drummer Joe Sefcik and then with educator and author George Lawrence Stone. He was so impressed with Morello’s ideas that he incorporated them into his next book. Further study led him to Radio City Music Hall percussionist, Billy Gladstone.
Moving to New York City, he worked with Johnny Smith, Tal Farlow, Stan Kenton, Phil Woods, Sal Salvador, Marian McPartland, Jay McShann, Art Pepper, and Howard McGhee. After a period of playing in McPartland’s trio, Joe declined invitations from Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey, favoring a two-month tour with the Dave Brubeck Quartet in 1955. This turned into a performing and recording residency that lasted for well over a decade, departing in 1967.
As an educator Morello became an in-demand clinician, teacher and bandleader, whose many of his former students went on to become well known in their chosen genres. He authored several drum books, including Master Studies, published by Modern Drummer Publications, made instructional videos and received many awards, and was inducted into several Halls of Fame.
Drummer Joe Morello, who appeared on over 120 albums, died at his home in Irvington, New Jersey on March 12, 2011 at the age of 82.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Frederick Walker was born in St. Louis, Missouri on July 16, 1942. He received his high school equivalency from the United State Armed Forces Institute, then went on to study criminal justice for two years from 1873 to 1975 at St. Louis Community College.
In 1980, Fred founded Star City/St. Louis Records and produced two 45 releases with the Nightwind Band titled Later For That and Why Can’t We. He eventually formed Star City Enterprise encompassing Star City Productions, Star City/St. Louis Records and Saxy Jazz.
His Star City Productions deals with the production of recorded music and the small studio offers digital recording capabilities, CD label production, graphic design and other services related to the production of recorded sound. It also offers copyright registration assistance, music society membership, ISRC encoding and much more.
Soprano and alto saxophonist Fred Walker continues to perform, record and grow his company with new individuals and groups signing on.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Luciano Milanese was born on Juy 15, 1950 in Genoa, Italy. Little is known about his family life during his early years, however, he learned to play the bass during his formative years. Over the course of his continual career he went on to play in Italy with numerous American jazz musicians including Harry “Sweets” Edison, Art Farmer, Chet Baker,Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Johnny Griffin, Sal Nistico, James Moody, George Coleman, Steve Grossman, Slide Hampton, Ray Bryant, Kenny Drew, Walter Bishop, Barney Kessel, Joe Pass, Louis Hayes, Alvin Queen, and Bobby Durham, to name a few.
Bassist Luciano Milanese currently continues to perform and record with important Italian musicians like Gianni Basso, Andrea Pozza, Dado Moroni, Tullio De Piscopo.
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