Daily Dose Of Jazz…
John Von Ohlen was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on May 13, 1941. He began playing trombone in middle school, and continued playing through high school. Graduating from North Central High School in 1960, he briefly studied at North Texas State, but returned to Indianapolis shortly after.
From 1967 to 1968, Von Ohlen toured with Billy Maxted’s Manhattan Jazz Band. He also worked for Woody Herman in 1967 and 1969, then with Stan Kenton from 1970 to 1972.
John went on to lead the Blue Wisp Big Band in Cincinnati from 1980 to 2018 and his own groups under his name ranging from quartets to big bands. During this period of the 1980s and 1990s, he was a member of a big band led by pianist Steve Allee.
Drummer John Von Ohlen transitioned in Cincinnati, Ohio on October 3, 2018 at the age of 77.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
On May 12, 1964 Audrey Silver was born and raised in New York City, New York. She graduated from Brown University, where she founded The Higher Keys, the school’s first a capella singing group. After stints working in marketing for CBS Masterworks (now Sony Classical) and Chesky Records, she returned to school and earned an MBA from Columbia University Business School.
Beginning her singing career in earnest in 1998, she teamed with Jon Raney, son of pianist Jimmy Raney and produced her first demo with the help of Ronnie Zito and Jay Leonhart. In the meantime, she honed her craft through private study with singers Sheila Jordan and Mark Murphy. Building a respected career performing around the city’s jazz clubs and music venues, she also performed at national festivals and venues around the country.
She released her debut album Here In My Arms in 2004 and has since released three more, the last being before the pandemic. Silver was a 2016 semi-finalist in the International Songwriting Competition. As a songwriter, it was her four year old son that opened that door for her and the stories began to pour out.
Vocalist Audrey Silver credits Bill Evans, Annie Lennox and Arnold Schoenberg as influences as she continues to grow her catalogue of originals and performing around the world.
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The Jazz Voyager
Houston is the next stop for this Jazz Voyager who will be in the audience for an evening of music, poetry and visuals this coming Friday, May 12th at the Cullen Theater. The venue, which opened in 1987, sits inside the Wortham Center Complex, seats 1100 and offers concessions, merchandise, bar and disabled access.
Native son Kendrick Scott returns home to wow those who have the temerity to attend this star-studded amalgamation of artists honoring what is now known as Sugar Land 95. Unearthed pays tribute to the tragic history behind the recent discovery of the remains of 95 Black people (94 men, 1 woman) in unmarked graves in Sugar Land, Texas. They were convict laborers, swept back into “slavery by another name” in the post-Civil War era, arrested for petty crimes like vagrancy and forced into back-breaking and often fatal labor in the sugar fields of Texas.
Joining composer and drummer Kendrick Scott are Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton, poet, Poet Laureate Emeritus of Houston, visual artist Robert Hodge, the Harlem String Quartet featuring violinists Ilmar Gavilán, Melissa White, violist Jaime Amador, and cellist Felix Umansky, pianist Gerald Clayton, saxophonist Walter Smith III, and bassist Joe Sanders.
Located in the city’s theater district in the heart of downtown at 501 Texas Avenue, Texas 77002 and can reach the venue by phone at 713-524-5050. You can always get ticket information at boxoffice@dacamera.com.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Moon Edward Mullens was born on May 11, 1916 in Mayhew, Mississippi and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He played locally around the city early in his career, including with Half Pint Jaxon.
He moved to New York City and played with Chris Columbus before joining Hot Lips Page’s band in 1938, where he first recorded. He played with Earl Bostic, Columbus again in 1941, and Benny Carter before serving in the military during World War II.
After the war he played with Louis Armstrong between 1946 and 1947, Cab Calloway, Joe Thomas, and with Lionel Hampton on and off between 1949 and 1959. From 1959 to 1961 he worked with Duke Ellington, then left music permanently, setting up a photography business, never recording as a leader.
Trumpeter Moon Mullens transitioned on April 7, 1977.
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EUGENIE JONES
A warm, engaging entertainer, she’s described by critics as an artist that “can make you feel jazz,” and she and her recordings have received favorable coverage in every major jazz publication, including DownBeat, JazzTimes, JazzIz, The Gazette/NY, and many others. Described as a “deft vocalist,” Jones has also proven to be a skillful songwriter,
releasing 29 originals on her recordings.
Joined by David Joyner on piano, Lamar Lofton ~ bass and drummer Brian Smith, you will hear an evening performance of Silk & Soul featuring the music of Nina Simone, Anita Baker, Dionne Warwick along with your favorite jazz classics and Eugenie’s original chart-toppers.
Doors at 7:00pm
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