Daily Dose of Jazz…

Duke Pearson was born Columbus Calvin Pearson, Jr. in Atlanta, Georgia on August 17, 1932. He first studied brass instruments at the early age of five, but dental issues forced him to pursue another instrument, the piano. His budding talent moved his uncle to give him the nickname Duke, a reference to Ellington. He attended Clark College while also playing trumpet in Atlanta area groups. In the early 50s he enlisted in the Army and continued to perform with different ensembles in Georgia and Florida prior to moving to New York in 1959.

In New York, Pearson gained the attention of trumpeter Donald Byrd, who saw him performing with the Art Farmer/Benny Golson Sextet. Shortly afterwards, Byrd asked him to join his newly formed band, the Donald Byrd-Pepper Adams Quintet. Pearson was also the accompanist for Nancy Wilson’s 1961 tour. During that same year, Pearson became ill before a Byrd-Adams show, and newcomer Herbie Hancock took the piano bench, eventually leading to Hancock’s permanent residency.

After the death of Ike Quebec in 1963, Pearson took over his position as A&R man for Blue Note. From that year until 1970, Pearson was a frequent session musician and producer for numerous Blue Note albums while also leading his own recording dates. This was odd, since Pearson also recorded with his co-led big band with Byrd for Atlantic Records; a stipulation he made sure was in his Atlantic contract. However, he was a big part in shaping the Blue Note label’s hard bop direction in the 1960s

Duke eventually retired from Blue Note, opting to teach at Clark College, tour with Carmen McRae and Joe Williams, and reforming his big band throughout the Seventies. Pianist and producer Duke Pearson passed away from complications due to multiple sclerosis on August 4, 1980 in his hometown of Atlanta.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Joseph Armand Castro was born on August 15, 1927 in Miami, Arizona and went to school in Pittsburg, north of Oakland, California in the Bay area where he began playing professionally at the age of 15. After graduation he enrolled at San Jose State University but his matriculation was interrupted not once but twice by Army service and then with the forming of a working trio.

Moving to New York City in 1956 Castro hit the ground working at Basin Street, The Embers, Hickory House and Birdland. During this period in his career, Leonard Feather and Dave Brubeck critically lauded his talent.

Two years later Joe moved back to the West Coast landing in L.A. playing with Teddy Edwards, Billy Higgins and Leroy Vinnegar. The bebop pianist recorded and performed extensively with The Teddy Edwards Quartet while also making two of his own recordings as a leader for Atlantic Records.  His debut album in 1956 “Mood Jazz” utilized three different ensembles: a large orchestra with strings and voices, another string orchestra without voices and a regular jazz combo of piano, trumpet, alto saxophone, bass, and drums. His sophomore album titled “Groove Funk Soul” was recorded on July 18, 1958 and included tenor saxophonist Teddy Edwards, bassist Leroy Vinnegar and Billy Higgins on drums.

In the early 1960’s, tobacco heiress/jazz enthusiast Doris Duke and then long-term boyfriend Castro, along with silent partner and friend Duke Ellington, formed record company Clover Records and music publishing company Jo-Do. Castro’s third album as a leader titled “Lush Life” was the only album released on Clover Records. But by 1966, Jo-Do, Clover, and the Castro-Duke relationship had failed, and all three were shortly dissolved.

From 1959 to 1960, Castro backed vocalists Anita O’Day and June Christy; was music director for Tony Martin from 1961 to 1963. He performed with sidemen Chico Hamilton, Red Mitchell, Ed Shonk and Howard Roberts in his trios and quartets. Castro moved to Las Vegas in the 70s and continued to accompany vocalists and play in Las Vegas pit bands until he became the musical director for the Tropicana’s Folies Bergere. Pianist Joe Castro passed away on December 13, 2009.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Marcus Roberts, born on August 7, 1963 in Jacksonville, Florida achieved fame as a stride pianist committed to celebrating classic standards and jazz traditions. Blind since his youth, he attended the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine, also the alma mater of Ray Charles.

Playing piano at an early age, he studied the instrument with world-renown pianist Leonidas Lipovetsky while attending Florida State University. In 1985, he got his big break when Wynton Marsalis chose him as his new sideman. He became a close friend and disciple of Marsalis, and collaborated with him on many projects during the ensuing years.

With Marsalis’ support and soon after joining him, Roberts began cutting his own records. His albums tend to be homage to past jazz giants. However, his ability and technique as a pianist have always been highly regarded and his music has added to the vocabulary of modern jazz piano and the piano trio.

Roberts has provided the soundtrack to the 1999 film Guinevere serves as Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies in the music program at Florida State University and is a Steinway Artist. He has amassed a catalogue of nearly two-dozen albums as a leader with several more as a sideman.

He excels as an improviser and interpreter in his solo performances and creates interesting and daring arrangements as a large band leader, but his chamber work will endure as his true contribution to American music.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Josh Nelson was born August 1, 1978 in Long Beach, California. His talent was discovered from a very young age, but it was during his high school years that he received the Louis Armstrong Award, the John Phillip Sousa Award, as well as numerous “Outstanding Soloist Awards” at music competitions from around the country. He attended summer camps at Berklee College of Music and mentored by Bill Cunliffe and Benny Green.

Nelson produced his 1998 independent debut album “First Stories” at age nineteen. He went on to receive his degree in Jazz Studies from Long Beach University. His sophomore project three years later titled “Emergence” was followed by “The Leadwell Project” in 2002 and “Anticipation” in 2004. Five years later he released “I Hear A Rhapsody” featuring a host of young west coast players, with his latest “Discoveries” landing on shelves in 2011.

With an innate sense of swing and rhythm, Josh has established himself as a strong voice on the local and international jazz scene, performing with some of the most respected names in jazz, including Natalie Cole, Ralph Moore, Christian McBride, Anthony Wilson, Albert “Tootie” Heath, Ernie Watts, Tom Scott, Alex Acuna, Seamus Blake, Matt Wilson, Jack Sheldon, Peter Erskine, Bob Hurst, Queen Latifah and Erin Bode.

Josh Nelson pianist, composer, arranger, and recording artist is a strong advocate for music education, and spends a good deal of his time maintaining a private studio of jazz students, as well as teaching for Soka University of America as Adjunct Jazz Faculty.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Joanne Brackeen was born Joanne Grogan on July 26, 1938 in Ventura, California but has used her married name throughout her career. The pianist and music educator attended the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music, but devoted her talents to jazz by imitating Frankie Carle albums. She was greatly influenced by Charlie Parker and bebop.

Her career began in the late 1950s while working with names like Dexter Gordon, Teddy Edwards, Harold Land, Don Cherry, Charlie Haden and Charles Lloyd. In 1969 Brackeen began to “take off” as she became the first woman to join Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers.

In the 70s Joanne he played with Joe Henderson (1972-75) and Stan Getz (1975-1977) before leading her own trio and quartet. Brackeen established herself as a cutting edge pianist and composer through her appearances around the world, and her solo performances also cemented her reputation as one of the most innovative and dynamic of pianists. Her trios featured such noted players as Clint Houston, Eddie Gomez, John Patitucci, Jack DeJohnette, Cecil McBee and Billy Hart.

She has served on the grant panel for the National Endowment for the Arts, toured the Middle East with the US State Department as sponsor, had solo performances at Carnegie Hall and is a professor at the Berklee College of Music. With 25 albums to her credit, pianist Joanne Brackeen continues to perform and record.

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