Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Born on September 21, 1927 Ward Lamar Swingle grew up in Mobile, Alabama and studied music, particularly jazz, from a very young age. He learned clarinet, oboe and the piano as a child and played in Mobile-area big bands before he was out of high school. He continued his music studies at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, graduating summa cum laude in 1950.

Moving to France in 1951 on a Fulbright scholarship, he studied piano with Walter Gieseking and worked as a rehearsal pianist for Les Ballets de Paris. He met a French-born violin student, Françoise Demorest, and got married in 1952. 1959 saw Swingle as a founding member of Les Double Six of Paris, which specialised in scat singing of jazz standards.

This concept of scatting to Johann Sebastian Bach was the foundation for The Swingle Singers, which became fully established by 1962. They released their albums Jazz Sebastian Bach and Bach’s Greatest Hits in 1963 and their early recordings won five Grammy Awards. Disbanding the original Swingle Singers in 1973 he moved to London, England and formed a new group, and expanded their repertoire to include classical and avant-garde works along with the scat and jazz vocal arrangements.

Returning to live in America in 1984 he remained musical advisor for his London-based group, but devoted most of his time to workshops, guest conducting and the dissemination of his printed arrangements through his publishing company, Swingle Music. He went on to conduct several chamber and philharmonic choirs, and conduct workshops and seminars at universities in Europe and North America.

In 1994 he moved back to France, where he continued his work in arranging, composing and guest conducting. He wrote an autobiography and treatise titled Swingle Singing, in which he defined ‘Swingle Singing’ techniques with illustrations from his arrangements and compositions.

Vocalist, pianist and arranger Ward Swingle, who was named Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters) by the French Minister of Culture and Information, transitioned in Eastbourne, England, on January 19, 2015.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Bengt Hallberg was born on September 13, 1932 in Gothenburg, Sweden and studied classical piano from an early age. He wrote his first jazz arrangement at the age of 13. By 15 he recorded his first record as a member of a group led by bassist Thore Jederby and in 1949 he recorded with the Swedish alto saxophonist Arne Domnérus for the first time. The two musicians continued to play together for several decades.

During the Fifties, Bengt played with leading visiting American musicians tenor saxophonist Stan Getz and altoist Lee Konitz in 1951, and trumpeters Clifford Brown and Quincy Jones in 1953. During the same period he worked with Swedish baritone saxophonist Lars Gullin.

Hallberg had a versatile style and in his later years he wrote music for film and television, as well as choral arrangements. With Domnerus and Georg Riedel among others, he participated in the Jazz at the Pawnshop sessions in 1976.

Pianist, composer and arranger Bengt Hallberg, who also played accordion, transitioned on July 2, 2013 from congestive heart failure at the age of 80 in Uppsala, Sweden.

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TIERNEY SUTTON & RANDY BRECKER

“Ms. Sutton is a pure jazz spirit who respects a song. Even when going out on an improvisatory limb, she never lets its essence slip away.” – The New York Times “Brecker has the chops to play it cool or hot, laid-back or virtuosic.” – Downbeat

9-time Grammy-nominated vocalist Tierney Sutton and legendary multi-Grammy-winning trumpet master Randy Brecker share a stage for the very first time in an evening of spontaneous music-making. This special Tuesday night performance will also feature the illuminating pianist Christian Jacob.

Tierney Sutton – vocals | Randy Brecker – trumpet | Christian Jacob – piano

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GEORGE CABLES QUARTET

One of the essential artists of piano, George Cables (aka “Mr. Beautiful”), is known for his impeccable sound, sensitive accompaniment, and original playing. A trusted collaborator over the past 50 years for artists like Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Dexter Gordon, and Art Pepper, Cables has also released numerous essential recordings as a leader. The New York City Jazz Record says, “He is a piano giant.” National Public Radio adds, “His solos reveal a deep sense of groove and pacing and a mind at work.”

George Cables – piano

Craig Handy – saxophones

Sean Conly – bass

Jerome Jennings – drums

***Friday & Saturday Showtimes: 7:00pm | 9:00pm | 10:30pm

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LUTHER ALLISON SEXTET FEATURING STEVE WILSON

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