Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Frederick James Gardner was born on December 23, 1910 in London, England and took up the saxophone at 15 to help alleviate asthma. After minimal coaching he formed the semi-professional New Colorado Band in 1928, and a year later, while working as an office clerk, entered the band in a contest at Chelsea Town Hall and won. He was spotted by the founding editor of Melody Maker magazine who was distributing the prizes, and a year later secured his first professional position.
In 1933, Gardner was taken under the wing of Ray Noble and recorded with the New Mayfair Orchestra. He played in London clubs when working with Sidney Lipton’s Orchestra and at the Mayfair Hotel with Bert Firman’s band and with Billy Bissett. He became a prolific session musician, doubling on all the reeds, although his main instrument was alto saxophone.
He recorded with Benny Carter, Ray Noble, Valaida Snow, Jay Wilbur Buck Washington, and John W. Bubbles. From 1936 to 1937 Freddy arranged and performed on the radio, led small groups and his Swing Orchestra, which included Ted Heath.
During World War II, he was part of the official dance band for the RNPS called the Blue Mariners led by George Crow. He was regularly given special leave to continue his recording and broadcasting. Some recordings were made under the band name Freddie Gardner and his Mess Mates. Folowing the war he continued with extensive freelance work, including as a soloist with the Peter Yorke Concert Orchestra.
Saxophonist Freddy Gardner was taken ill while mending one of his son’s bicycles in the garden of his Brooke Street home in London. An hour later at St. Mary’s Hospital in London he transitioned from a stroke on July 26, 1950 at the age of 39.
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MARCUS ELLIOTT QUINTET
Dinner & A Show
Marcus Elliot is a saxophonist, composer, improviser, and educator based in Detroit, Michigan. His list of achievements and credentials are substantial including:
-2020 Kresge Artist Fellow, awarded by Kresge Arts in Detroit
-Current director of the University of Michigan’s Creative Arts Orchestra
-A Fellow of the Geri Allen Gathering Orchestra
-Co-founder of the nonprofit Polyfold Musical Arts Collective
-Director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Civic Jazz Ensembles
Elliot is a disciple of the Detroit music scene. His mentors include Rodney Whitaker, Marcus Belgrave, Robert Hurst, Donald Walden, Bennie Maupin, Marion Hayden, and Karriem Riggins. After graduating with a bachelors degree in Jazz Studies from Michigan State University, Marcus began to curate weekly performances in Detroit, showcasing some of Detroit’s young jazz musicians. He held a weekly residency at Detroit’s premiere jazz club, Cliff Bell’s, for four years. Marcus self-released three albums with his ensemble, the Marcus Elliot Quartet and co-released an album with his duo project with Michael Malis, Balance.
Showtimes ~ 6:00pm~8:00pm | 8:30pm~10:30pm
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Eric Marienthal was born on December 19, 1957 in Sacramento, California but moved with his family to San Mateo, California when he was two years old. He was taught music while in school and picked up the saxophone in the fourth grade. His father bought him a $400 Selmer saxophone and enrolled him in Corona Del Mar High School. Throughout his education, he learned to play guitar, flute, clarinet and piano.
After graduating from high school he studied saxophone at the Berklee College of Music. By the time he left Berklee, Eric had achieved the highest proficiency rating given by the school. He began his professional career in 1980 with New Orleans trumpeter Al Hirt. Heading west he settled in Los Angeles, California and became a member of the Chick Corea Elektric Band. He recorded six albums with that band and two of them won Grammy Awards.
Marienthal has also written instructional books, including Comprehensive Jazz Studies & Exercises, The Ultimate Jazz Play Along, and The Music of Eric Marienthal. He has made instructional videos, Play Sax From Day One, Modern Sax and Tricks of the Trade. He occupies the lead alto chair of Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, playing alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute, and piccolo.
Grammy Award-nominated alto saxophonist Eric Marienthal continues to perform and record.
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WAYNE ESCOFFERY & TAL COHEN
Wayne Escoffery is a 2014 & 2021 Downbeat Critics Poll Winner for both the Tenor and Soprano Saxophones, and a Grammy Award winning musician. He is considered one of the Jazz world’s most talented saxophonists and in-demand sidemen. Originally from London, England Wayne grew up in New Haven, Connecticut which is where his love for Jazz and formal study of music began. As a high-school student and an undergraduate at The Hartt School, Escoffery studied under the mentorship of Saxophone legend Jackie McLean, and was among the second class of students at the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz at The New England Conservatory which is where he received a Master’s degree in Music. In 2006 he secured one of the most coveted gigs in jazz: a frontline position in Tom Harrell’s working quintet. For over a decade, Escoffery was mostly associated with trumpet master having toured the globe with him, recording seven CDs with The Tom Harrell Quintet and co-producing four of those releases. Escoffery has also been a member of The Mingus Dynasty, Big Band and Orchestra since 2000 and has made several recordings with the group. Over the years he has recorded and performed internationally with a who’s who in Jazz including Ron Carter, Ben Riley, Abdulah Ibrahim, Eric Reed, Carl Allen, Al Foster, Billy Hart, Eddie Henderson, Rufus Reid, Wallace Roney, Randy Brecker and Herbie Hancock just to name a few.
Escoffery leads his own groups which tour internationally and has made several highly acclaimed studio recordings with said groups. His current working quartet features pianist David Kikoski, bassist Ugonna Okegwo and drummer Mark Whitfield Jr. who has taken over for the late great Ralph Peterson Jr. The band’s latest album The Humble Warrior on the Smoke Sessions Records label has gotten rave reviews and received 4 stars in the June, 2020 issue of Downbeat Magazine.
Tal Cohen is a Grammy award winning jazz pianist currently located in Miami. He has received much acclaim including winning the Barry Harris National Piano Competition and was the recipient of the prestigious Freedman Fellowship him performed to a sold out crowd at the Sydney Opera House.
Recently, Tal Cohen has been playing around the Globe with Terence Blanchard, Greg Osby, Ignacio Berroa, Joe Lovano and others. he currently leads his own ensemble which has performed at Iconic jazz festivals and venues that include Jazzbez Jazz Festival (Ukraine), Detroit Jazz Festival, Melbourne Jazz Festival (Australia), a three week residency at the Black Cat (San Fransisco).
His most recent album- “Gentle Giants” has received international acclaim and gained him many reviews including a 4 star review from the historic Downbeat Magazine. Cohens become one of the most in demand pianists as he continues to tour the globe with his unique blend of Jewish melodies, traditional jazz Harmony and an impeccable rhythmic pallet forging a path to be remembered.
Showtimes ~ 8:30pm & 10:30pm
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