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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GOTHAM YARDBIRD SANCTUARY RENAISSANCE CIRCLE

Gotham Yardbird Sanctuary is a not-for-profit 501 (C)(3) organization that was founded in response to the 2020 global pandemic and it’s impact on NYC’s Jazz community and local businesses.

After gaining strong collaboration experiences with great local nonprofits and businesses, we are planning to take on meaningful projects and campaigns for social justice causes. One venue is Ornithology Jazz Club.

Tonight they present two bands under the auspices of Renaissance Circle: Orfeu Talks Of Sonnets by @Jayshawn LivesLavish Lee

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Jyrki Sakari Kukko was born July 8, 1953 in Kajaani, Finlan and started his career in the early 1960s as a singer participating in several singing contests and performing in radio stations, TV programs and other venues. At the age of 7, he began taking piano lessons and soon after started playing guitar and flute, then saxophone. The mid-1960s saw him forming bands, constructing a school band, playing mainly rock and roll, before forming a group of local dance bands.

He embarked his career at sixteen playing with the Kajaani Big Band, Kisu & Uniset, Markku Suominen’s Monopol, Tapiola Big Band, Oulunkylä Big Band, Maarit & Afrikan Tähti, Kalevala, SIMO Big Band, Jukka Tolonen’s band, Heikki Sarmanto’s band, Sensation Band of Addis Ababa, Mahmoud Ahmed’s Ibex Band, Etoile de Dakar, and Espoo Big Band through the Seventies. He founded the group Piirpauke in 1974.

He has performed with Youssou Ndour, John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny, Bob Mose, Lester Bowie, Charlie Mariano, Thad Jones, Paquito d’Rivera, Ted Curson, Walter Bishop Jr., Herbie Hanckock’s HeadHunters, Richie Cole, Juan Carlos Romero, and numerous Finnish musicians.

Working as a studio-musician Kukko performed as a freelancer with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the Finnish National Opera. He has composed music for his own bands, EBB, Koiton Laulu and several films and theaters.

Pianist, flutist, guitarist, saxophonist, vocalist and composer Sakari Kukko continues to perform with over forty  countries around the globe.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

William “Billy” Usselton was born on July 2, 1926 in New Castle, Pennsylvania. He began playing professionally in high school with Bubbles Becker. Although his parents wanted him to attend college in Pennsylvania, he wanted to play for a living.

Usselton went on to play with Sonny Dunham in the 1940s before joining Ray Anthony in 1948–1949 and again in 1951–1952. Between those two gigs he joined Tommy Dorsey’s band and recommended Mel Lewis after Buddy Rich was fired. After his second stint with Anthony, he played with Bill Harris in Florida.

1954 saw Usselton joining Les Brown’s band, and played with him for decades. He played on nearly all of Brown’s records released on Coral Records and Capitol Records, and toured with him worldwide as part of Bob Hope’s United Service Organizations Tours.

His only album as a leader was the 1957 release His First Album, issued on Kapp Records. He married, moved to Chicago, Illinois where he was a jazz clinician for the Conn Corporation.

Reedist Billy Usselton, who played saxophone, clarinet and oboe, moved to Phoenix, Arizona and died on September 5, 1994 in Phoenix.

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HIDDEN NOMINATION

Hidden Nomination is a genre-defying ensemble that emerged from the lustrous Blue Llama Jazz Club after a particularly electrifying set. The band has quickly become a force to be reckoned with in the Midwest music scene and brings together four exceptionally talented musicians with a shared passion for exploration and innovation.

Their sound is a thrilling fusion of jazz, funk, R&B, gospel, and neo-soul, creating a sonic tapestry that is as soulful as it is dynamic. With high-energy performances and delicate, melodic interplay, Hidden Nomination captivates audiences, taking them on a journey that transcends traditional genre boundaries. The band’s philosophy is rooted in the pursuit of the unseen and the unheard—always searching for what lies hidden beneath the surface of music and emotion.

Recently completing a celebrated residency at Cliff Bell’s, one of Detroit’s most iconic jazz clubs, Hidden Nomination has solidified its reputation as a must-see live act. Their ability to blend technical mastery with raw, heartfelt expression has earned them a dedicated following and critical acclaim. As they prepare to record their debut album in summer of 2025, the band is poised to share their unique sound with an even wider audience.

The Band:

Houston Patton ~ saxophone

Andre Crawford ~ piano

Dylan Sherman ~ bass

Brian Allen ~ drums

Cover: $25.00

More Posts: adventure,bandleader,bass,club,drums,genius,instrumental,jazz,piano,preserving,saxophone,travel