WAYNE ESCOFFERY

The saxophone is presenting his new West Coast Album Release of Alone.

Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Wayne Escoffery is an electrifying force in the jazz world. A two-time Downbeat Critics Poll Winner (2014 & 2021) for both tenor and soprano saxophones, he is a powerhouse talent and one of the most sought-after sidemen in the game.

Leading his own cutting-edge ensembles, Escoffery commands the global stage with jaw-dropping performances that push the boundaries of jazz. His current quartet featuring virtuoso pianist David Kikoski, dynamic bassist Ugonna Okegwo, and the explosive Mark Whitfield Jr. on drums, has been making waves, taking over after the legendary Ralph Peterson Jr.

The group’s 2020 release, The Humble Warrior  on Smoke Sessions Records, has been setting the scene on fire with rave reviews and a glowing four-star rating in Downbeat Magazine’s June 2020 issue. This is a band that’s redefining the sound of modern jazz.

Band lineup: Wayne Escoffery, tenor saxophone | Orrin Evans, piano | Ugonna Okegwo, bass | Carl Allen, drums

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KASAN BELGRAVE

Multi-woodwind-instrumentalist and Detroit native Kasan Belgrave is well-rounded within the Detroit music community. His musical heritage of passing down the knowledge and exposure of Detroit music to the youth; like his father, late trumpeter Marcus Belgrave. Kasan has worked with many greats in his young career such as the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, Wynton Marsalis & Jazz @ Lincoln Center, Dee Bridgewater, Karriem Riggins, Theo Crocker, Etienne Charles, and many others. In his scholar years at University of Michigan he studied under Robert Hurst, pianist Benny Green, and Andrew Bishop, then continued his studies at MSU under the direction of Diego Rivera and Rodney Whitaker.

Deeply rooted in the tradition of Black American Music, Kasan is also congruently involved in parallel domains of the strong techno scene in Detroit; he appeared on the track “On My Own” with Jon Dixon & Moodyman; he has also performed with Scott Grooves, Carl Craig, Shigeto, and Kyle Hall.

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PAQUITO D’RIVERA & CHUCHO VALDÉS

D’Rivera and Valdés: Together Again!

These rare benefit concerts features Cuban jazz legends, clarinetist, saxophonist, author, composer and arranger Paquito D’Rivera and pianist, composer, and arranger Chucho Valdés first met in 1962. Both child prodigies and sons of musical families, the two worked together in Havana’s Musical Theatre Orchestra and in the Cuban Orchestra of Modern Music.

 

 

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IDIT SHNER

An active performer of both jazz and classical music, Idit Shner has played in various distinguished venues in the United States and abroad, such as The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and Lincoln Center in New York.
Her latest project, Mhondoro, blends Zimbabwean folk music and American jazz. Mhondoro released their first album, Heatwave, in 2022 and are about to release their second album soon. Additional jazz releases include Live at The Jazz Station, 9 Short Stories (which garnered a 4-start review in Downbeat magazine) and Tuesday’s Blues. Jazz festival performances include the Diet Coke Woman in Jazz Festival (NY), Bellayre Festival (NY), and New-Trier Jazz Festival.
As a classical saxophonist Idit has commissioned and recorded new music and performed solo recitals in the US and Israel. Idit holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Oklahoma City University, a Masters degree in Music Education from University of Central Oklahoma, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from University of North Texas.
Idit now teaches at the University of Oregon, as professor of saxophone and jazz studies. She was awarded three prestigious teaching awards: The 2015 Thomas F. Herman Award for Excellence in Pedagogy in areas of saxophone technique and chamber music coaching; the 2016 University of Oregon Faculty Excellence Award; and a Philip H. Knight Endowed Chair in 2019.
The Band:
Idit Shner ~ saxophone
TBD ~ piano
Garrett Baxter ~ bass
Dae Bryant ~ drums

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THE HEADHUNTERS

Few bands can boast a history as fortuitous and storied asThe Headhunters. What each member brings to the table forged a history that most bands can only dream of. Their blend of jazz with funk and rock would go on to sell over a million albums worldwide, while the band’s legacy would inspire musicians of every genre for years to come, be sampled by hundreds of hip-hop artists throughout the ’80s and ’90s, and influence countless musicians’ playing today. The Headhunters’ impact remains a global phenomenon, and their time with Hancock proved to be a life changing experience. The band has released 8 more albums stepping out on their own sans Hancock’s involvement starting with Survival of the Fittest in 1975 and on Straight from the Gate in 1977 and most recently Speakers In the House in 2022 and Live From Brooklyn Bowl in 2023.

The current band consists of a top notch quintet with Clark, Summers and Harrison joined by bassist Chris Severin (Dr. John, Diana Krall, The Neville Brothers) and pianist Kyle Roussel (Preservation Hall Jazz Band), both staples on the New Orleans music scene. Managed by Greg Lucas and Craig Walker at Devil Hills Entertainment, the band is poised for success in 2024, having recorded a new album and accompanying feature length documentary at the legendary Hyde Street Studios in August 2023 and completed a sold out European tour in November 2023 including two nights at the London Jazz Festival.

The Band:

Donald Harrison ~ saxophone
Kyle Roussel ~ piano
Chris Severin ~ bass
Bill Summers ~ percussion
Mike Clark ~ drums

 

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