MINGUS DYNASTY

Mingus Dynasty was the first band Sue Mingus organized after Charles Mingus’ death in 1979, collaborating with his own sidemen to honor his life and work. Although Mingus was an iconic and trailblazing bassist, he always said he was first and foremost a composer, and he left behind over 300 composition that deserved to be played. So a band carrying on his music became a natural, if unanticipated, mission. Today, four decades later, the powerful legacy of Mingus Music ignites bandstands as new generations of musicians express their individual voices and musical personalities, and celebrate and explore this rich and varied musical legacy. 

Please arrive 30 minutes before the show your attending. Call for ticket information.

Philip Harper | Trumpet

Mark Gross | Alto Saxophone

Abraham Burton | Tenor Saxophone

Robin Eubanks | Trombone

Miki Yamanaka | Piano

Barry Stephenson | Bass

Donald Edwards | Drums

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CHARLES MCPHERSON QUINTET

85th Birthday Celebration with Terrell Stafford

For more than 60 years, alto saxophonist Charles McPherson has been one of the most expressive and highly regarded voices in jazz. His rich musical style, rooted in the blues and bebop, has influenced and inspired generations of musicians and listeners. Wynton Marsalis, a longtime admirer says: “Charles is the very definition of excellence in our music. He is the definitive master on this instrument. He plays with exceptional harmonic accuracy and sophistication. He performs free-flowing, melodic and thematically developed solos with unbelievable fire and an unparalleled depth of soul.”

Terell Stafford, acclaimed trumpet player based in New York, has been hailed as “one of the great players of our time, a fabulous trumpet player” by piano legend McCoy Tyner. Stafford is recognized as an incredibly gifted and versatile player, he combines a deep love of melody with his own brand of spirited and adventurous lyricism.

Jeb Patton, described as both a “young phenomon… on piano” and an “absolute great,” has earned a well-regarded reputation in the international jazz community. The multi-talented Patton is known as a “player of great expression.”

Billy Drummond is acclaimed by Downbeat as one of the hippest and versatile bandleaders now at work, his thrilling, powerful and highly musical playing has also made him one of the most called-for sidemen of his generation.

Bassist David Wong has studied classical bass with Orin O’Brien of the New York Philharmonic, and jazz bass with legends Ron Carter, Ben Wolfe, and John Clayton.

Charles McPherson ~ Also Saxophone
Terell Stafford ~ Trumpet
Jeb Patton ~ piano
David Wong ~ Bass
Billy Drummond ~ Drums

Friday 7/12  ~ 7:00 pm w/Live Stream | 9:30 pm
Saturday 7/13 ~ 6:00 pm w/Live Stream | 8:30 pm
Sunday 7/14 ~ 5:00 pm w/Live Stream | 7:30 pm

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JOE GRANSDEN QUINTET

 Swingin’ at the Haven with Special Guest Dr.Geoff Hayden

Band leader Joe Gransden has performed worldwide and released 16 CDs under his own name. Renowned first for the hard bop approach of his trumpet, Gransden’s singing voice has been compared to that of Chet Baker and Frank Sinatra.

Joe is from just north of Manhattan, New York. Coming from a family full of musicians. His introduction to music came early on through his father, a gifted singer and pianist. His grandfather was a trumpeter of merit, playing professionally his whole life
throughout New York. On his mother’s side of the family was the piano virtuoso Carmen Cavallero.

Personnel:

Joe Gransden Trumpet/Vocals
Dr Geoff Haydon Piano
Neal Starkey Bass
Chris Burroughs Drums

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Nick Drozdoff was born on June 28, 1953 in Glencoe, Illinois. Holding degrees in music, engineering and physics, in 1978 he began his professional career in Maynard Ferguson’s band. Leaving the band in 1981 he ran his own contracting business and after completing his masters in classical trumpet, he began leading a double life in 1991 when he took on a day gig as a high school physics teacher at Winnetka’s New Trier High School.

After leading a double career existence and garnering awards as a high school science teacher, Nick developed endorsement deals as a jazz trumpeter at night. Retiring from teaching he pursued his musical passion. Now he spends time in Door County, Wisconsin and in the Northern Suburbs of Chicago where he regularly performs in both locations. He  lives equal time in both places, depending on his performance and lecture/masterclass schedule.

His latest project centers on his new band, The Variable D Postulate Ensemble. This band is minimally a quartet of drums, guitar, keybaord and trumpet. It is primarily jazz driven but not exclusively. Drozdoff built a studio where he does his recording and has built connections as a trumpeter all over the world.

He has recorded with Grilly Brothers, Marshall Vente, Doug Lofstrom, Chuchito Valdes, and Guy Fricano. He is currently on call as solo trumpet with the Chicago Grandstand Big Band, The Jazz Consortium Big Band and the Starfall Big Band. Trumpeter Nick Drozdoff frequently appears as a classical soloist for churches, recitals andleads one of the Chicago area’s finest brass quintets.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Ronald “Ronnie” Hughes was born in Aberystwyth, Wales on June 27, 1925 and  took up the trumpet at the age of eleven. The following year he was playing local semi-pro gigs. At nineteen he was in the RAF until 1947, spending part of his service in India. After returning to Wales to study photography, he then moved to London, England to join the Trinidadian clarinettist Carl Barriteau band. He worked for a year with the Teddy Foster Band from 1948 until 1949, and was a member of the Ted Heath band from 1949 until 1954.

In the late fifties, Ronnie was in the bands of Geraldo and Jack Parnell, and after his marriage broke up had a spell working on ocean liners. A fluent jazz improviser and reliable and ubiquitous session player during the heyday of TV work, he was one of the original members of the BBC Big Band. He was a member of the Sinatra band and a long-term friend of fellow trumpeter Mannie Klein.

He would go on to appear in the film Quartet directed by Dustin Hoffman, who was captivated by his playing. Throughout his career he worked with Nat Allen, Lesle Holmes’ Londonairs, Harry Parry, Teddy Foster, Cyril Stapleton, Johnny Evans, BBC Radio Orchestra and led own quintet in 1958. He was a member of the Berlin Big Band, Eric Winston & His Orchestra, Johnny Keating and 27 Men, The Pride of London Big Band, and the Ray Davies Orchestra.

Trumpeter Ronnie Hughes died on April 1, 2020 in Banstead, Surrey at the age of 94.

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