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| All About Jazz-New York Presents "1s & 2s" Featuring John Tchicai And Garrison Fewell THURSDAY APRIL 7th, 2005 AllAboutJazz-New York Presents “1s & 2s: Music For Solo & Duo” FEATURING: John Tchicai (reeds, winds) & Garrison Fewell (guitar) at Cornelia Street Cafe 29 Cornelia Street Greenwich Village, NY JOHN TCHICAI Approaching jazz from a wide scope, the Afro-Danish American John Tchicai is a composer/saxophonist and flute player whose music is internationally known for its compelling sense of rhythm, drama and humor, its freedom, spirituality, healing qualities and ultimate freshness. He recorded with both John Coltrane (Ascension) and John Lennon (Life with Lions), founded ensembles like the New York Art Quartet (with Roswell Rudd and Milford Graves), has composed for jazz & classical ensembles and he records, tours and teaches continuously. Tchicai is also the first recipient of a lifetime grant for Jazz performance from the State of Denmark. By approaching jazz from a wide scope, he has been continuously progressive throughout his life. Born in Copenhagen, Denmark (in 1936), of a Danish mother and a Congolese father and growing up in healthy surroundings, Tchicai became a leading exponent of the jazz in New York in the '60s and a father-figure for European jazz after that. During the late '60s and early '70s, he began to play bamboo flutes, bass clarinet, soprano saxophone and some percussion, and when he discovered the tenor saxophone in the early '80s, he put the alto aside in favor of this, which has become his main instrument since. By the '80s, he had picked up touring and recording internationally again, traveling through Europe, to India, Japan and Africa, performing as a sideman as well as leading his own groups. And in ’91, he decided to move to California, though after 9-11 moved back to Europe with his family to live. Tchicai's compositional activity has always had a high priority in his work, as he strives to reach a balance between composition and improvisation. The music of other cultures (African, Oriental, etc.) has been a continuous inspiration, and John's work has a highly rhythmic and poetic melodic-lyrical quality. In addition to Coltrane and Lennon, his musical associates have included Don Cherry, Archie Shepp, Johnny Dyani, Albert Ayler, Dollar Brand, Carla and Paul Bley, Misha Mengelberg, Lee Konitz, Pierre Dorge, Cecil Taylor, Rudd, and more recently with the young bassist Adam Lane. Not only has he recorded over 20 albums as a leader and many more as a sideman, but he also has taken part in collaborations with artists of disciplines other than music (with poets Amiri Baraka, John Stewart, David Gitin, as well as with painters, actors and dancers). He's also composed for film, theater plays and video-projects. GARRISON FEWELL Renowned for his mature, melodic sound and elegant, lyrical style of writing and playing, guitarist Garrison Fewell has established himself as a distinctive voice throughout his 30-year career. His diverse discography, beginning with Boston Music Award-winning A Blue Deeper Than the Blue (Accurate,1993), counts multiple titles ranked on best of the year lists in publications like Coda, Guitar Player, Musica Jazz, and his hometown Philadelphia Inquirer. The long list of prominent Fewell sidemen on record includes pianists Fred Hersch, Jim McNeely and George Cables; bassists Cecil McBee and Steve LaSpina; and drummer Matt Wilson to name just a few. As a leader, Fewell has performed at NYC's Blue Note and Birdland Jazz Clubs; toured in the US, South America, Africa, Caribbean, Canada and Europe; played major jazz festivals such as Montreux, North Sea, and Umbria; and performed with renowned artists such as guitarists Tal Farlow and Larry Coryell, saxophonists Benny Golson and Billy Harper, pianist Herbie Hancock, bassists Buster Williams and Miroslav Vitous, trumpeters Kenny Wheeler and Jimmy Owens, vocalist Jay Clayton, trombonist Slide Hampton, and with John Tchicai. An internationally respected jazz educator, Fewell has been a Professor of Guitar and Ear Training at Boston’s Berklee College of Music for nearly 30 years and has given clinics at more than 40 prestigious conservatories in Europe alone, and authored a textbook called Jazz Improvisation. Next “1s and 2s”: (5/5) JOE GIARDULLO/JOHN HEWARD “Tribute to Steve Lacy” (6/2) TED CURSON/HENRY GRIMES (Curson's 70th Birthday celebration!) (7/2) KATIE BULL/JOE FONDA (Cup of Joe, No Bull: The Bull-Fonda Duo CD Release!) This unique series - dedicated to unaccompanied and duo jazz performances - has already featured the following highly acclaimed performances: Ray Anderson/Bob Stewart's Heavy Metal duo; Scott Robinson/Jules Thayer; Warren Smith/Kevin Norton; Karl Berger/John Lindberg; Michael Marcus/Edgar Bateman; Ken Peplowski/Greg Cohen... write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Jazz News :: home page |