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| Eric Reed Celebrates The Legendary Cedar Walton Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola continues the Stretchin' The Ivories Festival with "Evergreens" - Music of Cedar Walton with pianist Eric Reed and special guests Stefon Harris, Wycliffe Gordon and Terrell Stafford. Pianist Cyrus Chestnut returns next week, February 28-March 5, to close out the Stretchin' The Ivories Festival with a celebration of his debut Telarc CD release, Genuine Chestnut. Holding down the after hours spot this week is pianist Dan Nimmer of the Wynton Marsalis Quartet. February 21-26 7:30pm & 9:30pm with additional 11:30pm set on Friday only ""Evergreens" - Music of Cedar Walton: Eric Reed Quartet plus special guests Stefon Harris, Wycliffe Gordon, and Terell Stafford Eric Reed (piano, arrangements), with special guests Stefon Harris (vibes), Wycliffe Gordon (trombone), Terrell Stafford (trumpet) The ubiquitous pianist, composer and arranger Eric Reed celebrates the legendary Cedar Walton with an amazing band of leaders in their own right: Wycliffe Gordon, Stefon Harris and Terrell Stafford. Born in Philadelphia on June 21, 1970, Eric Reed grew up playing Gospel music in his father's storefront Baptist church, starting at the age of five. Reed was bitten by the jazz bug at a young age after hearing recordings of Art Blakey, Ramsey Lewis and Dave Brubeck. Eric started out in the bands of Teddy Edwards, Gerald Wilson, Clora Bryant and John Clayton. He attended Cal State Northridge for one year during which he toured briefly with Wynton Marsalis at age 18. A year later, Eric joined Marsalis' Septet (1990-91; 1992-95). He spent two years with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra (1996-98), making countless recordings and TV appearances with them. Reed also worked in the bands of Freddie Hubbard and Joe Henderson (1991-92). Eric continues to perform and record with an assort! ed multitude of masters such as, Benny Carter, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, Cassandra Wilson, Jimmy Heath, Clark Terry, Dianne Reeves and a host of other diverse performers including Natalie Cole, Patti Labelle, Oleta Adams and Quincy Jones. Click on www.ericreed.net for more information. For over 25 years, pianist Cedar Walton has enjoyed an up-tempo career. Maintaining a non-stop itinerary, Walton has accompanied a litany of Jazz greats while also fronting his own successful groups. Born January 17, 1934 in Dallas, Texas, Walton set his sights on a career in music at an early age. An after-hours gig at the Denver Club introduced him to notable musicians like Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and John Coltrane. From there, Walton ventured to New York and began to work locally with Lou Donaldson, Gigi Gryce, Sonny Rollins and Kenny Dorham before landing his first touring job with J.J. Johnson. Soon after, the pianist made his recording debut backing Kenny Dorham on the Riverside album Kenny Dorham sings . He also made two records with J.J. Johnson' s group on Columbia Records before joining the Art Farmer/Benny Golson Jazztet, a group he toured and recorded with for two years. W! alton's next major musical association was with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. During his three years tenure with Blakey, Walton stepped forward as a composer, contributing originals like "Mosaic" and "The Promised Land" to the group's recordings for the Blue Note and Riverside labels. Walton's debut recording as a leader came in 1966 with the release of Cedar on Prestige Records. From the late sixties to early seventies, Walton kept steady company with bassist Sam Jones and drummers Louis Hayes and Billy Higgins in multi-purpose trios that occasionally annexed saxophonists Clifford Jordan, George Coleman or Bob Berg for specific tours and albums. Walton's efforts have been well documented on record. In addition to a host of dates as a sideman, the pianist has been recording with his own groups at a prolific rate, as evidenced by an assortment of albums on the Timeless, Discovery, Red Baron and Steeple Chase record labels. Cedar Walton is one of the most influential musicians active today. His original compositions like "Bolivia, " "Clockwise" and "Firm Roots" are frequently recorded by other musicians, and have become part of the standard jazz repertoire. His playing regularly receives praise from critics, fellow jazz musicians and audience around the world. Cedar Walton has emerged as a true master of the music he loves. February 21-25 11pm Tuesday-Thursday, 12:45am Friday-Saturday After Hours With: Dan Nimmer Trio with David Wong (bass) and Pete VanNostrand (drums) Pianist Dan Nimmer is an old soul in a very young body. Just in his early twenties, he plays with the spirit, the passion and the soul of someone who has been on the planet much longer. Indeed, with his prodigious technique and his innate sense of swing, his playing often recalls that of his own heroes, specifically Oscar Peterson, Errol Garner and Art Tatum. What is unusual in this world of ever-younger piano prodigies is that Nimmer is not really a product of the jazz academy, and his heroes are not the typical ones most fashionable with young players today. He is that rare combination of an innate musical gift with a deep sense and intuitive understanding of the jazz tradition. The only way it can be described is that when you hear him, it feels like your listening to an older player back in the halcyon days of jazz. February 27 - Upstarts! 7:30 & 9:30 PM - Akiko Grace Trio February 28-March 5 7:30pm & 9:30pm with additional 11:30pm set on Friday only. Cyrus Chestnut Quintet Featuring Guitarist Mark Whitfield Cyrus Chestnut (piano), Michael Hawkins (bass), Neal Smith (drums), Steve Kroon (percussion), Mark Whitfield (guitar) This week the soulful, sweet and serious pianist Cyrus Chestnut celebrates the music of his Telarc Records debut CD, Genuine Chestnut, with his quintet, featuring guitarist Mark Whitfield . Chestnut began his professional life working with such celebrated modern artists such as Wynton Marsalis, and his Jelly Roll Morton influences can still be heard. But, Cyrus has learned from great jazz musicians of many eras and this shines through in his music. Born in Baltimore, Maryland on January 17, 1963, Chestnut first received musical training at age 5 from his father. His first public performance was two years later at the Mt. Calvary Star Baptist Church in Baltimore. He received further musical training at the Peabody Institute where he obtained a ! certificate in Piano and Music theory. Between 1981 and 1985, Chestnut attended the Berklee College of Music where he graduated with a degree in Jazz Composition and Arranging. While there, he received the Eubie Blake Fellowship in 1982, the Oscar Peterson Scholarship in 1983, and the Quincy Jones Scholarship in 1984. Cyrus began his professional career working with Jon Hendricks (1986-88), Terence Blanchard and Donald Harrison (1988-90), and Wynton Marsalis (1991). In September of 1991 he began a two-year tenure with jazz legend Betty Carter. Then, Chestnut actively launched his career as a leader with the album titled Revelation which was released by Atlantic Jazz in 1994. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |